The first dissension of the 1850 convention happened much sooner than was typical, at the beginning of the very first session. The first order of business for each convention was to form a small committee to name the permanent officers for the convention. When that committee returned with their slate of names, the proceeding vote was typically a formality. In this case, a delegate from Franklin County argued that there should be a younger president so that they could gain experience. His peers disagreed.

The nominating committee having returned, reported through their chairman, C. H. Langston, the following gentlemen as officers for the Convention: J. L. Watson, President; L. D. Taylor, W. H. Burnham, John Watson of Lorain and John Gee, Vice Presidents; and Jas. Monroe Jones, C. A. Yancy, K. Artis, and George R. Williams Secretaries. J. P. Underwood and J. D. Pattison were appointed Chaplains to the Convention.

The convention unanimously adopted the original report that included J.L. Watson, then escorted him to the chair. They proceeded to shout applause after he made short remarks. The convention demonstrated their inclination, at least in this instance, to value professional experience over the vigor of youth. 

The second debate at the 1850 convention demonstrated the frustrations of at least two delegates regarding the convention's lack of urgency and wrongful prioritization of issues. The resolution was both a hope and prediction for the abolition of slavery, but contained no actionable item. William H. Day of Lorain County made it clear that he felt the convention was making a mistake by not focusing on suffrage.

Resolved, that we hail the signs of the times, as clearly indicating the downfall of that monstrosity, and sum of all villainies, American Slavery.

Resolved, That the signs of the times indicate, that slaveholders and their abettors, are determined at all hazards, to perpetuate forever, that monstrosity, "the sum of all villainies," American Slavery; regardless of the cries of their outraged victims or the agitations of christians and philanthropists.

The most fascinating piece of W.H. Day's opposition to the resolution and subsequent amendment was that he did not oppose the contents of the amendment at all. In fact, he admitted to being in favor of the principles it contained. Instead, he believed that suffrage should be the primary concern of the convention. Whether he was hoping to trigger a deeper conversation on the fight for suffrage or simply believed that it should be the only issue discussed was unclear, but it illuminated a curious reality about the convention. Despite 8 out of 24 amendments specifically pertaining to voting rights, 33% of the final resolution count, there was little discussion of the issue during the convention. Those amendments were passed speedily and with little discourse.

The third and final major debate of the convention in 1850 surrounded the possibility of establishing a Black newspaper in Ohio. While most of the delegates agreed that it was a sound idea, Charles Langston argued that they needed to use their purses more than their lips if it were going to succeed. Interestingly enough, the debate opened another fresh space for dissension as delegates were wounded over perceived slights to their religious denominations.

Resolved, that the Convention appoint a committee of seven to consider the propriety of establishing a paper devoted to the interests and claims of the colored people of the State, and that said committee, if they see fit, suggest a plan for its establishment and support.

The resolution was passed and a committee was indeed formed for the goal of establishing a Black newspaper for the state of Ohio. Wounds over religious affiliation were an unintended consequence, however, as both J.M. Brown and N. Nooks were upset by John Mercer Langston's perceived slight toward their Christian Methodist faith. He later took the slight beyond perceived to explicit when he noted his disagreement with the Methodist Church based on their lack of antislavery action. In between his two comments, W.H. Burnham offered an entire preamble and resolution "setting forth the pro-slavery character of the Methodist denomination."  One of his fellow delegates attempted to have the preamble and resolution stricken from the minutes, but eventually withdrew his motion under the promise that "the subject was not agitated any more." This issue was squashed before lasting damage was done, but it would come up again at later conventions.

W.H. Burnham's preamble and resolutions condemning the Methodist Church were not passed, but it foreshadowed future breaking points for Ohio's Colored Conventions movement.