The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-05-13
Young Mems Wing
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF
RATIFICATION,

RATIFICATION.
The events of this day will make the Second Of May
1874 memorable in the annals of this Republic Never
before were so many Of our counymen, from all parts
of the Union, gathered in council. On the men,
! orable and glorious Fourth Of May, in the ever
memorable and glorious year of 1910 there assembled
in this city multitude, which seemingly defed all
reckoning of its numbers II was thought then tina:
till that day seen such an array Of the
sovereign pcople--tha, as never till that time was
there manifested the glorious enthusiasm which then
animated the whole country-that the triumph
which would follow that meeting would be deci-
ded 10 settle for this generation the questions
which then agItaled the nation-it was thought that
years would roll by another mighty gathering of
the people would be scen comparable to that
bled on the Fourth of May, 1910. And yet it was
cecded by that ooday-for the spirit of those fervent
days is again upon the people, Their victory was
then lost in the first hours Of its consummaton. The
same great cause, therefore summoned them to mtet
once more, and they came in numbers as the leaves
Of the forest the sands Of the sea. From every
Statc-from ever county-from every cty-from ev-
cry village, they came. From the East aud from the
West, there poured in a stream Of population, if
the whole nation was hther bound. Men from the
remotest sections of the Union-many who live thou
sands of miles apari-those who reside "far towards
the rising sum-" and those from the EXTREMIST West
those who inhabit the regions Of The North, and
those from the land'where the trees ever blossom and
the flowers shine'-were here together.
The lowest estimate we have heard Of the number
on the ground is Fifty Thousand, while others placed
it as high as Sixty, Eighty and One Hundred
Thousand.
The immense assemblage Of people caused much
delay in the organization Of the procession, but the
whole distance, from the head of Baltimore street to
Canton was an immense procession, before the reg
ular Delegates began 10 move. The place chosen for
the Convention Canton, about three miles from
the centre of the city Directly opposite the stand,
the other side Of the hurbor is fort MHenry where
Francis S. Key looked out from his Prison Ship to
if the Flag Of his Country still oated over the fortress
So we, looking from the stand land catching glimpse
of the Stars and Stripes, by the dawns early light,
after night Of Loco Foco darkness that
"The Star-Spangled Banner for ever shall wave
Der the land Of the Free and the Home fthe Brave
AT the OF Baltimore and Calver: street. near
Barnum's Hotel, a magnificent arch spanncd the
street, with two lesser ones on the sidewalks On
the butresses were prnted-"Whig Principles"
with the various notices indicative o. the measures
advocate while the arch was formed of 26
'stones'-Pennsylvani forming the key stone Busts
and portraits Of Clay, Harrison, Washington SC. and
splendid wreaths decorated the different parts of the
arch-whe all the proud Bird Of love the Eagle
Monarch Of the skies, sat clothed with power to crush
foes, and holding the olive branch of peace TO
our friends
Another arch between Barnum's and the Eutau
House. had fine effect, though not so imposing as
the other. AT short intervals flags and steamers
were waving to the breeze. The whole distance was
lined with dense mass, in which the Ladies' formed
unimportant part. We had known them hospita-
BILE for they made nation of people their guests and
by going through Baltimore and looking at the
three four tiers Of beauty that smiled upon US like
angels from above, we found them lovely and pure as
the life and character of him whom they had thus
assembled to honor.
But we have room for further remarks on this
subject, though we might fill columns with descrp-
ton of the devices formed along the way. The
portraits of Mr. Clay hung the sides of the houses
The little innocent girls with wreaths Of flowers ac
companied by their little brothers with waving flags,
all joining in this grand jubilee ofthe nation, in honor
Of our Nations Pride and Hope.
The day was cloudy, sultry aud early threatened
rain, (Which threat verified about p. NJ (which
deferred great portion Of the Delegates from walk
ing in procession to Canton. The Delegation formed
at an early hour, beidg required to walk some two
miles to their respective POSITIONS and thence three
to five miles to Canton, and only the following num-
bers were in column at the counting for the Prize
Banner viz