The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-15
The Chicago Convention.

The Chicago Convention.
CHICAGO July 7, ls47
The Third Day-Leter from Daniel We6ster--7he
Home League and Joseph Blunt The National Rail-
road to the PaeiGe-Tae Plan Of George Wilkes of
New York, .aPprored-C Committee of he Whole-
Speech Of Wiiliom Moseiy Hall, Esq, of Buffalo, &c.
The Convention was opened by prayer, and after
preliminary arrangements relative the printing and
circulating of the proceedings statistics prepared by
the Executive Committee, the following letter from
Daniel Webster was submitted to the assembage:-
"MAKsHFIELp June %. Isa7.
uENILEMES-i am quite obliged to you for your very
kind and respectful letter addressed to me at Nashville
inviting mo to attend the Chicago Convention II nv
health had allowed me to continue the journey which
was then prosecuting 1t would have brought into the
North West In time to have been with you the first of
July; but being compelled by illness to abandon the
purpose Of getting the fountains it was Of course
not in my power to attend the Convention.
You speak, gentlemen in terms of too much commen-
daton fear of my efforts in the cause of internal and
Western improvement can only say that those efforts
have been earnest long continued and made from the
single desire Of promoting the great interests OF the
country or the power Of the government to make ap
preparations for erecting harbors and clearing rivers
never entertained particle Of doubt This power in my
Judgment IL not partial limited obscure applicable to
some and not applicable to Others States
and not others to rivers others to
have been the opinion Of gentlemen connected with the
Memphis Convention. For one, | reject all such far
fetched and unnatural distinctions Ii, my opinion the
authority Of the government in this respect rests di
recty on the grant of the power Congress-
and this has been SO understood from the beginning
the wisest and best men who have been concerned in
the administration Of the government and is,
quenty general and limited only by the Importance Of
each particular subject and the discretion Of Congress
~ hope the convention may do much good by enforc
ing the necessity of exercising these just powers Of the
constructions qualifications of the constitutional
power to be resorted to- there is political path
be struck out 1t simply for the people say whether
prejudice party prepossessions and party opposition
shall at length give way to fair reasoning to precedent
and experience to the judgment Of the great men who
have gone before and those momentous considera
tions of public interest," which now SO mperatvey call
on Congress to do its duty.
81 am, gentlemen, with much regard
Your obliged friend and fellow. citizen
"DAN. WEBSTER
To Messrs: S Lisle Smith, Justin ButtsrGeld, l. H.
1t received with loud applause terminating with
three cheers
to defrsy of prntngby contributions from the
various places that have sent delegates to the
ton. which adopted
The President here announced the recsption OF some
pamphlets containing the report of the National Con-
yenton of the Home League, met in New York city
Oct IL, 1912 by Joseph Blunt.
An amendment here offered by a delegate, to add
to the contemplated report Of the executive
consideration.
delegate from Illinois objected the ground that
the pamphlet just circulated among the delegates
tanned opinions that not in accordance with the OBJ
jects Of this convention, and from perusal of the
second sentence evidenced not only bunted knowledge
II
The resolution was finally defeated
WIN. Mostly HALL, from Buffalo, New York, here pre-.
sented the following resolutions which, for the present
were LAID on the table.
:" Resolved, That we believe railroad from
the States to the Pacific to be practicable, and
ultimately calculated to be Of immense benefit to
tho United States and It's citizens; that with
these convictions recommend an early survey
of the entire line by the general government and that
its final construction and control be conGded
commissioners selected by the State Legslatures or
State vhosea
table distribution Of the benefits patronage of the
work among the citizens and laborers of the whole
country may prevent 1t from becoming q political en-
gine a specializing monster.
Resolved, That we further recommend that the said
railroad may commence at some point on the line Of
the Missouri River and from thence run westward
the Pacific territories under the jurisdiction the
ures In connection with the said work be- to guard the
lands along the line Of the proposed route from falling
into the hands of SPECTATORS to the future exclusion
OF the superior rights Of the workmen the road
Resolved That the said railroad when finished, be
open to all the world and that its be kept
at the lowest rates adequate to the
attendance and repairs In this connection heartily
recommend the national project OF George Wilkes
New York embracing and enforcing the above vicwN
TO the favorable consideration and report Of the commit
tees of Congress to whose preliminary examination
stands referred, and subsequently, to the favorable
action OF the two branches Of the national
to whom the reports of those committees be made
Judge BRows, Of Chicago, presented resolution
ferng the OF the St Lawrence to the
sideration Of the Executive Committee which also
laid upon the table
The chair here announced the following named gen.
tlemen NJ composing the committee to gather statistics
and present the to the consideration Of the Con
gress of the United States
Executive COMMITTEE.
Observation-Disclosures Lawrence, John Mills
New York-John c. Spencer, Samuel b. Rugglcs
Kentucky-James T. Morehead, James Guthrie.
Indiana Jacob q. Seight Zebuon Baird
Missouri-Thomas Allen, Joseph NJ. Converse.
New Hampshiro-James Welsh and Joseph Page.
Rhode Island-Aex Duncan Zachariah Allen
lowa-Geo. &. Stone, VIM. Ewing
Pennsylvana-T:J bingham, s. c. Johnson.
Ohio-James Hall, J. L. Weatherby.
CONGRATULATIONS w. Williams Philip Ripley
RESPONSIBILITIES King, w. Woodman.
Georga-Thomas Butler King W. b. Hodson.
Michigan--Joseph r. Williams. David A. Noble
Maine-Charles Jarvis, Geo. Evans.
Inos-Jesse b. Thomas David J. Baker.
New Jerst y-Charles King, II. l., Colt.
Committee on Printing-s Lise Smith, George w.
Dole, VIM. u. Ogden.
Hon BUTLER kIso here took the chair, and a resolu-
ton returning the thanks Of the Convention to tho Pre-
sdent was introduced by Hon. Thomas Corwin and
adopted.
The PRESIDENT returned thanks in a speech replete
with wit, humor and argument that produced raptures
ofappause ending with nine enthusiastic cheers.
The Convention then adjourned sine die.
COMMITTEE or THE WHOLE.
The instant the Convention adjourned, the vast as.
semblage consisting Of over ive thousand people,
solved itself into Committee Of the Whole with Horace
Greeley, in the chair. Governor Bebb Of Ohio; A. w
LOOMS, Of Pennsylvania Gen husbel Of wisconsin
Massachusetts, Mr. Allen Of Massachusetts and Grace
Greeley of New York. then addressed tho Convention
WM. MosELEY HALL, Esq, OF Buffalo, here loudly
called for by the vast audience and he to respond
amid much enthusiasm, but gave way for the dinner
hour adjournment.
AvrERSoos SESSION.
Mr. HALL took the floor, at tho re- assembling OF the
convention and after abiding to the rapid increase Of
population and wealth Of the West and the objects of the
convention occupied the earnest attention OF the vast
concourse for upwards Of hour in the advocacy of
the construction of National Railroad to the Pacific
Ocean in accordance with the plan Of George Wilkes Of
your city and in opposition to the private schemes Of
spectators that have attempted to pervert the magn
OF this grand object to their selfish ends He
frequently interrupted by the acclamatons OF the
audience aud you may rest assured that no advocate OF
private schemes will ever receive endorsement where
this speech Is circulated.
On concluding, the re-reading ofho above resolutions
presented by Mr. Hall to the Convention was caeu ivr
and cries of g whitney," whitney followed put no
did not appear to respond although he had been
during the day. -,
The resolutions were then submitted TO the assem-
blagc and adopted by unanimous vote, Win oua ny
plause. ,u,-,. ......,