Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-08-24

all actuatedb SO intense desire Tor union, that
was afraiJ we should lay our platform too weak
in is Ga,adation, or TOO narrow in It's compass,
= to hold p the ordnance with which we must bat
ter do the citadel of slavery Just before the
couvnton, some of the papers friendly to Mr..
W. Buren, declared that the Utica nomination
1uld not be withdrawn, and that Mr.. Van Blu
Zen must be a candidate, whether he should OBJ
tain the nomination at Buffalo or not Ills let
ter to the Utica convention was too unsatlstacto-
ny to us to be the basis of union, and the appea-
rance Of dictation was too disrespectu to be sub
mitted to without sacrifice of self respect. And
yet feared that the friends of Mr.. Hale would
be so much in haste to make sacrifices for the
cause that they would yield to all this without
duly considering what we owed to the honor Of
the Liberty party and its candidates.
As | travelled somewhat leisurely through the
State of New York, was agreeably impressed
by the tone of candor and respect which the
friends of Mr.. Van Buren, exhibited towards Mr.
Hale and the Liberty party, and the utter absence
of any thing like attempts either to coax or CO.
cree us to the support Of their candidate. They
seemed to appreciate the decacy of our position
by its resemblance to their own; and to feel that
it would be better for US tocontinue our separate
organizations, than that either should be given
my own, of effecting satisfactory union, were
far from beng as strong as our wishes were ar
dent.
My position during all the proceedings of the
convention, was as favorable as could be desired
for forming correct judgment as to their charac-
ter. was member of the informal or provis-
ional committee appointed by the delegates who
were on the ground the day before the conven-
L.. ok,
were all completed with admirable harmony and
despatch, until we came to consider the mode of
procedure, by which the business before us was
to be transacted in such an immense assembly,
with the requisite deliberation, and with due re-
gard to the rights and wishes of all. Here we
were distracted witt variety Of schemes almost
as many as there were minds, The subject was
at length referred to select committee of one
from each State repre ened; and this commit
tee, after an Intellectual attempt to come to some
conclusion, put it into the hands of sub-com-
mittee, consisting of Hon Mr. Bascom of Sene.
ca Falls. Hon Mr.. Ilamlin, of Columbus, both
wings; DR.. Snodgrass, of Baltimore, and myself
Nexl morning three pro- ects were presented and
considered, and Mr.. Bascoms plan was unanim-
ousy approved reported, and adopted, and it car
ried us happily through, without jarring or con-
fusion.
In the organization ofthe convention became
member of the committee on resolutions, con-
sisting of three from each state represented, on
whom devolved the duty of framing platform of
principles to be the basis of our political union.
This general committee after consultation, refer
red the work to a subcommittee of seven, whose
labors, as was not among them, | would COM
mend with unqualified approval, did they not
speak for themselves in manner wholly above
my feeble praise. Before the meeting of the com.
n mit.ee on Thursday morning, the Hon. Stephen
G. Philips, of Massachusetts, met me with sac
heart, and said he did not know what to do, fol
he could not see how it was possible he SHOULD
agree to support Mr.. Van Buren,, without a sac
rifce which no man ought to make. But after
the committee had met and received the report
of the subcommittee, with the announcement
that it was unanimous, Mr.. Philips took the frs
opportunity to speak, and with deep emotion de
clared that if that platform could be accepted by
the committee, and if the convention itself would
adopt it as their basis, there nothing else thu
convention might do, which he would not sup
port cheerfully and cordially. All this was dom
with perfect ease and to universal satisfaction &
delight The way was now prepared for the Sc
lected delegates from the several states to retire
and make the nominations to represent and carr,
out the platform.
At this stage, before the first or informal bal
lot, it became necessary, in the opinion of lh'
conferees, to hear from Mr. Van Buren,, through
his most intimate and faithful friend, Benjamin
F. Butler. Mr.. Buffers course in the commit
| tees had been such as to win the respect and thu
confidence of ALL thus far, and he was listened Il
with the deepest interest in a detailed statemen
| of the steps by which Mr.. Van Buren, had beef
brought to consent to the use of his name by tn
Utica convention, when it seemed necessary tt
the support Of his old political friends, in thei
separation from the party, as represented in tn
Baltimore convention. This consent was giveI
when the movement was confined to his owl
state and his own party, and before any morta
could have toreseen such movement as this
Mr.. Butler also detailed with great frankness tn
rapid change which had taken place in his ow
views and feelings and of his friends on this Who'll
subject of slavery and his cordial satisfaction i
the platform, for which he gave much credit t
Mr.. Chase, of Cincinnati, chairman of the col
ferees. Referring again to Mr.. Van Buren,, h
said it was impossible for him to say whether
would assent to the platform as he had not see
it, and could not, for it was adopted only tire
hours ago. But if he should receive the nomll
alton, his acceptance oil it would include his CO.
dial approval of the platform, and consent to stan
as ats representative before the country. And
would say from all he knew of Mr. Van Burel
he had not doubt that he would thus accepth
nomination, if the convention should Offer it
him, nor that he would give his most cordial SUI
port to the cause, if any other individual shou
receive the nomination He then read a lett
which Mr. Van Buren, had, of his own accord, a
dressed to the New York delegation, in which
evidently threw himself wholly into the cause
manner which at once conciliated the unhesi
ating confidence of us all, that he was with u
and his name was before the convention in ma
ner that was entirely satisfactory.
Mr.. Hale had written a letter, con6ding IL
disposal of his name before the convention unr
servedly to the united judgment of Samuel Levi
H. B. Stanton, G. G. Fogg and myself, and v
had unanimously agreed that it would be our
ty to place his name before the convention on pr
csey the same terms with Mr.. Van Buren's.-
Th;s ,yoS dona hv Mr. Stanton Iudua M