Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-18
ILLINOIS POLITICS.


Tribune, writing under date of June A, says:
awe are in the midst of revolution; but
you seem to be totally oblivious of the fact
The ordinary events of years have been COM
pressed into the last fortnight, but the light
nings have not informed you of their magnt-
tude. First, then, on the 29th ult., the Great
Anti-Slavery Extension Convention of Illinois
met at the City of Bloomington, and nomina-
ted full State ticket, with the gallant Col.
W. II. Bissell at its head for Governor. More
than one thousand delegates were in attend
ance. All were imbued with the pure spirit
of Freedom. One half of the delegates were
of Democratic antecedcnts, embracing the best
and most influential men of the party.
1t was most emphatically a Convention of
the people, where all classes, opinions, and
shades of belief were represented-but all in
spired with one common resolve to resist the
further aggressions OF the Slave Power, to the
bitter end, and to maintain Freedom in the
Territories at every cost and hazard-letting
consequences fall on the heads of the wrong
doers. Not jar nor heart-burniDg was felt; (;
not quarrelsome or provocative word was
uttered by delegate during the two days the
Convention was in session. Speeches were
made by the ablest men in the State. Old
Whig, Democrat, and Free-Soil leaders, men
of Southern, Northern, and European birth,
addressed the Convention and the mass meet
ings. On Thursday evening Gov. Reeder
spoke for four hours to 5000 listeners. His
speech was strong, clear, pertinent, and salts
factory.
The ticket nominated will be, undoubtedly
elected by very large majority. There are
whole counties where the majorities for Free
dom will be almost equal to the entire legal
vote cast. In the Northern portion of the
State fully one half of the Democrats of 1852
are now on the side of Free Kansas. The
platform adopted is good one. 1t sets forth
three important propositions lst. Congress
has the power TO exclude slavery from the
Territories, and should exercise it. I'd. Kan
sas should be admitted into the domain mme-
diately, on the basis of her Topeka Constitu-
tion. Sd. That there should be no proscrip-
ton of men on account of religion OF birth
place. On this platform all lovers of Liberty
can stand-both native and naturalized.
The Convention proved the sincerity of its
professions by nominating German Demo
crat, f. III. HOFFMAN, of Chicago, for Lieut..
Governor, and the potriot Hecker for Senate
rial Elector. Three of the State candidates
are Kentucky born Wings; two of them Dem
ocrats, and one was Free-Soiler. The Elec-
tors for the different Districts, as well as the
Delegates to the 18th June National Conven-
tion, were chosen from men of all the old par
ties. The fusion is complete, and will be over
whelming at the polls. 1t was the general be-
lief of the members of the Convention that we
should carry eight of the nine Congressional
Districts this Fall, and elect our whole State
ticket by 10000 majority.
On Saturday night, the 3lst ultimo, Gen.
Lane of Kansas addressed ten thousand men in
Chicago, for three hours. At the conclusion
of his speech, which was preceded by short
address from COL Hoffman, our candidate for
Lieutenant Governor, and another from J. C.
Vaughan of The Tribune, a subscription for the
succor and relief of the Free State men in X an
sas was opened, and in the course of two hours
sirtecn fhousand dollars inmoney and one thou
sand dollars in articles suitable for settlers
were subscribed by men of all classes, condi-
tions and professions in life, in sums from a
dime up to 81 900. Each subscription, when
announced, was cheered by the vast assem-
blage.
1t was mighty gathering OF the people,
such rs had never been witnessed before in
Chicago A general determination animated
the mighty mass of freemen that Kansas must
DC sared, whatever the consequences might be.
1t was felt that the time for fighting had come.
If nothing else would arrest the bloody hand of