The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-16

1AE CONvENTsoN-GEoRGE LAWS SPEECH
For the hast three days we have had in session
in this city aConyenti0n representing the North
ern nti-Fillmore wing of the American party
1t has been largely attended; fifteen States and
three Territories have been represented; the de-
legations have been almost all FULL the delegates
have been gritty and enthusiastic and altogether
so far as conventions can ever be said to be
true 10 the people-this Convention seems to have
followed pretty closely in the wake of public
opinion in the North. That public opinion is one
of uncompromising hostility to the present admi-
nistraton, and to all its niger driving proclivi-
ties; and go far as that point is concerned. the
North will have no fault to find with the cOnven-
ton whose acts we are reviewing. Its platform,
as laid down by Ex-Governor Colby, of New
Hampshire, is -abominating hatred-to
slavery, Popery and rum, said to be the bases
OF the administration; and certainly the feeling
OF the masses of the North in regard to the first,
at least, has been forcibly, if not exaggeratedy,
carried out by the Convention
The most interesting, as well as the most i'm
portant, part Of the proceedings was the presen-
tation, by Live Oak George Law, on Saturday
morning, of the report of the committee to whom
had been referred the communication inviting fu-
sion with the republican party. The report re-
commended the carrying out of the idea, and the
appointment Of committee to confer and co-ope-
rate with similar committee to be appoint
ed by the Convention to meet at Philadel-
phia tomorrow. 1t was adopted. Live
Oak George thereupon took the floor,
and delivered speech which, if it stood alone
in connection with his name, would assuredly
transmit that name to posterity as the cognomen
Of tire representative man Of the age. To be
sure, its metaphors were not so elegant, its Ian
guage not so refined, its exordium and peroration
not go spiritrstirring as might have marked the
grafton Of a Choate or Of Webster. But never
theless it was great speech-a characteristic
speech-strong and rough as some of his own
railroad bridges, though perhaps not so graceful
in its outline and finish as his High Bridge at
Harlem. 1t was speech broad and expansive in
its general scope, embracing the lumber interest
of Maine and the mineral resources Of California.
the development Of the commerce of the great
lakes, and the mighty interests Of our merchants
on the ocean, the great railroad from the At
lantic to the Pacific, and the less pretentious
wagon road with the same destination. Aud
though so grand in its outline, its details were
very interestingly, if not artistically, filed in.
Fancy the great railroad and steamphip pro-
prietor losing for the time the consciousness of
his position in the world, and breaking out into
burst of ecstacy at the recollection Of the wagon
road and the team, and recalling the time when
he used to jog along on the dusty turnpike! And
just imagine the dash of sunshine that must have
llumned his prodigious countenance when he
thought Of and expressed the pleasure that one
Since the day when we perused Lawrence
Sternes Sentimental Journey" we have not read
anything half SO sentimental as this part Of
George Laws speech. If there be any man in
the community that has not read it and enjoyed
it, we can only say that he has missed one of the
greatest treats Of the day.
After this speech of Live Oak Georges, and
after the Convention giving him round of
hearty cheers at its conclusion, they proceeded to
lalot for candidate for the Presidency, but
without arriving at any conclusion, an adjourn
ment till to-day was carried. The object of pro-
crastination is to promote coalition between this
Convention and that which meets in PHILADELPHIA
tomorrow II that coalition be true to the in
terests Of the united partes-if it represent faith
fully the sentiments of those whose agent il will
bet will place before the country, as its cand-
date for the Presidency, a name which is every
where in the North hailed with uneyampled Gu