The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-05-17

OOufcueiOn fHeI dI D L NJ, tne Ilall
filing almost instantly on opening the
doors. Mr.. Lowrey moved that the
Delegates accept the invitation of the
Board of Trade to attend an excursion
on the Lake, which motion was lost
amid applause from the body Of the
Hall. .,f 4,r..f
Horton, of Ohio, from Committee on
permanent organization, reported the
name of George Ashmun, of Mass, as
Permanent President.
Carl Schurz, of Wis.,, and Hon.
Preston King, of N. Y, were appoint
ed Committee to conduct the Presi-
dent to the Chair.
The President was conducted to the
Chair amid enthusiastic applause.
When this had subsidized he addressed
the Convention. 'i'
SPEECH OF HON. GEORGE AsHMUN.
Gentlemen Of the Convention, Re
pu6licans, Anaericans-My first duty
is to express to you the deep sense
which l feel of this distinguished mark
of your confidence. In the spirit in
which it has been offered l accept it,
sensible of the difficulties which sur
round the position, but cheered and
sustained by the faith that the same
generosity that has brought me here
will carry me through the discharge OF
the duties. L will not shrink from this
position, at the same time the post of
danger as well as the post of honor.
Applause. Gentleman, we have
come here to-day at the call of our
country from widely separated homes,
to fulfill a great and important duty.
No ordinary call has brought us togeth-
err. Nothing but a momentous question
would have called this vast multitude
here nothing but deep sense
of the danger into which our govern
ment is fast running could have rallied
the people thus in this city to-day for
the purpose of rescuing the government
from the deep degradation into which
it has fallen. Loud applause. We
have come at the call of our country
for the purpose of preparing for the
most solemn duty that freemen have to
perform. We are here in the ordinary
capacity as delegates of the people, to
prepare for the formation and carrying
on of a new administration. APP
plause. No more controversy about
miserable distractions has brought rs
here to-day; we have not come here
on any idle question. The sacrifice
which most of us have made in the ex-
tended journey, and in the time devoted
to it could only have been made upon
some solemn call; and.the stern look
which / see, the solemn look which see
on every face, and the earnest behavior
which has been manifested in all the
preliminary discussions, shows full well
that we all have true and deep sense
of the solemn obligation which is rest
ing upon us. Gentlemen, it does not
belong to me to make an extended adj
dress; it is for me rather to assist in
the details of the business that belong
to this Convention. But allow me to
say that think we have a right here
to-day, in the name of the American
people to say that we impeach the Adj
ministration of our General Govern
ment of the highest crimes which can
be committed against constitutional
government, against free people, and
against humanity. Prolonged cheers.)
The catalogue of its crimes it is not for
me to recite. 1t is written upon every
page of the history of the present Adj
mistration, and / care not how many
paper protest the President may send
into the House of Representatives
daughter and applause), we here, the
grand inquest of the nation, will find
out for him and his confederates not
merely punishment terrible and sure,
but remedy which shall be satisfac-
tory. prolonged cheers.) Gentleman,
before proceeding to the duties of the
Convention, allow me to congratulate
you and the people upon the striking fea-
ture which, l think, must have been no.
ticed by everybody who has mixed in
the preliminary discussion Of the people
who have gathered in this beautiful
city. 1t is that brotherly kindness and
generous emulation which has marked
every conversation and every discus
sion, showing desire for nothing else
but their country's good. Earnest,
warm and generous preferences are
expressed, ardent hopes and fond pur.
poses are declared, but not within the
three days have spent among you all,
have l heard one unkind word, uttered
by one man towards another. / hail
it as an augury of success, and if DUR
ing the proceedings of this convention
you will unite to perpetuate that feel
ing and allow it to pervade all your
proceedings, / declare to you, that l
think it is the snrest and brightest
promise of our success, whoever may
be the standard bearer in the contest,