The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-17
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
TEMPORARY ORGANIZATION.
HON. DAVID WILMOl CALLED 70 THE CHAIR.
Letter from Col. Fremont Declining a
Nomination.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
Hon. George Ashman, of Massachu-
setts, President
MR.. AsHMAN'S SPEECH.
OUTSIDE RUMoRs AND sPECULATIoNs
Seward Loses and Wade Gains Strength.
FREMONT'S CHANCES.

CHICAGO, May l6.-Long before the hour for the
meeting of the Republican Convention to-day, the
vicinity of the Wigwam was thronged with thou
sands eager to gain admttance to its spacious en-
closure. Within, the scene was very exciting
As soon as the doors were opened the lobby of the
Wigwam was soidy packed with men, whilst the
seats in the galleries were packed with ladies' The
interior handsomely decorated with ever
greens, statuary and flowers. 1t was estimated
that ten thousand people were within the building
At noon the Convention was called to order by
Mr.. Morgan, and on his motion Hon. David VIII
mot was made temporary Chairman. On taking
the Chair he delivered an address, thanking the
delegates for the honor conferred The address
was warmly applauded.
As each State was called loud cheers greeted the
delegates When the list was concluded, the alb
sent States were called. Alabama, Mississippi and
South Carolina were received with hisses
Mr.. Giddings expressed the hope that the Con
vention would finish all its business by O'Clock
tomorrow afternoon. [Applause.l
After some unimpOrtant preliminaries, including
the appointment of a committee to select perma-
nent officers, the Convention took recess till 5
O. clock.
Horace Greeley, as the delegate from Oregon
moved that the roll of the States be called. and
credentials thereof and that if any be contested
the same to be referred to the Committee on Gre
dentals.
Mr.. Carter, of Ohio, moved that the credentials
of the gentlemen from Oregon or New York (he
did not know which) be presented to the Commit
tee.
Mr.. Greeley accept the amendment of the gen.
| tleman from Maryland or Rhode Island, am not
particular which. Loud Laughter
The motion was adopted.
The letter of Col. Fremont to Judge Staples, of
California, positively declinieg to have his name
presented to the Convention, is published here
to-day.
| AFTERNOON sEssloN-PERMANEvr ORGANIZATIONS
CHICAGO, May 16.-The Convention re assembled
at O'Clock, when the Committee on Permanent
| Organization reported for President the name of
George Ashman, of Massachusetts, who took the
Chair amid immense applause.
In his address he said: We have come here at the
call OF the country for the purpose of preparing for
the most solemn duty that freemen can perform
w have here in our ordinary capacity as delegates
OF the people, to prepare for the formation and
carrying out of administration, and with the
help of God,we will do it. Loud applause
No mere controversy about miserable abstrac-
tions brought here to-day. We do not come
here on any idle question.
| think we have right to-day in the name of
the American people, to impeach the Admir- nistra-
ton Of our General Government of the highest
crimes that can be committed against a constitu-
tlonal government against a free people, and
y.
The catalogue of its crimes it is not for me to
state. 1t is written in every page of the history
OF the present administration of the Government,
and care not how many paper protests the Presi-
dent may send into the House of Representatives.
VIM. l.. Marshall, of Maryland, and Richard
Crawford, OF Virginia, are among the Vice-Presi-
dents.
VIM. i. Coale, of Maryland, and A. W Camp
bell, of Virginia, were chosen Secretaries
Committee Resolutions was appointed ia
whom the Illinois resolutions were referred
resolution was adopted, that each delegation
report the name of one person as a member of the
National Committee for the ensuing four years
The Convention then adjourned to 10 O'Clock
Thursday morning.
OUTSIDE RUMORS AND SPECULATIONS
From Special Despatch Of the NetU York Herald I
CHiGAGo. May Is, lS60.-The Seward men are
not little frightened at the earnest opposition to
him from all quarters except New York The an
nouncement of Mr.. Curtin, the Republican candi-
date for Governor of Pennsy lvania, that his own
defeat will surely follow Stewards nomination; by
Mr. Lane, of Indiana that his State can be carried
with any other Republican candidate than Seward:
by the Illinois delegation, that the Republicans of
Southern Illinois will vote for Bell if Seward is
| nominated; by the New Jersey delegation that
Stewards nomination will give the State to the
Democrats and that Dayton, Bates or Lincoln will
carry it; by the Missouri delegation that with Bates
they can carry their State and with Seward be de-
ieated by Rhode Island and Connecticut, that Sew
ard cannot carry either of those States has produ
! ced reaction in the ranks of the various delepa
| tlons that Injuries Stewards chances materially
Ninety -four votes the most counted for Sew.
ard this morning before the above canvass. To
night Indiana, by majority vote, has decided tc
vote for Lincoln; Ohio informally voted a majority
for Chase, but if obliged to leave him las they must
indicate preference as foows:-Wade, "a; Lincoln
l6; Seward, }; Bates, l; Mclean, q Many of the
delegations still caucusing. The feeling against
Seward increases. The Pennsylvanians declare
that they will stick to Cameron till the last The
Cameron stock went up considerably thi:
morning. 1t was believed yesterday that
Stewards nomination was inevitable, but
many of his former supporters are begin
ming to think that it would be equivalent tc
party suicide. The list of candidates now stands
thus: Wade very strong, and Bates, Cameron
Lincoln, with one or two more, in the back ground
There is some talk of putting Banks on the ticke
with Lincoln. That Seward has lost during the
canvass is generally conceded. The prospect is
| that there will be a running fight for day or two
and new deal. The weather is warm, and thu
political thermometer very high. The city is full
OF strangers, and the Convention creates the great
est excitement. 1t is perfect political saturnqlia
| Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland are short and ,
row is apprehended if the few persons from tn,
Slave States attempt to cast the full vote of thes
| States. They are understood to be Bates men, al
| though of the Virginia refugees nearly the who'll
delegation are for Seward.
-, From Special Despatch Of The ". I. Times
The general impression outside of the Sewart
ranks is, that ii Seward is dropped, an outside
will have to be taken up. The elements oppose,
to him are so conflicting, that it will require al
almost omnipotent power to unite them on an
name now mentioned. In this event. Col Ere
mont stands the best chance. 1t is well known
that he does not desire the position, but he wout
not feel at liberty to decline it if offered. Iii
strength in the New England delegations is yer,
great, in fact, he is the first choice of many VIII
are compelled to vote for Mr.. Seward through tea
of distracting the party.