Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-05-26
From the Daily Free Democrat
The Chicago Convention.
FIRST DAY-NORNING SESSION.
CHICAGO, May Is, go.

AS early as q. M, a CellSe crowd
was gathered In the street in front of
the wigwam which increased in num-
bers as the hours went on, until by the
time appointed for the opening Of the
door at least 10, 600 people were assem-
bled together. The galleries were first
opened and were filed in few min
utes by crowd, among whom were a
large number Of ladies. The doors
were then thrown open, and by IL.
O'Clock the wigwam was one dense
mass Of human beings. The platform
accommodating abo ut / 900 people, was
reserved for delegates ard editors, and
as the various delegations, accompani-
cd by bands Of music, came into the
building, they were received with deaf.
ening cheers.
The sight presented to the eye was
magnificent in the extreme. Along the
front Of the vast galleries the arms Of
the different States were presented,
with wreaths Of cyergreons festooned
between each painting. The posts were
hung with evergreens, and the platform
draped taste Y with flags and wrcaths
Of evergreen. Over the chairman's
stand the American flag was draped
with q large gilt eagle hanging from
Vreaths Ct evergreen. Directly in
front OF the speakers chair were the
reporters table, OH beth sides Of which
were seated the delegates.
at twelve o'clock the seats were fill
! ed. and at / 5 minutes after p o'clock,
Gov. Morgan, Of New York, Chairman
nj the National Republican Committee,
called the Convention to order, and de-
Iiycred an address, after which the
chair nominated Hon. David Wilmot,
Of Pennsylvania, as Temporary Chair
man, alt! the nomination WAS received
with tremendous enthusiasm.
The chair then named Judge Marsh
Of Maryland, and Gov. Cleveland, Of
Connecticut, to conduct him to the
chair, which they did amid the cheers
and plaudits Of the delegates as well as
the spectators.
Gov. Cleveland, Of Ohio, introduced
Judge Wilmot, who was received with
three enthusiastic cheers.
Gov. Cleveland said i
| have the honor Of introducing to
You gentleman whose name is known
to every lover of liberty throughout
this land--the Hon. David Wilmot-a
man who darcs DO right regardless of
consequences With such men for our
leaders and spokesman there is no such
word as fail. Applausel.
SPEECH or JUDGE wILMOT.
Gentlepen.-I have no words with
which properly to express my sense of
the honor-an undeservcd honor, feel
that it is--of being called to preside
temporarily over the deliberations OF
this convention. [ shall not attempt
the task which feel inadequate to per
form. Be assured gentlemen, that
am not insensible to this high and un-
deserved honor. [ shall carry the rec
objections of it, and Of your manifesto
ton Of partiality with me until the day
of my death.
1t is not becoming, gentlemen dele
gates, to remind you Of the importance
Of the occasion which has called this
assembly together, nor Of the high du-
, ty which devolves upon YOU. A great
, sectional and arlstocratic interest has
for years dominated, with high hand
over the political affairs Of the country.
l5nt interest has Wrcsted, and is now
wrestling all the great powers of this
government to the one object of the ex-
tension and naturalization Of Slavery
1t Is our purpose, gentlGmcn-lt is the
mission of the Republican party-the
basis OF It's organization, to resist this
policy Of a sectional interest. It is OH
: mission to restore this Government to
It's original policy, and place it again
upon that basis on which our fathers
organized and brought it into existence
1T IS our purpose and policy to resist
; this unconstitutional dogma that slave,
: " exists, in virtue OF the Constitution.
i, wherever the banner of the Union
boats. Ii is our purpose to restore the
. Constitution to its original meaning. to
give to it its true intorprctation-to
, read that instrument as our fathers read
: It. That instrument was not Original
ted and established for the purpose OF
extending slavery within the limits OF
this country. It was not originated
and established for the purpose of civ
, ing nigh guarantees and securities to
that institution. Our fathers regarded
, slavery as blot upon this countrv.--
They went down to their graves Will,
the earnest hope and confident belief
that but few more years and the black
| blot would be cxtinguishcd from our
, land. [Applausc7.
: This was the faith in which they died.
Had the proposition been presented to
them in the early conflicts of the Rev
, olution, or in the outset Of that great
movement, that they were called upon
t to endure the trials and hazards and