The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-05-24

HANNIBAL HAMLlN,
or MAINE.
Chicago National Convention.
FIRST DAY-MORNING SESSION.
The Republican National Convention as
sembled Nav Is, in the Nigwam, corner OF
Lake and Market streets.
At precisely IL o'clock the Convention
was called to order by the Hon. ED. Nor
gan, Governor of New York, and Chairman
Of the Republican National Committee. Gov
Morgan said.
On the twenty second Of December last,
the Republican National Committee, at a
meeting convened for the purpose, in the
City Of New York, issued call for Nation
al Convention, which will now read
Governor Morgan here read the call, and
proceeded In compliance Herewith, the
people have sent Representatives here to de.
fberate upon measures for carrying into eff.
feet the objects ofthe call
Usage has made it my duty to take the
preliminary step towards organizing The
Convention-a Convention upon the procee
dings of which, permit me to say, the most
momentous results are depending. Nobody
of men ofequal number was ever clothed
with greater responsibility than those now
within the hearing ofmy voice. You dc
not need me to tell you, gentlemen, wha,
this responsibility is. While one portion o
the adherents of the National Administration
are endeavoring to insert slave code into
the party platform, another portion exhibits
its readiness. to accomplish the same result
through the action of the Supreme Court OF
the United States; willing by indirectior tt
do that which, if done directly, would bring
q blush even to- the cheek of modern De
mocracy.
While these and other stupenduous wrongs
absolutely shocking to the moral sentiment
Of the country, are to be fastened upon the
people by the party in power, if its leader.
are able to bring the factious elements tina
compose it into any degree of unanimity
there seems left no ray of hope except in tn
good sense of this Convention.
bet me then invoke you to act in a spiri
of harmony, that by the dignity, the wisdom
and the patriotism displayed here, you may
be enabled to enlist the hearts of the people
and to strengthen them in the faith thai
yours is the constitutional party of the coun
try, and the only constitutional party tina
you are actuatedf by principle, and that yo,
win be guided by the light and by the sx
ample Of the fathers of the Republic.
Fortunately you are not required to enun
eiate new and untried principles of govern
ment. This has been well and wisely dom
by the statesmen of the revolution. StanC
where they stood, avowing and maintaining
the like objects and doctrines then will tn,
end sought be accomplished the Constitu
ton and the Union be preserved, and tn,
government administered by patriots ant
statesmen.
Inow nominate, as your temporary pre-
siding officer, the Hon. David Wilmot o
Pennsylvania.
The name of Judge Wilmot was received
with vociferous and long continued applause
and the motion for his appointment was
carried by reclamation.
Judge Marshall Of Maryland, and Gov
Cleveland of Connecticut, were appointed
to conduct the new Chairman to his seat.
Judge Wilmot said on taking the Chair
that he had no words to express his sense o
s ssH H e To his ia d
He reminded the Delegates of the high duty
which devolved upon them A powerful
sectional and aristorcratic party had fol- q
long time domineered over the Government
wrestling its power for the naturalization Of
slavery. 1t is our mission to arrest the prog
ress of this party, and to place it again upon
the foundation of the fathers of the Republic.
LIS our purpose to restore the Constitution
to its original meaning, and, read that instrus
mant as our fathers read it. 1t was not es-
tablished for the purpose of giving high
guarantees to the institution of slavery. Our
fathers regarded slavery as a blot upon our
country, and they died in the hope that it
would soon vanish from the land. They
did not draw their sword in the Revolution
for the purpose of establishing great slave
empire upon this continent. The revolution
was fought and the constitution adopted for
the purpose ofsseuring the blessings of lib.
erty to ourselves and posterity. Slavery is
sectionaa-Liberty is national Applause.
Bot who to-day is not more free to utter his
opinions in Russia or Austria. than he is in
the slave States Of this Republic? We owe
the freedom we enjoy in the free States to
the absence Of Slavery. Shall we spread
this demoralizing, blighting and unhumaDi-
zing institution through our land, or shall
we preserve it as free land for us and our
posterity for ever These are the principles
for which the Republican party are strug-
Cling. These are the principles recognized
by all the fathers of the Republic down even
to the days of Polk, when slavery dared to
claim universal empire over our land. Invo-
king the spirit of harmony and concileation,
! now enter upon the discharge ofmy duties
as your presiding officer.
1t was moved that Messrs Fred. Hassar-
uck OF Ohio, Theodore Pomeroy of New
York, and Henry B" Grow of Missouri, act
rs temporary Secretaries. The molten was
carried, and the Secretaries took their places
at the table provided for them.
A prayer was then pronounced by the
Rev. Mr.. Humphrey of the First Presby te-
rian Church of this city.
HBn NIB. judd, of Illinois, offered the
following resolution
Resolcsd, That Committee of one Dele
gate from each State and Territory repre-
sented ia this Convention be appointed to
report-parmanent officers for the Convention
The resolution was passed and the Com
mittee appointed.
A, delegate from Pennsylvania, offered
the following resolution, which was adopted:
ResOlued, That the rules of the House of
Representatives be adopted for the govern
ment of this Convention, until otherwise
ordered.
Mr.. Greeley moved that the Secretary call
the roll of the States, and rs they were call
ed the chairman of each delegation present
their credentials, and if any question arise
as to the legality of the. credentials, that the
question be referred to- the Committee On
Credentials,
Mr. Carter, Of Ohio, arose to offer slight
amendment to the motion. of the gentleman
from Oregon or New York, he did not know
:oA