Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-06-16
NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION.
First Days Proceedings.
Speeches Of Gov. Morgan
and Or. Rreckinridge.
Committees on Organization.
Speech of Gov. Dennison

days proceedings Of the Convention
in last weeks CHRONICLE. Below will
be found the speeches of Gov. Morgan,
on calling the Convention to order
of DR.. Breckinridge, Temporary Chair
man-of Gov. Dennison, President of
the Convention-and the Committees
on Credentials and Resolutions:
BALTIMORE, Tuesday. June 7, 1864.
One O'CLOCK P. M.-The band Of the
I'd United States Artillery, from Fort Nc
Henry, is stationed in the gallery, and at
noon they opened with the performance Of
grand overture.
The building is now densely packed from
the lower floor TO the ceiling.
The Hon. Edwin d. Morgan. of New
York, Chairman of the National Union Ex-
ecutve Committee, called the Convention to
order, and spoke as follows:
MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION: 1t is
little more than eight years since it was re-
solved to form national party, to be con-
Quoted upon the principles and policy which
had been established and maintained by
those ilustrous statesmen, George Wash
ington and Thomas Jefferson. A Convcn-
ton was held in Philadelphia under the
shade of the trees that surround the Hall
Of Independence, and candidates Fremont
and Dayton) were there nominated, who
had espoused our cause and were to main
tain it. But the State of Pennsylvania
gave its electoral vote to james Buchanan,
and the election of 1855 was lost. Nothing
daunted by defeat, it was determined to
fight on ''on this line, not only all Sum-
mer," but four Summers and four Winters,
and in 1860 the party banner was again un-
fured with the names of Abraham Lincoln
and Hannibal Hamlin inscribed thereon.
This time it was successful. but with sue
cess cathe the Rebellion. and with the Re.
bellon Of course war, and war, terrible and
cruel war, has continued up to this time,
when it is necessary, under our Constitution,
to prepare for another Presidential Elec-
ton 1t is for this highly responsible pur-
pose that you are to day assembled. 1t is
not my duty nor my purpose to indicate any
general plan of action by this Convention
but trust | may be permitted to say that,
/ in view of the dread realities of the past,
and what is passing at thismoment, the fact
that the bones of our soldiers are bleaching
in every State of the Union, and with the
further knowledge of the fact that this
has all been caused by Slavery, the party of
which you, gentlemen, are the delegated
and only representatives, will fall short of
accomplishing its great mission, unless
among its other resolves it shall declare for
such an amendment of the Constitution as
will positively prohibit African Slavery in
the United States. Prolonged applause,
followed by three cheers. In behalf of the
National Committee now propose for tenn
porary President of this Convention, Robert
j. Breckinridge of Kentucky.
The announcement was received with
great applause.
Mr.. King OF New York and Mr.. Randall
of Wisconsin were appointed Committee
to conduct the venerable gentleman to the
chair, whose appearance was greeted with
long-continued applause.
Three cheers were proposed for the "Od
War Horse Of Kentucky, end they were
given.
On taking the chair, the Rev. DR.. Brock
inridge spoke as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: You
cannot be more sensible than am that the
part which l have to perform here to-day is
merely matter of form, and acting upon
the principles of my whole life, l was in
clined when the suggestion was made to
me from various quarters, that it was in the
minds of many members, of the Convention
to confer this distinction upon me, to earn.
estly decline to accept it. Because l have
never sought honors, | have never sought
distinction. | have been a working man,
and nothing else. But certain considera-
tions led me to change my mind. Applause
There is class of men in the country far
too small for the good of the country. These
are the men who-merely by their example,
by their pen, by their voice-try to do good
and all the more in perious times, without
re .ard to the reward that may come. 1t is
given to many such men to understand, by
the distinction conferred upon me, one Of
the humblest of their class that there are
men whom the country will cherish, and
who will not be forgotten. Here il another
motive relative to yourselves and to the
country at large. 1t is good fer you, it is
good for every nation and every people,
every State and every party. to cherish all
generous impulses, to follow all noble in,
stincts, land where are men more noble
more generously to purge yourselves OF al
sclf-seekers and betrayers, and to confer
offices, if it be only in mere form, upon those
who are worthy to be trusted, and ask moth
ing more. Applause. Now, according
to my convictions Of propriety, having said
: this, l should say nothing more. Cries o.
$50 on i"l But it has been intimated tt
me from many quarters, and in a way which
| cannot disregard, that should disappoin
the wishes of my friends, and perhaps thu
? lust expectations Of the Convention, if | die
, not as briefly and yet as precisely as could
saw something upon the great matters which
have brought us here. Therefore, in yer!
8 few words, and as plainly as | can, viii
endeavor to draw your attention to one ant
another of these great matters in which w
Y are all engaged. In the first place, nothing
q can be more plain than the fact that you ar
e here as. representatives OF great nation
d voluntary representatives, chosen withou
Y forms OF law; but as really representatinI
9 the feelings and principles-and, if yol
choose, the prejudices--of the America
people as If it were written in their law
: and already passed by their votes. For tn
. man that you will nominate here for tn
q Presidency of the United States and rule
n of great people, in great crisis, is just Q
L certain, suppose. to become that ruler q
anything under Heaven Is certain before