Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-01
The AboIition COnyention-John
COchrnne, of New York, Elected |
President-HHisSp sSpeech-FuIlP Pro-
ceedimgs.

ceedfngs.
CLEVELAND, May 31.-The Convention
to-day opened with some three hundred o
four hundred delegates in attendance.
was called to order at IL o'clock by MI
Gilbert, of New York, on whose nomina
tion EX-Gov. johnson, of Pa, was chosel
temporary chairman. Mr.. johnson return
ed thanks briefly, saying he hoped the pro
ceedings of the Convention would be 81
conducted as to strike with that force an,
power worthy the objects and principles il
view. l..EE 81 ~ = ltt
On motion, B. H. Brooks, of California
and Mr.. Wolff, of the District Of Columbia
were appointed Secretaries.
On motion, the following were appointed
Il committee on permanent organization
Ezra G. Andrews, Me-; Parker Pillsbury
N. H.; S. Foster, Mass; A. G. Calvin, N. Y.
VIM Goodell,. N. Y; N. p. Sawyer, Pa.
John T. Snather, Nd; Casper Butz, Ill.
Charles E. Mass, Mo-; L. d. lBaily, Kansas
A motion to appoint committee on Gre.
dentials elected some debate, several dele.
gates opposing it on the ground that there
are many citizens present who represent
political organizations in the several States
and yet have been furnished with no ere.
dentials.
The motion was withdrawn, but renew
ed by Mr.. Garrett of Mo-, who thought
the time would come when every member
would be proud of his connection with this
Convention, and he desired the record
made in order to show the world that We
are here for great and good purpose in
spite of Lincoln and the Devil, 1t was
finally resolved to enroll the names of all
present, and that the only credentials re-
quired shall be declaration that the dele.
| Oa tn ha hnr in 10 fha lle
for the Cleveland Convention. The West
ern, Albany and New York calls were then
read and laid on the table. The following
committee was appointed to enroll the
names of delegates: ~ "' W.
John A. Milliard, John Suthausen, n. p
Sawyer, VIM. Rodman and Lewis Alden.
The committee on Permanent Organiza-
tiOn reported the following, which was
unanimously adopted:
For President-JOHN COCHRANE, Of
New York.
Vice Presidents-James Hill, of Maine;
Parker Pillsbury, N. H.; Mr.. Curry, VT;
Edmtnd Tuttle, Conn.,; Rev. Henry T.
Cheever, Mass; Joseph Plumb, N. Y; DR.
J.. Green, Nj; w. G. Smithers, Nd; Al
fred G.. Lloyd, Pa; Bird b. Chapman, Ohio;
DIR. Hamburg, Ind; Ernest Prussing, ILL.,:
DR.. L. Alshausen, Mo-; Thomas z. Wright,
KY; j. p. Slihalt, Iowa; c. G. Foote, Mich;
Isaac G. Newstadt, Wis.,; j. F. Lyrate, Kan
| sas.
Secretaries-Ll onard Van Dercor, New
Pennsylvania; Col. Chas. Il. Moss, Mis-
souri,. . .-.-
The Speaker appointed Parker Pillsbury
and Col. Moss committee to notify Gen
Cochrane Of his election, and escort him to
the chair.
Mr.. Cochrane, on returning thanks, said
that if the duty of this convention was well
performed in accordance with the views
and wishes of the people whom it repre-
sents, it will have advanced to position
that must command universal applause
We are here occupying common ground,
that of the broadest and most catholic prin-
ciples of Democracy; we are here not for
party but for country. Three years ago,
when the very life of the nation was threat
ened, all true patriots abandoned party and
rallied to the support of the country; but
the hour is coming-indeed, it has almost
arrived-when the rebellion will have dis
appeared forever, and then it is that Free
people should review the past, and must
erect the necessary safeguards against the
vicisstudes and dangers of the future.
1t is at such period that you have as
vigOr and strength of great people, actu-
ated solely by love of country, our armies
in the field, you are about to organize
ci. il party at home to proclaim and main
tain, at all hazards, the great and immuta-
BILE principles for which the soldier is so
valiantly fighting in the field. Thus, and
thus only, can the people of the land realize
and enjoy the legitimate fruits of the sacri-
fees they have made. The rebellion must
be effectually and forever suppressed-the
Union must be preserved.
We have not met here to indulge in any
criticisms with which to weaken the Gov
ernment, and we are not here to throw any
impediment in the way of the march If
our glorious armies. God forbid! No del
egate is here to occupy any position un-
worthy of the broadest patriotism or the
breast of true American citizen.
He saw before him men who, in days gone
by, entertained essentially different views
on the question of slavery, but events have
so shaped themselves with regard to that
and other great questions, within the past
four years, that all can now stand upon
of the rebellion has been to destroy slave
ry, and the last vestige of it must be wiped
away.
He alluded to the meeting of the War
Democratic Committee. A symphathizer
characterized it as an idle farce; a commit
tee without constituency; and assured the
convention that the war Democracy of N.
Y. are of sterner stuff than to be swayed
by a few peddling politicians.
While we proclaim all men on this conti-
nent free and equal, it is our duty to see
that such assertion is literally true. We
must have close and untiring regard for the
civil rights of all, for if private rights are
not respected, public liberty falls. Its basis
is private and individual freedom. Its
method is through such rights, and we
therefore declare ourselves emphatically
and unequivocally for private, municipal
and public liberties. Never upon any plea
or occasion can the rights of the citizen be
suffered to be invaded unwarrantably and
without due process of law. If circum-
stances require the enforcement of martial
law, all other considerations must succumb
to the necessity. But until then thev should
not be, they must not be infringed upon,
however specious is the plea. Law is the
inflex of order-order is of God, and its
sanctity must be kept inviolate. When
that is stricken down, then goes with 1t our
institutions and all. Intimately connected
with these rights Is the freedom of the
press, and the Administration or man who
would aim blow at 1t is guilty of crime
no less than he who is traitor to the cause
of his country.
He alluded to the right of asylum, and
declared it to be a principle of which every
American citizen ought to be proud, that
the refugee from the despotisms of the Old