Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-18
THE BALTruoRE CONVENTION.


CONVENTION
As | have intimaied in former letters, the
seeds of disaffection were widely sovn in the
Lincoln convention Of the 9TH and 9Th OF March.
Already those seeds are springing Up. and in
very short time the fruit which they will yield
will under mine and overthros the political fabric
which it VAS then attempted to prop up IL was
impossible to at in the convention for an hour,
or to observe the action of the various caucuses
which ere held. without becoming aware OF the
fact that behind the outward unanimity which
prevailed there lurked really the most impacable
enmity. arising from the circumstance that the
delegates present we're the representatives, and
opponents OF at less; three, and perhaps OF four,
radically distinct and antagOnlstc parties. The
leading men OF the convention felt that Il was
impossible aud unwise 10 ignore this circum-
stance, and it was accordingly frankly alluded TO
in many OF the caucuses that were held. But
the most strenuous efforts were made to harmon
ize the jealousy and 10 repress the i'll feeling that
arose therefrom These efforts attended
with outward success But the fires of discord
we're not put out; they still smouldercd, and |
now learn that they have already began TO burst
out again.
THE THREE ELEMENTS THAT WILL FINALLx DESTROY
THE PARTY.
Leaving out OF view some cliqueS and interests
real work of the convention began, that there
we're the following drscordant elements to har-
monte mot among the delegates, that could
have been more easily managed:) 1St The
conservative Republicans, whose delegates were
understood % have received their instructions
from Mr. Seward instructions which came in
the first instance from Mr.. Lincoln himself IL
was this faction. by temporary utilization with
another. which defeated Mr. Dickinson and pro-
Il
was this faction also that succeeded in making 4
verbal alteration in the last resolution of the
platform, an alteration which came direct from
the State Department Hereby hangs tale,
which can only alude 10 now So far from
having upheld the Monroe doctrine. Mr. Lincoln
had tramped il under his fee; months ago. And
long before the resolution on the subject had
raised the House of Representatives the French
Emperor had been assured bv Mr.. Seward that
whenever he chose to establish monarchy in
Mexico, he would experience no opposition from
our government But to return. 2i The rad
/ cal Republicans. abolitonsts aud dsunionsls
including the Chase men, who are not disunion-
/ lists These men secretly desired the nomination
of Mr.. Chase in preference 10 Mr. Lincoln, and
would even have been glad 70 have voted for
+ Fremont instead OF Lincoln. Their distrust of
Lincoln arises from the fact that they know he
+ is irving 20 plav double paft. and has not skill
enough to play 1t successfully; aud they have no
+ intention Of being swamped, merely out of re
/ gard for Mr. Lincoln And, 30, the numerically
small but really powerful faction calling them
I selves war Democrats, and who in the conyen.
/ ton were led and represented by Mr. Tremaine
I The nomination of Andy johnson, instead of
/ Mr.. Dickinson, Is an affront and an insult to the
war Democrats who are acting with the Repuh-
lican party which they will not submit to.
/ INABILITY OF MR.. LINCOLN TO FULFILL THE PRoNI-
SIS THAT SECURED HIS UNANIMOUS NOMINATION.
! The unanimous nomination of Mr. Lincoln on
/ the first ballot apparently indicates unanimitv
Of feeling among the delegates. Bat this was
not so. The unanimous nomination of Mr. Lin
/ coin the result of a bargain made between
+ the direct representatives of Mr.. Lincoln and
/ Mr. Seward on the one hand, and the representa-
/ tives of the other two factions above named on
! the other. The nomination of General Fremont,
! the admirable features OF the Cleveland platform.
/ and the noble sentiments expressed in General
/ FremOnts letter of acceptance. came verv near
/ defeating Mr.. Lincoln's nomination The Chase
men and the war Democrats we're only prevented
! from uniting on Fremont By certain assurances
which made 10 them. either by Mr.. Lincoln
( himself, or by those who spoke for him. Some
OF these assurances were ialsified bv the action
of the convention in regard to the nomination
for Vice President and in regard TO certain fea
lures of the platform Others of them which
depended upon the results of the present military
operations. Mr.. Lincoln will find il impossible 10
fulfill. Thus those delegates and the copstitu-
encies which they represent, will consider them
selves absolved from all obligation to support
candidate whose nomination, they will Justly de-
clare, was secured BY false pretenses.
THE QUESTION Oh RECONSTRUCTION
The question of reconstruction was not ignored
in the caucuses and cOmmittee-rooms, if it was
by the convention. distinguished member of
the New FORK delegation endeavored to have it
/ fairly presented and openly discussed He said
that he hoped the time was approaching when
the people at large would have to discuss the
subject at home, and that it was the duty of this
convention. duty from which they ought not to
shrink to give proper direction to the discussion
he said that, although the rebels and traitors in
the South had no rights, absolutely none. vet he
thanked God he able to believe that they did
not constitute the southern people, In spite of
all that had taken place to exasperate and
ALLEVIATE the two peoples. be still hoped to live to
see the day when the Union would be restored.
and when the people of tho Southern States
would again become. in the language of Mr..
Seward, equal and honored members of the
nation. We ought then, he said. to enunciate
now, in the platform which this convention
would put forth, what We were willing to make
the basis and groundwork of reconstruction And
as this was convention composed OF the direct
representatives of the people. and as they were
free and untrammeled. he had no hesitation i'm
saving that he did not approve OF the Presidents
plan of reconstruction but he hoped that some
thing might be devised that would be more lust
to the people of the South These noble senti
ments were indorsed and supported BY more than
one other delegate. But they fell dull and cold
upon the ears OF the delegates generally.
WHY THE QUESTION OF REcoNsTRucTrox WAS
AVOIDED BY THE coSvESrIox
But the real reason why the question of recon
struction was avoided by the convention will be
startling TO the people, and particularly 50 10
those who up to this time have had unboanded
faith in General Graut. IL was kept very close.
and WAS only whispered in the most cautions
manner. and believe was not known to single
person not 10 delegate, until after the convention
was over. II is that the administration at Wash.
ington does not believe that the government will
ever be called upon 20 act upon the question at
all. In other words they do no, believe that the
Southern States will ever again seek TO enter into
union with the North They know they never
will until the rebellion has been quelled by force
OF arms. until the rebel armies have been defeat
ell aud utterly dispersed, until all the chief cities
in the South have been occupied BIZ our armies
in word. until the military power of the South
has been completely DESTROYED And they do not
believe this will be done in the next five years
THE PLOT AGAINST GENEEAL GRANT.
And this j, the place to refer to the plot which
was formed BY the friends of Mr. Lincoln against
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