Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-08
Geo. H. Pendleton, Vice President.
The Final .4AjONs.asa,aes,t
L DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

.
CHICAGO, Monday August 20.
At twelve o'clock August Belmont, of New
York, Chairman of the National Democratic
Committee, called the Convention to order.
Mr.. Belmont said;
Gentlemen of tie Comventiom We have
met for the purpose of nominating a candi-
date for President of the United States. This
is task of great difficulty at any time. To-
ward you are anxiously directed the eyes of
the American people. Four years of misrule
have well nigh succeeded in bringing the Re-
public to the verge of ruin The reelection
of Mr.. Lincoln will be the result only of our
lack of unity and energy. His reelection
would result in the continued jeopardization
of our civil and religious liberties. We must
select patriot distinguished for his devotion
to the Union and the Constitution. Wemust
lay at the altar OF our country the sacrifice of
our interests and our prejudices We come
not here as War Democrats or as Peace Dem
ocrats, but as citizens of common country,
co-laboring in a mutual cause. Moderation
and forbearance must control our delibera-
tons.
At the close of Mr.. Belmont's remarks, he
nominated ex-Gov. Bigler, of Penn, for tenn
porary President, which motion was carried
unanimously.
When the cheers which greeted Gov Big
lers had subsidized, he said:
Gentlemen of tie Convention i am greatly
honored in your election of me to preside
over the preliminary deliberations of this
body. My acknowledgements for this high
compliment, and for the kind greeting lust
extended to me by this vast concOurse of my
fellow citizens, will be best manifested by a
proper discharge of the duties of the position
,.-I., IA
pected, nor would it be BETTING in one as
Stunning the mere temporary Presidency of
the convention, that he should enter upon
any general discussion of the many topics
suggested by the unhappy condition of our
country. brief alluSiOn to the occasion
and purposes of our assembage is all that
will be necessary.
No similar body ever assembled in Ameri
ca with weightier objects before them or TO
which such vast proportion of the Ameri-
can people looked with such profound solicit
tude for measures to promote the welfare of
the country and advance their individual
happiness. The termination of Democratic
rule in this country was the end of peaceful
relations between the States and the people,
The elevation of sectional party to authori-
ty at Washington, the elimination of a long
INDUCED and acrimonious war of elimination
and recrimination between extreme men at
the North and South was promptly followed
by dissolution and civil war, and in the pro-
greSs CT that war even the bulwarks of civil
liberty have been imperiled, and the whole
fabric brought to the very verge of destruc-
ton and now, at the end of more than three
years of war unparalleled in modern times
for its magnitude and for its barbarous desc
lation after more than two million of men
have been called into the field on our side
alone; after the land has been literally
drenched in fraternal blood and wailings and
lamentations are heard in every corner of our
common country, hopes of the Union-our
cherished object of affection-are in no wise
improved.
The men now in authority, through feud
which they have long maintained with vio-
lent and unwise men at the South because OF
blind fanaticism about an institution in
some of the States, in relation to which they
have no duties to perform and no responsible
tiles to bear, are utterly incapable of adopt
ing the proper means to rescue our country
our whole country, from its present lamenta
bic condition. Then, gentlemen, it is appa
rent that the first indispensable step to the
accomplishment of this great work is the ov.
erthrow by the ballot-box of the present ad
ministration and the Inauguration of another
in its stead which will wisely and fearlessy
but temporarily and Justly WELD all the influ
ence and power of the government to bring
about speedy settlement of the national
troubles on the principles of the Constitution
and on terms honorable to all sections North
and South, East and West, one which viii
stand unfalteringly by civil and religious lib
erty; one which instead of relying on its pc
culiar dogmas and doctrines and the ravages
of the sword alone, will agree to refer ou
national troubles to the foundation of all pc
litioal authority-to the people themselves
to the States under the provisions of the Con
stitution; one which will have no conditions
precedent to the restoration of the Union
but which will diligently seek that result a.
the return OF permanent peace amongst the
people.
Gentlemen, we have been commissioned by
the people to come here and initiate steps tx
accomplish these great objects, to select al
agent and the agencies in this good work.
mat the last VIII be well performed | hav,
untaltering taith, and that the people ma,
sanction and God may bless these means r.
the desired end, is my sincere PRAYER
The proceedings were then opened will
prayer by Rev. r. II. Clarkson, of the Prot
estan. Episcopal Church.
On motion Messrs Z. Q. Perrin, of Ne,
York; G. NJ. Tower, of New Jersey; an
Moses NJ. Strong, of Wisconsin, were appoint
ed temporary secretaries.
The list of delegates was then called h
States, and as each chairman presented tt
credentials of his delegation, he was WELDON
ed by loud applause.
Mr.. Tilden, of New York, moved that OF
delegate be appointed by each delegation
report resolutions for the consideration
the Convention, and that all resolution
offered in the Convention be referred to sa
committee without debate. Carried
Mr. Cox, of Ohio, moved that the comm
Tee on organization be instructed to repo
rules for the government of the Conventio
and that in the meantime the rules of the la
Convention be adopted. Carried.
Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, stated that Il
contesting delegates from that State hi
agreed and were harmonious in this Conve
ton. he arose, therefore, to move that oil
member Of each delegation be apponts
on the committee on resolutions, the two
have but one vote. Carried.
Mr.. AcDougal, of California, moved tn