The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-09-14
The Chicago convention,

Governor Bigler, of Pa, Chairman, who
made short copperhead speech. The
Convention was subsequently permanent
ly organized by electing Gov. Seymour of
New York, Chairman, with numerous
Vice Presidents and Secretaries. On
taking the Chair, Gov. Seymour delivered
an address, the burden of which was the
/ short comings and misdeeds of the pres
ent Administration.
In the afternoon of the second day, a
diluted Peace Platform, which We pub
| lish elsewhere, was adopted. The names
of Gen. Mcclellan, Thos. II. Seymour,
MilIard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and
others were brought forward as candidates
for President. 4 tumultuous debate
/ followed Mr. Harris, of Maryland said ::
One was nominated here to-day who is
tyrantv TCheers and hisses.3 He it
was who first initiated the policy by which
our rights and liberties were stricken
down. That man is George B. Mcclellan
\ Confusion Maryland, which has suf-
fered so much at the hands of that man,
will not submit to his nomination in ST.
leuce His offences shah be made known.
This Convention is a jury appointed by
the people to pass upon the merits Of the
public men whose names would be pre-
seuted for the support Of the great Dem,
ocratic party. Gen. NcCleIlaD, repeat,
is tYrant. TGreat confusion Istand
here to indict him.
Mr. Harris read AloCIellan's order of
arrest against the Legislature Of Mary
land, and proceeded to comment upon the
same, but the confusion was so gr3at that
the speaker could net be heard. He was
understood to say that all the charges of
usurpatIon and tyranny that can be bro't
against Lincoln and Butler he could make
and substantiate against Mcclellan
+ Kisses, cheers, and cries Of "Fote for
JEFF Davis."J
Mr. Harris proceeded to say that Gen.
Mcclellan was an assassin OF State rights,
an usurper of our liberties, and if nomi-
mated he would be beaten everywhere, as
he was at Antietam He added that he
could not 60 home and ask the members
Of the Legislature of his State to vote for
such a man. lie would not himself vote
for him. Kisses.
Mr.. Oarrigan, of Pennsylvania, raised
point Of order, that the gentleman
having said that be would not vote fer
Mcclellan if nominated he had no right
to take part in the proceedings of the
Convention.
The President decided that the point
point was well taken: and, amid the
widest confusion,
Mr.. Harris retired from the stand,
Gen. Morgan, Of Ohio, as a fellow sol
der Of Mcclellan, could not remain silent
while the name and fame Of that distin-
gEished general was SO shamefully i'm
pugned, The charge was untrae. When
the Maryland Legislature was in session
at Annapolis, Gen. Joe johnson, of the
rebel ermy, was at Annapolis, and the
conspiracy was formed, and certain mem
bers Of the Legislature were conspirators.
They intended that the State should Sc
cede, and Rn ordinance of secession was
framed. Maryland was TO be invaded, /
overwhelmed by the enemy, and taken
out of the Union. What did Gen. Nc,
Clellan do? he simply took the best
precautions in his power to thwart the
reasonable scheme, and had he lot SO
done, he would have been guilty Of the
vilest treason. The man who says that
Gen. Mcclellan is tyrant does not know .
him. A thorough soldier, with the gaa-
tleness of a woman and the courage of
Iion-no more amiable and kind, gener- /
Gus hearted gentleman exists on the face
of the earth, and no greater libel can be
uttered than when such man Is called
a traitor. [Applause]
Mr. Harris, Of Maryland, explained
that what he had said was that he could
not 60 before the people of Maryland and
ask them or the members Of the Legisla-
ture Of that State to vote for Gen. bic.
Olellan. He did not say that he would
not vote for him. lie held himself bound
to vote for the candidate of the Con
vention.
NF. Jones, of Maryland, regretted that
the gentleman who had taken the stand
in defence Of Gen. Mcclellan had assumed
the ground he had, and intimated that
there was a co!Iusion between the mem
bers of The Legislature and certain rebel
generals, Had he put it upon creditable
evidences, he (Mr jones' might have
renamed silent, but he could not permit
the Legislature of Maryland to be SO
falsely charged.
Gen. Morgan explained that he had
intended to say that Gen Mcclellan had
acted upon testimony which he had re-
garded as creditable.
Mr.. Jones said that so far from being
II had ever henn nronnnnnad |