Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-09-07
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.

This body assembled at Chicago, on Mon
day, the 39th August Hon Wm. Bigler
WIS chosen temporary President. On ta-
KING the chair, Mr.. Bigler thanked the del
egates for the "honor conferred. and then
went on to say -
''It.is not expected, nor ould be fitting in
one assuming mere temporary Presidency
OF this Convention. that he should enter up
on any general discussion Of the many topics
ruggested by the unhappy condition Of our
country. \ brief aluSion to the occasion
and Purposes OF our asSemblage Is all that
will be necessary No similar body ever as
,embed in America with mghtier objects
before, or to which such a vast proportion of
American people looked with such profound
soiicltude for measures to promote the wei
fare Of the country and advance their indi-
vidual happiness. The termination OF fDem-
ocratic rule in this country was the end Of
peaceful relations between the State and the
people. The eley; tion OF sectional party
TO authority at Washington, the culmina-
ton Of a long indulged, acrimonious war,
elimination and recrlmlnatlOn between eX-
trcme men at the North and South. were
prOmtiy followed by dissolution and civil war,
and III the progress Of that war even the
outworks of civil liberty have been imperil-
ei and the whole fabric brought to the very
verge Of destruction, and now. at the end
of more than three years of war unparal-
ieed iii modern times for its ma nitude and
ior barbarous desoiation, after more than
two millions OF men have been called into
the field on our side alone, after the land
has been literariily drenched in fraternal
blooiand wal lngs and lamentations are heard
IN every corner Of our common country, the
hopes OF the Union and of our cherished OBJ
ject are no wise improved The men now
III authority, through fued which they
long maintained with violent and unwise
men at the South, because of a blinJ tanatl-
clsm about an institution in some States,
and IN relation to which they bad no duties to
perform and no responsibilities to near, are
utterly incapable of adopting proper means
TO rescue our coutry, our whole country
romits present lamentable condition. Then,
gentlemen, it Is apparent that the first in
dlspensabic step To the accomplishment Of
this great work is the overthrow by the bal
lot Of the present Administration, and the
inauguration of an other in its stead, which
will wisely and zealously, but temperately
and Justly WELD all the influence and power
OF the Government to bring about speedy
settlement of onr internal troubles on the
principles or the Constitution, and on terms
honorable and Just to all sections. North,
South, East and " est; one which will stand
unialteringly by civil and religious liber,y !;
NJ which, instead Of relying solely on It's
peculiar dOgmas and doctrines and the raw
ages Of the sword, will refer the national
trouble to the people, the fountain of polit-
lea. authority, and to the States under the
forms Of the Constitution one which will
have no conditions precedent to the restora-
Ton Of the Union, but viii diligently seek
that resnlt as return Of permanent peace
amongst the people Gentlemen, you have
been commissioned by the people to come
here and initiate steps TO accomplish these
great objects, to select an agent and agencies
IN the good work That that duty will be
well performed | have an unfaltering faith,
ana that the people may sanction and God
bless those means TO the desired end Is my
sincere prayer
On the Both, the Convention selected
bov. HOratio Seymour, of New York, as
permanent President He said there were
reasons why the Democratic party should be
restored to power The Administration now
IA power, he asserted, cannot save the Union
II 1t would. 1t has placed obstacles in its
wa which 1T cannot overcome. 1t has ham
pered Its own freedom of action by uncon-
Iltullonalties. The guaranteed rights OF
the people to bear arms have been trampled
under foot up to the very borders of Cana
va SO that American servitude is put In
P9l9 contrast with British liberty This
,cnlon Is now held assunder by military am
sluon. If our political troubles could be re-
4efred to peace arbritrament, away from the
S'hfendlng armies in the field, our onion