The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-09-08

THE CHICAGO CoNvENrIoN.- any doubts
existed in regard to the character and de.
signs Of the organization which unjustly yet
arrogates to itself the ancient and honorable
name IF Democracy, those doubts must be
dissipated by the character of the men who
composed the late Chicago Convention and
the sayings and doings, and the omissions
to say and do on that occasion.
1t was to be hoped that in the present con-
dition of the country, an organization which
is yet for good or evil power in the land,
might have included within its membership
asufficient number of men who from motives
Of policy If not of patriotism and principle,
might have risen to conception of the ex-
isting emergency and the requirements of the
times, and influenced the party to some at
least seeming Difference and devotion to the
great principles of civil and religious liberty
and the preservation Of the best government
on earth. Had such been the case, had even
any snail portion of that convention made
an effort in the direction of pure patriotism,
We are sure all truly loyal men would have
rcjoced to know the fact, and would have
gladly recognized and applauded it.
But such was most emphatically not the
case. No evidence whatever can be found
in the sayings or doines of the Chicago Con-
vention, that the slightest emotion of loyalty
or true patriotism animated that body either
individually or collectively. IN their con-
versations, in their speeches on the streets,
and in their official action in the Corv ention
you will look in vain to find one loval. pat
r'otic or noble sentiment. There was not
one. They were there in force, a multitude
from all parts Of the country. and yet in that
vast crowd not an expression was heard
which by implication could be tortu red into
condemnation of the infamous crew of South.
ern traitors, murderers Of SO many thousands
of northern mer, our relatives. friends or
neighbors, while from every throat was
belched forth the vilest epithets upon the
President of the United States, the Com.
mander-in-chief of our armies and navies.-
And indeed considering the composition of
that convention, it would have been unrea
sonable to expect anything else. A body Of
men composed of such materials as that was.
discarded politicians of former age, fossils
OF defunct organizations, men whose minds
have been soured by many defeats and filed
with venom by many disappoirtments, men
of whom Dodge, Jones and Mahoney from
this State are fair samples,- from such men
what could be expected but treason Of the
most unadulterated and vilest description.
From the commencement of the slave hold.
er's rebellion they have been in sympathy
with it; many have sent sons and relations
to fight in its armies; they have discouraged
enlistments IN the Union army they have
threatened resistance to draft; they have
discredited the National currency they have
dane all they could by persistent m,srepre-
sentation and abuse to weaken confidence
in the President and all exercising civil and
military trusts; they have declared coercion
unconstitutional and wrong they have per-
sistently declared that the rebels could not
be conquered and have all along advocated
peace and tame surrender to armed rebel.
lion. by acknowledging the Southern Con.
federacy.
That such men when meeting together in
National convention should even from pru-
dental motives forget the past and assume
even for the time Q new character, was not
to be expected. 1t is true that some more
prudent and polite such as Seymour and
even Vallandighaln and the Woods, were
more careful in the selection of their words,
but the great mass, the Rynders, Trains and
the like threw ofFall disguise and spoke their
real sentiments, treason of the rankest des.
cription. The loyal air of Chicago was
made fetid with their foul rawlings.
And yet what bundle of inconsistencies
they Matched. Their nominee for the Prssi-
dency has nc merit save that acuuired bv