The Van Buren press., 1866-08-25
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
Great Enthusiasm and Harmony.
PHLADILpHIA, Aug, IL.

Randall opened the Convention by say
ing:
GENTLEMEN | have To announce that
the delegates from South Carolina and
Massachusetts, will now come arm in arm
to the Convention. This announcement
was greeted with great applause the au-
dieuce rising, and mt this moment Major
General Couch, OF Massachusetts and
Governor Orr, of South Carolina, and
the delegations. entered arm in arm, while
banners were flying aud music playing
Shout after shout followed; cheers rent
the air, and tears filled the eyes OF dele
gates and spectators.
Gen. Dix was nominated temporary
chairman, and in accepting, said;
! regard this convention of no ordina-
ry character, not only on account of the
high political standing of the gentlemen
composing it, but because it is 4 conven-
ton of all the States of this Union.
( [Applause Because We cannot doubt
that if its proceedings are conducted with
1 harmony and good judgment, that it will
z lead to most important results. Ii may be
said that no body of men have met on
this continent under circumstances so mo-
mentous and so important since the year
! I776, the year when our ancestors assem-
bled in this city to form better govern
ment for the States which formed the old
confederation--a government which has
| been confirmed and made more enduring
as we trust, by the fearful trials and per-
| lis which it has encountered and over
come Applause Ten of the States
have, as yet, no representation in the Leg
islature of our country, and against this
wrong we have come here to protest, and
as much as is in our power to redress.
When the President Ofthe United States
declared the war had closed, all the States
had the right of representation. The ex-
istence of new conditions are subversivc
of our national liberty, dangerous to pub
lie peace loud applause and the govern
ment which our fathers fought to estab-
lish and which We fought to maintain.
He trusted, that in the convention the
main idea would be to change the COM
plexion of Congress, to purify the Re
public and bring it back to its original
standard, one country, one flag, and one
Union o. equal States. After appoint.
ment cf committees on credentials, reso-
Ilutions and organization, the convention
adjourned until noon tomorrow.
Senator Doolittle has been nominated
in committee on organization as perma-
nent chairman.
Vallandigham sent q letter to the Ohio
delegation declining to go into the con-
ventiou, to be read tomorrow, before
that body. . r- r ..t#a
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 10.
The convention was called to order al
| an early hour, to day, when the Commit.
tee on organization reported Mr.. Doolit-
And N Secretary rataf9fR} E5}f f9Ea f9Ea ss s1es President
The meeting is very large and very en-
tlusastic. Nothing like the interest this
Convention excites, has ever been known
here, and the enthusiasm is unparalleled
The best feeling prevails among the mem
bers. The scene on the entrance of the
South Carolina and Massachusetts mem
bers, arm in arm, yesterday, is indescri-
bable. One wild burst of applause fol
lowed, and it was minutes before order
could he restored. 1t was not without
its effect throughout the city.
Philadeiphians are ju5ilant The con-
ventiOn has given confidence and tone to
the Conservatives and sounded the death
knell of Radicalism The best men in
the nation are in the convention, includ
ing forty five Major Generals of the T..
5. armies. . .. .
a committee of two from each State
was appointed to report resolutions and
an address to the public, tomorrow,
when the convention will probably ad-
journ, sine die. ....... .
The committee on credentials reported
in favor of Gen. Crosby's Maine delega-
ton. ...r..
The letter Of Vallandigham met with
great applause. After stating that the
Ohio delegation passed a resolution en-
dorsing him as duly elected delegate, his
ability and fitness to represent his con-
stituency, and declaring their readiness to
stand by him in asserting his rights as a
delegate, should he present himself to the
convention, he says Yielding my own
deliberate convictions of duty and right
to the almost unanimous opinion and de-
sire of my friends whose wisdom and
soundncss Of judgment, sincerity and pu-
rity Of motives may not question, and
to the end that there shall be no pretext
from any quarter for any controverting
question or disturbing element in the con
vention to mar its harmony, or hinder it
in any of its results to the cause of the
Union and the Constitution, and public
liberty which shall follow from it's delibe-
rations and actions. | hereby withdraw
from the Ohio delegation, and decline Ia
king my seat in the convention. l am
profoundly conscious that the magnitude
of interests involved in the present po-
litical canvass in the United States, is too
momcntous not to demand the sacrifice
of every personal consideration, in this
struggle, upon the issue of which de-