Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1866-08-23
Second Days proceedings.

#tH De. .a D
PHILADELPrIA, Aug. l5.--The National UIrion
Convention reassemblcd at noon to-day. Long
.hefore the hour of assembling tho Higwam was.
crowded with delegates and spectators, including
a large number of ladies, who were entertained
with national airs by the band of music. q :.
m. 1.-THE NOMINATION OF oFFIcKRs. -.
After the prayer Gen. - sDixiannouncei that til
first business beiore-th convention was the re-
port Of the committee appointed yesterday. .i...
Mr.. Blair, of Maryland, then arose and said:--
am instructed by, the committee on organiza-
ton to report the following names as the officers
of the convention ...y 'tt... .H..s ....st
consin, with vice President from each State.
Maryland being represented in that position by
Cen Vckers. ..,.a .'.. - ..".- N
Gen. Dix, at the conclusion of the reading o.
the above report, introduced Mr.. Doolittle, who
was received with great applause, and on tax.
ing the chair spoke as follows: ...s-. q p.
.n.. SPEECH oE THE PRESIDENT. .- ..
Gentlemen OF the Convention and fellow citi-
zens of the United Statcs-[ Applause. For the
distinguished honor OF being called upon to
preside over the deliberations of this convention
sincerely thank you. could have wished tha,
its responsibilities had fallen upon another But
relying upon that courtesy and generous conii-
dence which has called me TO the chair, enter at
ouce upon its duties with IN earnest desire for
the success Of that great cause in which we are
now engaged: Among the great events of on
own day, this convention, in my opinion, witt
prove to be ono Of the greatest for peace hath vic
tories not less renowned than war. lApplause.
And this COM ention is ono of her viciOrics--may
not say crowning vctorys Applause.
For The first time in six years Il national cen
vention representing all the States is now assem-.
bled. Six long, weary years. As l look back, oh
what an interval of blood and agony and tears.
During that period we have been engaged In the
most gigantic civil war the world has ever seen
Wasting our resources, drcnching thousand
battle-iclds in tratcrnal blood, and carrying t.
fraternal graves our fathers, our sons and gu
brothers, by hundreds of thousands. But thank
be to Almighty God the war Is over. Applause.
oh, my fellow-citizens, If the whole people of tn,
United States could this moment look in upon
this conventions if they could see what we now
witness, the North and the South the East and
the West joining together in fraternal association
as friends and tcllow-citizcns, our work would
be already done. [ Applause. lfthey could s,c, =
We saw, Massachusetts and South Carolina rtrs
plausc] by their full delegations coming nrni-.n
arm into this great convention [applause +
they could have seen this body, greater in iI6...
bers and in weight Of character and brain th..-
ever has assembled onithis continent, under one
roof melting TO Jears Of joy and gratitude, to
witness this commingling, there would he no
struggle at the polls In the coming electon.A
GAPplause. Tf:-9t'. pr 7-i o. 20 .,12
When remember that It was Massachusetts
and South Carolina that in the convention which
framed the constitution, voted against the abol-
tion of the slave trade;tha II was Massachusetts,
in 1912, which through some of her men, taught
the doctrines of Modification, which South Caro-
lima reasserted in 1889, and in the form Of seces-
sion reassertcd in 1860, when call to my mind
that South Carolina fired the. first gun, in this
contest and that the veins Of Massachusetts pour
ed out the first blood in the struggle; [applause
and when call 10 mind all these memories, and
at tho same time ask the peo fe of this country to
look in on this convention and see these two old
States of the Union coming here, in fraterna EN-;
brace, approaching the common altar Of q com.
mon country ready to make common sacrifices
for the good of the whole say again, could the
whole people of the United States witness All this
there would remain no further work for us tc
perform. (Applause.l fthe people Of Massa-
chusetts herself could have Witnessed it, not sin
gle member would be returned to Congress from
that State-lgreat applauseI he had giver
most sacred assurance that he would do all il
his power In Congress to recognize the equality
and dignity Of all the Suites uuder the, constitu
tion--Gapplause1 including the sac red and inal
iensble right Of every State under the eonstitu.
| tion TO representation in both houses of Congress
Gentlenisn Of the Convention, ! shall 20 int
no arg6meiit on this occasion. tCries Of ssG
| ob.rI The distinguished gentleman Gen. Dix
who produced me has said all that would desir
10 say, much better finn could sty Il, Tenders
I.and takegteat pleasure IN fully endorsing, a
tAppiaase;1 ga 'h '4t ~ ga
II fcliow-citizens, unfortunately, Il may be, th
!, whole people Of the, United States are not her