Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-08-17
The Great National Convention.


L Rl Nh PHILADELPHiA, Aug. 10.
CORDIAL GREETINGS TO THE LIONS OF THE
4 t M CONVENTION.
i { spectators In the galleries narrowly
watched the main entrance for the appear
ance of notabilities. The first who arrived
was Heister Clymer, the Democratic candi-
date for Governor of Pennsylvania, and he
was greeted with loud huzzas. During the
assembling of the Convention, knots or per-
sons gathered around Reverdy johnson, old
Mr.. Blair, Hendricks, OF Indiana, Dean
Richmond, Governor Orr, and Generals
Steedman, Couch, Custar and Mears, and as
soon as q prominent gentleman was de-
| scried on the floor the throngs IN the gai-
| leries, the fact was made known by their
cheers When General Dix entered, the
welcome was tumhltuous. fia
~ CONVENTION CALLED TO ORDER.
After few appropriate airs by the band,
including "Should auld acquaintance be
| forgot" the Convention was called to or
Ger, shortly after twelve.
| On the platform were Chief Justice
| woodward, of Pennsylvania. Ex-Governor
| Bigler, Postmaster General Randall. Sena-
tor Doolittle, several prominent Demo-
cratic originators of the call, and other dis
tingulshed gentlemen. r...-. .
THE SCENE IN THE wIGwAM. .
The scene, when the vast multitude had
| become still, was grand and imposing.
| The ladies, whose attendance was sparing
| Yesterday, turned out to-day in great num-
bers. and were attentive spectators OF the
proceedings.
A breeze of excitement sprang up near
the main entrance, which. for moment, 0ld
fair to produce something OF panic, put
the commOtion, which was caused Dy ngnt
growing out of a scramble for a seat, soon
subsidized, and the Convention listened at
tentively to the prayer. ~
'd THE OPENING PRAYER.
To-day's session was opened with prayer
by the Rev. John T. Holsnger, of Green
vile, Tennessee, the home of the President.
Mr.. Holsinger served three years as Chap
lain OF the 1st Tennessee Union cavalry.
u. THE PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The devotions over, Montgomery Blair
reported from the committee on Organlza-
tion the officers of the Convention. The
announcement of Senator DoOlittle's name
for President was greeted with prolonged |
and deafening tokens of appreciation, the |
members rising to their feet, and the out |
side thrOng testifying their feelings III no |
less enthusiastic manner.
The cheers were repeated on the an
nouncement of Vice Presidents, selected
from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylva-
mia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, In the de- |
gree of their reputation or notoriety.
When General Dix introduced Mr. DOo-
little, and the latter stepped forward, thun-
ders of applause rolled up from the bench
es swelled by vociterOus chorus OF shouts
from the galleries. ......
MR.. DooLITTLE's SPEECH ON TAKING THE |
.t CHAIR.
He spoke with great deliberation, and in |
q deep, sonOrous voice that reached every |
ear. When he addressed the Gentlemen
of the Convention and tellow-citizens of
the United States" the emphasis and pause
upon the word limited" produced another |
round of loud and general applause. So
with his reference to this Convention as
the crowning triumph of peace, which has |
her victories no less renowned than wars. |
The allusion to the incident of yesterday, |
wherein Massachusetts and South Carolina |
intermingled, produced similar effect, and |
when he declared that If the people of Mas
sachusetts could be present here, and wit
ness the spirit prevailing, not man of her
present delegation in Congress would be |
returned, thousands of voices Joined in the
shout.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. |
When the President announced that the |
committee on Credentials was ready to re-
port through their Chairman, Gen. Steed-
man, all eyes were instantly turned in the
direction of the Ohio Delegation tor sight
of that dashing Union officer. He remain
e1 standing until the report was read and
then moved the previous question on its
adoption. There were cOntesting delega-
tiOns from Maine. Delaware and New
York, but the decision of the committee
created, it is believed, no ill-feeliDg, partic-
ularly as it allows most of the contestants
seats as honorary members.
The proposition of the Credential COM
mittee not to have the names of the dele
gates read, gave rise in some quarters to an
idea that it was not merely movement for
the dispatch of business, but was designed
to cover up the circumstance that Mr.. Val
landigham had withdrawn.
vALLANDIGHAMs WITHDRAWAL.
Such impression, however, was quickly
removed by Mr.. Groesbeck, OF Ohio who
sent up to the Clerks desk, to be read, the
letter of Mr.. Vallandigham declining to act
as delegate.
There was great excitement when an OBJ
lection was made to the reading, aud it was
very evident that the curiosity of all to
its reading. The vote to suspend the rules
to permit the letter to be read was almost
unanimous. The reading was received with
various demonstrations until the point was
reached where he says that he has yielded
in order to produce harmony, when the
cheers were enthusiastic and prolonged.
SENATOR CoYAN, OF PENNSYLVANIA.
This breeze over, Senator Cowan, of
Pennsylvania, arose to offer his resolution
for the appointment of committee on Ad-
dress, and the announcement by the Presi-
dent called for torrent of app anse, which
swelled In volume for some seconds.
Loud calls were made upon him to take
the platform, but as he had no speech to
make, and evidently shrank from ostenta-
ton, the invitation was declined with a
smile and shake of the head. AS he has
rather tall figure, very many bad chance
above the other heads to realize the coveted
wish to see man who, from humble pa
rentage and backwOods origin, has grown
to such present prominence.
READING OF PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's DIS
PATCH.
Perhaps the crowning feature of the day
was President Johnson's dispatch in re-
Spouse to telegram from Messrs. Brown
ing aud Randall. The reading ofthe Pres
ident's dispatch produced scene Of. the
widest and intensest excitement through
out the Wigwam. The public mention of
Andrew Johnson's name In body Of the
character ofthe present Convention would,
Of course, be sufficient to awaken enthusi-
asm, but, in this instance, his words of en-
couragement, so fiattering to the hopes:of
his political friends, naturally created the