The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-20
From Our Own Correspondent.
THE PHILADELPHIA iC0NYENTION.
The Weather---The WigWam---The
Music---MasSaChusettS and South
Carolina conference.-the ResOlu
tiOns and Address, &c.
PHILADELPHIA. Aug. Is, 1866.

tAUMb anu Auut OooS aANs
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. Is, 1866.
A heavy, leaden SKY, with occasion
al showers, gave promise this morning
of another disagreeable day, but lit
tie later the clouds began to break
away, and now and then veritable
sunbeam found it's way below, and
cheered all hearts with a promise of
weather more suitable for the pur-
pose of holding Conventions than was
the drenching rain of yesterday. By
ten o'clock all threatening appear
ances had worn away, and the crowds
began their journeyings to that now
prominent Mecca of politicians-the
Wigwam. Every street car was
crowded to its utmost capacity-pas-.
sengers being happy in the pos
session of standing room upon the
platform-wbile the hacks could not
begin to supply the demand made up
on them
The main thoroughfares leading to
the building where met the Conven-
ton, poured ceaseless stream Of foot
men and foot-women into the spacious
grounds surrounding, some in posses
sion of cards of admission, but far the
greater number content to group with
out to gaze and speculate upon what
was going on within. 1t was observed
to-day that, despite the prohibition of
the authorities, the numerous booths
and stalls erected about the Wigwam,
and along the streets leading thereto,
were busily engaged in active traffic,
dishing out their provender, both solid
and fluid, in the most unconcerned
manner immaginable You cannot
keep down the trading propensities of
these northerners, and / verify believe.
that if fair chance were given some
of them, they would drive hard bar
gain with some luckless spectator for
the very rope with which they were to
be hung. fs at
THE wIGwAM. ~
This building, destined, it seems, to
cut quite figure in the political his
tory Of our country, for the reason of
| the purpose to which it has been put,
or rather for what it was erected, is
an immense structure of pine plank,
hastily put together and not yet com
plete, capable of seating within its i'm
mense area many thousand people.
From distance, the appearance of
so large building is very imposing;
but nearer view destroys all such
diffusion, and we can only realize
monster barn looming up before US.
| The interior is divided into areas for
the delegates, places for the reporters
of the press, and galleries for the
spectators, all profusely decorated
with our national colors, and hung
around with folds of tri-colQTed
drapery. Over the Presidents chair
are displayed two immense flags, de-
scending in graceful folds, while still
above these is transparency emblem
attic Of the Union. All around the
building there stretches belt of red,
white and, blue bunting, the blue
ground being studded. with stars.
Over the pillars that support the roof
there is a shield containing the coat
! of arms of each State. Thousands of
smaller flags futtered from every part
of, the immense room, while over all,
| flashing in the sunlight that has come
at last, another banner is waving from
the flag staff at the top <4gu1t :
nie4as THE BAND.
| ], While the crowd was gathering and
after all were seated, airline band 10
Gated in galleryyoNer the main en-
trance, played the National airs, and
wound up part, first by playing
Dixie. 1t is Somewhat Significant fact
that while The Star Spangled Banner,
Halt Columbia ettc.,s.' were being
| played, there was little or no enthusi-
asm manifested, but whenH" Dixie"
was being given cheer after cheer was
sent up, and hats and handkerchiefs
were waved sin al hnanherIthat jwodId
have done eredititog a1otoof enthused
Frenchmen while listening TO the
Marsailles.. Imake no com e4nlftsAit
requires none. 5aH Eaa iaoa ..,5 sl5jlgo1q