The New York herald., 1867-09-26

MIR. James Gibson was made temporary chair
man. In his brief address he struck the key
note OF the political campaign as this party is
going to conduct it. The whole burden Of
his remarks was about President johnson.
The party, finding no great principles to go
upon or to bring forward, no new issues or
measures to propose, and being anxious to
throw Off the odium of the ruinous policy it has
been pursuing the last year or two, it proposes
to make Mr.. johnson and his blunders the sub
ject matter of the campaign. In repudiating
rim, their own President, they intend to throw
him and bis blunders upon the democrats. 1t
is very narrow platform to stand upon,
but seems to be the best they can find
There was a very lively time in the Conven-
ton at the commencement on the question of
calling the roll OF delegates. The Weed dele
CATION, headed by Mr.. Rufus Andrews, insisted
upon being placed on the roll. Ths radicals
opposed this. Finally the list of contestants
was called and the matter referred to the Com
mittee on Contested Seats.
After a recess till two o'clock the Hon.
Roscoe Conkling was chosen President of the
Convention. On taking the chair he followed
the usual practice OF making speech. 1t was
like all such speeches, highly eulogistic Of the
party, very forid and full of the old political
claptrap we have heard hundred times.
But, like that of the temporary chairman, it
was chiefly confined to one theme-denuncia-
ton of President Johnson, his measures and
policy. Mr.. Conkling was afraid to touch the
vital questions of the day-negro supremacy
and the national finances. Like Mr.. Gibson,
the burden Of his talk was Johnson, johnson.
The campaign is to be conducted on no other
or higher issue than denunciation Of the man
the republican party chose as its leader,
though it now denounces him. And this Mr..
Conkling calls the party of great principles
and great ideas. Why, it is afraid to enunciate
clearly any principle. 1t has no avowed policy
but hostility to the Executive itself created.
Mr.. Conkling made q mistake when he said
the Fortioth Congress was carrying out the will
of the people in It's reconstruction or negro
supremacy policy, and that the dominant radi-
cal party is faithfully doing that for which it
was elected. No such thing. The success of
the republicans was due to their declarations
that the Constitutional Amendment was to be
the settlement of our political troubles and
restoration of the South. They were elected
on this platform. Negro supremacy and
negro balance of political power was an after
thought The people see this now-see how
they have been cheated-and hence the reac-
ton in public sentiment and the alarm of the
party. 1t is not the President that is before
the bar of public opinion or the democratic
party 30 much as the republicans themselves.
They cannot shift the responsibility for keep
ing the country disorganized and threatening
the republic with negro rule from their own
responsible for Mr.. Johnson, whom they ele-
yated to poweS The disorganizing and ruin
Gus legislation Of radical republican con-
gress is the great question now before the
people, and all the efforts to disguise IL by
assai!ing Mr. johnson will not succeed.
The Convention made short work Of the
Murphy-Weed delegation by rejecting them and
admitting the rival delegation from New York.
Mr.. Andrews, who spoke for the discounted
conservatives, pleaded earnestly FOR recogni-
ton and forgiveness for past offences, but TO no
purpose. The Convention was inexorable, and
the rejected delegates departed with the COM
fort Of hope held out to them that il they should
behave better in future and vote the repub-
lican ticket they might be admitted to the fold
again. Notwithstanding this action Of the Con-
venion in rejecting the Murphy-Weed delegs-
ton, there was an evident desire TO keep every
section of the party together. Dependency
and fear of defeat operated powerfully in the
efforts for conciliation.
In the afternoon session General Mexican,
of Saratoga, was nominated for Secretary
OF State; Calvin T.. Hurlburd, Of ST. Lawrence.
for COMPTROLLER and Theodore C. Gates, OF
Ulster, for Treasurer. After adjournment, and
when the Convention met again at halfpast
seven O'Clock in the evening, Judge Van Cott,
of Kings, was nominated for Attorney General
and A. G. Powell, of Onondaga, for State En-
pineer. The old Canal Commissioners have
| not been renominated.
Under pressure Of the German republican
delegation from this city the Convention
| agreed to . modification Of the Excise law. The
great question, however, was that ofequal negro
suffrage, and to that the Convention has com
mitted the party. twas done with trepidaton
and with evident reluctance at the last hour,
A great many Of the delegates left before the
| Convention concluded its labors II remains
to be seen how this negro suffrage plank in
the republican platform will be received by
the people Of the State, though, as far as New
York itself is concerned, 1t will make
little difference, as the negroes are
. small fraction of the community. The
resolution on this question is wordei
very delicately and in loose, general
terms, and does not touch at all the important
question of negro supremacy and negro
balance Of power in ten or more States of the
Union. On the whole, the Convention acted
Il -