Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-08
The New York Convention.
The character of the motley crew that

other country. The Northern wing was
made up of Canadian refugees, bounty jum
pers 'circlers, Camp Douglass conspirators,
deserters, regulators, genuine Copper
heads and old time 'Locofocos, with
Brick Pomeroy, Dirty Shirt Dean, ''Bowles,
Milligan, and Horsey," Vailandigham and
Fernando Wood to lead them. The South
ern wing was composed of Wade Hampton
(ex-rebel general), James Chestnut Ia sece-
ding United States Senator and member of
the rebel Congressl, Judge Aldrieh (last
year removed by General Canby from his
judgeship for open hostility to the Govern
ment), Ex-Governor John L. Manning (rebel
commissioner from South Carolina in 1861,
and member of the State Convention that
declared South Carolina out of the Union)
NJ l.. Bonham tone of the seeding mem
bcrs of Congress, representative in the rebel
Congress, rebel Governor of South Carolina,
and one of the rebel commissioner to Bu
chanan who demanded that the general Gov
ernment should not attempt to hold Fort
Sumpter), Robert Barnwell Rhett (the Cal
houn of the rebellion, the first man who in
the United States Congress, of which he was
both Representative and Senator, openly
advocated dissolution of the Union) and
Napoleon Bouaparte Forrest, the fcnd of
of Fort Pillow Beauregard was on hand az
general adviser. Breckenridge arrived at
| Toronto from France in time to be consult
ed, and John Surratt, ''late of the Confed-
crate Civil service" was within convenient
distance to add his advice and make known
his wishes We ought to be exceedingly
thankful to these distinguished gentlemen,
that after the ''late unpleasantness, they
are SO willing and anxious to take the con-
troll of the Government of the U. States.
This promiscuous crowd assembled on the
Fourth of July, unfortunately most i'll
omened anniversary for them, for it was on
that day in 1868, that their common cause
was so overwhelmingly overthrown at Get
tysburg and Vicksburg. They met in con
vention both wings united, to redeem if pos
| sible what the Southern wing then lost, but
the attempt will only result in anot her and
still more disastrous defeat
1t was, indeed, fitting that New York
should be selected as the place for holding
| this Convention it is in all respects,
to-day, the most disloyal city in the Union.
Moreover, there was convention there five
years ago-in July lS63-which has not
been forgotten By the loyal people of the
land, and which was as thoroughly Demo
cratic as the one which met there on Satu,-
day. That Convention burned an Orphan
Asylum; sacked private houses; beat, mu-
| t!lated and murdered inoffensive citizens
robbed men, women and children in broad
daylight on the public streets; pillaged
!
Brooks clothing establishment; killed Col.
O. Brien of the Eleventh New York, and
dragged his body through the streets with a
rope; committed every crime known to the
calendar, a''a =" - .ha name of Democra-
cy opposing the Draft What city could
present more corrupting record to the
members of such Convention? What spot
save Andersonville or Salisbury, could bt
more congenial to Democratic sympathies
Truly, New York with its foreign element
/ its dens of iniquity, and above all its numer
Gus mobs with their Democratic record, wa
the SPOT of all others, the most fitting fo
such convention.
And Horatio Seymour was Of all men tn
most fitting to preside over such gathering
in place SO appropriate. Five years ag
he was Governor of the State, when tn
Democratic mobs butchered and murdered
| iObDtu
screamed and danced through the streets il
perfect carnival of blood In the YER
hight of their dia5olical frenzy he addresse,
them as my friends, and could find n
means to ''cocrce' them to obey the laws
and to desist from murder, arson, rapine am
robbery Moreover, he was at all times tn
earnest friend of the rebellion, and in tn
very beginning declared that if slavery mus
go he was in favor of letting the Govern
ment go with it. Who, of all men, wa
more eminently adapted for permanent pres
ident of this piebald gathering of rebels
draft sneaks, copperheads, and traitors?
The very elements of which this demo
cratic National Convention" was composed
make it stencil in the nostrils of all t-u
patriots. Its work will be in vain, for it
candidates are doomed to an Overwhelming
defeat. The people, who have endured sue
sacrifices of treasure and blood as the worl
| navar hefore witnessed IN nraServe thi