The Portland daily press., 1868-08-29

COionel william Brown, of Nicholasvile
Kentucky, made speech before the Grant
Club of Frankfort, on the 10th. Colonel Brown
was in the confidence of the Chief Justice dur
ing the period that he had undericonsderation
the overtures made to him by the progression
lists of the Democratic party, and he gives
calmly, clearly, and fully, the history OF the
connection OF the Chief Justice with the New
York Convention, explaining the motives OF
Mr' Chase, and the purposes and strategy Of
MS friends in the Convention, and detaili ng
the part taken by Governor Seymour, and the
means employed by the reactionists to defeat
Chase and Seymour
| we quote a few passages, which show the
craft of Seymour and his friends:
| AT night on the 8th July, Mr.. Horatio Sou
mour still protested that he was for Mr.. CHASE.
but Mr.. Chase had friends who doubted Mr.
SSeymours sincerity from the first and who be-
Ieyed that he was acting with duplicity
| 10 be sure that Mr. Seymour was sincere it
was arranged before breakfast on the morning
vi July y, that he should be put in nomination,
6 6y aitiend OF Mr. Chasas in order to force HIM
rom cover, and compel him to reveal his true
policy. On the very ballot that he was nomi.
mated, hls name would have been nut before
the Convention by gentleman from Sonib.
ern State, who is young, intellectual and
OouiaScous, anu WIS u warm advocate a
Chase's nomination. The object of this smova.
ment" was to circumvent Mr., Seymour's
treachery, IT he inteLded any; but it was de-
feated by the superoior strategy of the reac-
uOnistS.
The only hope they had after Mr.. Pendle-
toms defeat was to secure a weak neryous
cowardly man the first place on the ticket.
and to nominate a bold, courageous, strang,-
willed reactionist for the Vice Presidency, and
IN this attempt they succeeded so perfectly as
NV adD mir fi,N,, f,,t Ios. I.t
and courage. 1t was arranged at the meeting
OF the prOgressionists to whiC h have referred,
that a petition which had been prepared by a
German editor from Wisconsin, and which
had been signed by nearly every German edi-
tor then in New York city, asking for the |
nomination of Mr.. Chase, should be read to |
the Convention by MIR. Seymour, as its presid- |
ing officer, he having previously declined to |
nominate Mr.. Chase himself, on the ground |
that he was the President OF the Convention; |
put L have been told by a gentleman now liy- |
ing in New York City, and whose veracity L |
have no reason to question, that on the morn |
ing OF July 9, a short time before the Conven-
ton met, MIR. Seymour read to him from the
which he said he would deliver to the Con,
vention when Mr. Chase's name was brought
before 1T, and he believes Mr.. SEYMOUR had
that speech in his pocket when he was NOM
mated Relying on Mr.. Seymour and the New
York delegation the progressionists met in
the Convention on the morning OF july q full
OF hope in the success of their plan But
counter movement had been going on This
was the game.
These men determined, with the aid of the I
Southern rebels, to capture Horatio Seymour
from TIE progressionists and nominate him.
Knowing that this would so demoralize that
faction as to give them absolute control of the
Convention, and that not voice would be
Iaised when they brought forward their own
man for the Vice Presidency, who had already
been agreed on by the reactonsts. II was the /
most successful movement ever made in this |
country in National Convention; but it was
forlorn hope; any moral courage ON Mr.. Sey-
mOur's part, any thought of how great men
act in trying emergencies any reflection on
his part OF the resolution displayed by Caesar
at the Rubicon, by Huss at the stake by Grant
at Vicksburg, and any desire to emulate the
example OF these great men, would have COW
ered the revolutlonists with overwhelming de-
feat. .1e
But they knew well their man. Ohio led
on. Mr.. Seymour rose to his feet The still
ness of death filled the great hall. Mr.. Sey-
mour, trembling with excitement and filled
with lear, stood and pleaded for his character
IL was piteous sight. The poor man told of
his promises; that when he had refused the
use OF his name he meant it, and that now his
honor forbade it. Think of this, my hearersl
He stood there and pleaded for his "honor."
When he had finished his appeal, he was
boldly told that, after what had occurred, his |
honor was now safe in the hands of the reac- |
tlOnists Ohio returned to the Charge the |
rebels throughout the hall raised the same |
wild and savage yell with which Hampton
and Forrest had so often charged the soldiers
of the Union 1t was too much for Mr. Sey-
mour. Braver men than be had quailed be-
fore that battle cry; he hesitated, he yielded,
then fled ANONYMOUSLY from the scene. Ali
was now over. The decentralization Of the pro-
gresslonists was complete, and the rebels held
1T their own way. Hence, an unpardoned reb-
ell soldier could rise to his feet and propose the
name of Francis p. Blair, Jr., the very prince
OF revolutiOnsts, as the Vice President of the
nation this same rebel had fought to Destroy
Rebels again triumphed; the deed wac done,
and when the Convention adjourned, the hap |
piest men in New York city were General |
William Preston, General Wade Hampton, |
and General N. Il. Forrest, and they had good |
reason to be so, for, in the heart of the great |
North, they had achieved the greatest political |
victory OF the present generation, and had |
done their work wisely and well. Thus, |
through the cowardice Of one poor, weak man, |
perished the fairest and most auspicious move |
ment in behalf OF liberty and progress that |
this country has witnessed since the old bell |
our nationality.
To elect Mr.. Seymour President would not
only be ridiculous, it would be crminally so
With the restless spirit of Frank Blair hover
ing over him, surrounded by bold, strong-will-
ed men like McCook, Hampton, Forrest,
Semmes and Vallandgham. he would be gov
erned like child. Like Hotspurs startling,
he would be taught what to say, and he would
say 1t. In three months after his Inaugural
tion he would not know whether he was in
the White House or in bedlam, whether he
was the first magistrate of a mighty people,
or boot-black on Pennsylvania avenue.