New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-04


nervous, cewardly man the first place on
the ticket, aad to nominate 9 bold,
courageous, strong .willed reaetionist for
the Vice-Presidency, and 10 this attempt
they succeeded 80 perfectly as to excite my
admiration of their tact, skill and courage.
1t was arranged at the meeting of the pro-
gressionists to which have referred, that
a petition which had been prepared by a
German editor from Wisconsin, and which
had been signed By nearly every German
editor then in New York City, asking
for the nomination of Mr.. Chase, should be
its presiding officer, he having previously
declined to nominate Mr.. Chase himself,
on the ground that he was the President
OF the convention but have
been told by gentleman now living in
New York city, and whose veracity have
no doubt to question, that on the morning
OF July ninth, a short time before the con-
vention met, Mr.. Seymour read to him
from the manuscript, a very chaste, neat
little speech. which he said he would de-
LIVER to the convention when Mr.. Chase's
name was brought before it, and he be-
lieves Mr.. Seymour had that speech in his
pocket when he was nominated. Relying
on Mr.. Seymour and the New York dele
cation, the progressionists met in the con-
vention on the morning Of July ninth, full
OF hope in the success of their plan. But
counter movement had been going on.
was told in Cincinnati, the other day, by a
prominent Democrat, that only six mem
beers OF the Ohio delegation were made
privy to the nomination of Mr.. Seymour.
This was the game.
These men determined, with the aid of
the Southern rebels, to capture Horatio
Seymour from the 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 raised when they
brought forward their own man for the
Vice Presidency, who had already been
agreed on by the reactionists. 1t was the
most successful movement ever made in
this country in a National Convention; but
it was forlorn hopes any moral courage
on Mr.. Seymour'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 Luther at Worms, by
Jefferson or Franklin at Independence
Hall. by Grant at Vicksburg by Thomas,
at Chickamauga, and any desire to emulate
the example of these great men, would
have covered the reactionists with over
welming defeat.
But they knew well their man. Ohio
led off. Mr.. Seymour rose to his feet. The
stiffness of death filed the great hall.
There, on that bright July morning, in the
midst Of that vast mass of humanity in the
commercial metropolis of the nation and of
his own State, to which the eyes of forty
millions OF people were turned that day,
Mr.. Seymour, trembling with excitement
and filled with fear, stood and pleaded for
his character. twas 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 hearers. He stood there
and pleaded for his honor" l believe he
elt what be said for to say that, uuder the
he was guilty of precon-
,erted treachery would be to say that by
MS side Judas Iscariot, and John Wilkes
Booth had lost the luster of their lntamy.
When he had finished his appeal, he was
boldly told that, after what had occurred. |
Dis honor was now safe in the hands Of the
reaotionists. Ohio returned to the charge
the rebels throughout the hall raised the
same wild and savage veil with which
Hampton and Forrest had so often charged
he soldiers Of the Union. 1t was too much
or Mr. Seymour. Braver men than he had |
luailed before that battle-cry; he hesitated, |
lie yielded, then fled ignomiriously from |
he scene. know of but one incident in
modern history comparable to this event
hat of the present French Emperor. in the
larra nlr-upr1 Of Gfro oh IN, .
ust at the point of success, his courage
allied him, and the stern will of Talandier
made him cover like a whipped hound
Says kinglake: some of the ornaments
which the Prince wore was sword: vet,
without striking blow, he allowed him.
ell to be publicly stripped of his grand
ordon OF the Legion of Honor and all his
ther decorations" In a similar manner.
by his fears, Horatio Seymour
ermitted the reactionists to strip him of
is "honor," and to make him do that which
e could not do without its violation, as he
lmself confessed. All was now over.
he generalization of the reactionists was
omplete, and the rebels had it their own
ray. Hence, an unpardoned rebel soldier
ould rise 70 his feet and propose the name
Francis z. Blair, Jr., the very prince of
evolutionists, as the Vice-President of
lie nation this same rebel had fought to
estroy. Rebels again triumphed the
eed was done, and when the convention
1journed the happiest men in New York
Ity were General William Preston, Gen
raj Wade Hampton, and General N. B.
orrest; and they had good reason to be
}, for in the heart of the great North they
ad achieved the greatest political victory
the present generation, and had done
leir work wisely and well. Thus through
le cowardice of one poor weak man per
he'd the fairest and most auspicious move
tent in behalf of liberty and progress
lat this country has witnessed since the
ID bell Of Independence Hall proclaimed
lie birth of our nationality.