The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-26
CHASE AND SEYMOUR.


NAAAAhSE <A1N ~ tCN Il IA " ~ Lgs
An Intsrssting Chapter OF Secret History.
Colonel william Brown, Of Ncholasville,
Kentucky, made aspeech before the Grant CLUB
of Frankfort, on the 20,h Colonel Bro wn was
in the confidence of the Chief Justice during
the period that he had under consideration the
overtures made TO him by the progressIonists of
the DemoGratic party, aud he gives calmly
clearly, and fully, the history of the connection
of the Chief Justice with tue New York Con-
vention, explaining the motives of Mr. Chase,
and the purposes and strategy of his friends in
the Convention, and detailing the part taken by
Governor SeS eSmour, and he means employed by
the reactionists TO defeat Chase with Seymour.
We quote few passages, which show the
craft OF Seymour and h's triends:-
AT night, on the 9Th OF Julg, Mr.. Horatio Sey-
mour still protested that he was Tor Mr.. Chase;
but Mr.. Chase had llends who doubted Mr.
seymours sincerity from the first, and who be-
leveu that he was acting with duplcity.
To be sure that Mr.. Seymour was sincere, II
was arranged before breakfast on the morning
OF July 8 that he should be put in nomination
by q mend of Mr.. Chase's, IN order to force hun
from cover, and compel hun to reveal hs true
policy. On the very ballot that ne was nomt-
mated, his name would have been put before
the Convention by gentleman from IA Southern
State, who is young, intellectual and courageous,
and who was warm advocate of Mr.. Cnases
nomination. The object OF this movement
was TO c,rcumvent Mr.. Seymours treachery, il
he intended any; but 1t defeated by the
superior strategy or the 1eactioblsts.
The only hope they had after Mr.. Pendleton's
defeat, was to secure a weak, nervous, co Wardly
man the hrst place ou the ticket, and 10 nomi
nate bold, courageous, strong. wiIled reaction
ist for the Vice Presidency, and in this attempt
they succeeded SO perlectlS as 10 excite my I'D
mIation OF their tact, skill and courage. IL was
arranged at the meeting OF The progresSionist
to which have referred, that petIlIon which
had been prepared by 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 read to the Convention by Mr.. Seymour, a.
its presiding officer, he having previously de.
clined 10 nominate MIR. Chase himself on the
ground that he was the President oil the Conven.
ton; but have been told by gentleman no v
living in New York city, and whose veracity |
have 10 reason TO question, that on the morning
of July 8, short time before the invention
met, Dir. Seymour read to HIM from the manu-.
script very Cbastp, neat little speech, which he
said LIE would deliver to the Convention when
Mr., ChaseS name was brought before it, and be
believes MIR. Seymour had that speech IN his
pocket when he was nominated. Relying on
MIR. Seymour and the New York delegation, the
progressioDlsts met in the Convention on the
morning OF July g. 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
Southern Rebels, TO capture Horatio Seymour
from the progressiouis.s 8 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 broue hit for ward their own
man for the Vice. resldency, who had already
been agreed on by the Ieactiorists. 1t was the
most successful moveAent ever made in this
country In national convention; but it was a
tOrloTn hope; any more COURAGE on Mr.. Sey
mouI's part, any thought OF how great men act
in trying emergencies. any reflection on his
part OF the resolution displayed Oy Caesar at the
RubicoD, by Huss at the stake, by Grant at
Vicksturg, and any desire 10 emulate the
example Of these great men, would have covered
the revolutionists with over whelming defeat.
But they knew well their man. Ohio led off :.
NJ. l, e
death filled the great hall. Mr.. Seymour
trembling with excitement and filled with fear,
stood and pleaded for his character. 1t was a
piteous sight. The poor man told of his
promises: that when he had refused the use
of bis name he meant 1t, end that now his
honor forbade it. Think Cf this, my hearers !!
He stood there and pleaded f. r his honor"
When he had shed his appeal, he was
boldly told that, after what had occurred, his
bc nor was now safe III the hands of the reac-
tionists OHIO returned to the charge; the
Rebels throughout the hail raised tue same Wlid
ana savage yell with which Hampton and For
rest had so often charged the soldiers OF the
Union. 1t was too much Tor Mr.. Seymour
Braver men than he had quailed before that
battle cry; he hesitated, he yielded, then fled
ANONYMOUSLY from the scene. All was now
over. The decentralization OF the progressionlsts
was complete, and the Rebels Eeld 1t their own
way. Hence, an unpardoned Rebel soldier
could rise 10 his feet ana propose the name OF
Francis p. Blair. Jr., the very prince OF revolu-
tionists as the Vice President of the nation this
same Rebel had fought to destroy. Rebels again
triumphed; the deed was done, and wnen the
Convention adjourned, the happlest men IN New
York city were General William Preston, Gene
raj Wade Hampton, and General N. 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 genera
ton, and had done their WORK wisely and well.
Thus, through the cowardice of one poor weak
man, perished the fairest and most auspicous
movement IN behalf of liberty and progress that
this country has witnessed since the old bell at
Independence Hal proclaimed the birth OF our
nationality.
To elect Mr.. Seymour President would not
oply be ridiculous it would be crimiually so.
With the restless spirit of Frank Blair lowering
over him, surrounded by bold, strong -willed
men like McCook. Hampton, Forrest Semmes,
and Vallandigham, he would De governed Ike a
child. Like HotspuI's starting, he would be
taught what to say, and he would say 1t. In
three months after his Inauguration he would
not know whether he was IN the White House or
in bedlam, whether he was the first magistrate
of mighty people, or boot-black on Pennsyl-