Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-05-26
Vermont Daily Transcript,
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1868.
Letter from Chic0go.

we present. duOtllcT lcllcl llVii 'ui
Chicago correspondent to-day, received
last night, which will give to our nu-
merous readers another view of the re-
cent convention than that exhibited by
the Geographic dispatches, and very
pleasant one, to our minds. The letter
is we'll written, instructive and cosby,
and will well repay perusal.
CHICAGO, May n, 1868.
Editors Transcript:
1t is finished. Grant and ColfaX are
the standard bearers and the platform
has been adopted. There is no doubt
ing the meaning Of this convention and
the opinions of the men who composed
it. 1t has been extremely radical" as
YOU will see by reference to the proceed
ings which you will have received long
before this reaches you. The proceed
jngs have been characterized by the
greatest good feeling and harmony with
terrible earnestness. Full delegations
from every non-reconstructed State OF
the Union have been present, participa-
ted fully in the proceedings of the con-
vention, and have joined hands with the
conquering portion of the Union in the
presentation of the ticket. | am great
" surprised by the action of this conven-
ton, especially by the tone which has
been given it by the delegates from the
South. Vermont, my old state, which
has been so often characterized in for
u. IL IL
republican States of the Union, is now
just nOaohere in comparison to the radi-
calism which has been introduced into
this convention by the non-reconstruct-
cd States of the South. With one ac-
cord they unanimously declared for uni
versal suffrage and tell us upon no con-
siderations of policy must the black man
of the South be deprived of his citizen
ship and the full and free privileges of
the elective franchise. They present
the proposition fairly and squarcly that
a loyal black man is to be trusted rather
than white rebel, and the statement
remains uncontradicted that the black
race never furnished a rebel against this
government, which is good evidence
after all that has passed that it never
will if it can receive protection in the flu
turc. This is a sad truth for those of
the American people to consider, who
would deny them the privileges which
by their faithfulness and trustworthy
conduct have mcrited in the past. 1t
has been furthermore asserted by near
ly every white delegate from the South
that they could not themselves remain
a day there after the blacks should be
DISTINGUISHED. This is the appeal that
has been made to the Convention by the
Southern delegations, and the platform
shows the favor with which these az
peals have been received.
Many of the reunions that have oc-
Cured here between old acquaintance
North and South, are truly valuable. l
have one in my mind now. When in
the State of Maine in 1860 1 became ac-
quainted with a young lawyer connect
ed with the first families in his State
and himself a democrat. He had just
been admitted to the bar, and with Il
good practice. Ambitious also in poll
teal affairs to excel, he heartily espous-
ed the duties of workman in the demo
cratic ranks and frequently Grated at
democratic conventions, and held
lengthy discussions in the hotel where
both of us boarded. / remem Der that |
was stranger in that State, and at this
hotel at that time | was nearly alone in
my republicanism among the boarders
and guests ofthe house. Yet though
we differed in political preferences VIC
were friends. l had not heard from him
since the spring of 1861, until day be-
fore yesterday when gentleman of the
Louisiana delegation approached me and
called me by name. | did not know
him, but soon he aided my recollection
and | was glad to meet my old Maine
friend. Judge of my surprise, then, tC
find in him greater radical than hac
ever thought of being myself, and yet
there had been a reason for it. He was
one of those honest men after all, that
regarded the claims of his country upon
him in 1861 above and beyond any anC
all ties which bound him to party, anC
enlisted in the military service. He wen
to New Orleans and served in the army
in Louisiana until 1866, and afterwards
settled in that State. He comes to thi
Convention as delegate from Louisiana
the first time he has been North sine,
1861, greater radical, presume, THAI
the State of Maine afforded at the tim,
he left it. The experience he relates il
enough to make an earnest man of any
one, and he urges, by all means and eve