The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-05-23
The Radical National Convention.

day, 70 o'clock of which was appointed as the
hour of meeting. With the help of that glo-
rious good fellow and model democrat Capt.
l. r. DILLER, we were one Of the fortunate
few out of hundred thousand to get ticket
ofadmission to Crosby's Opera House, where
the convention held its sessions.
The body convened promptly at ~ o.
clock, and was called to order by Gov. Ward,
of N. Jersey, chairman of the Republican
National Committee. After uttering few
platitudes about "Union, liberty, equal
ity," &C., he proposed as temporary chairman
the name of Gen. Carl Shurz, Of Missouri, who
of course, was elected, and conducted to the
chair. Gen. Shurz also made a speech, radi-
cal enough in most Of its parts, but rather
softening, we thought, towards the recusant
senators in the Impeachment business. Then
il was voted to have committee Of one from
each state on credentials, the delegations them
selves to name the man rs the states were call
ed. The call commenced and proceeded
smoothly in alphabetical order down to Hi
nois, when delegate asked if the states were
not being called alphabetically The chair
man answered HIM IN the affirmative. Why,
then, proceeded the anxious enquirer, had not
Alabama, Arkansas, &c, been called. The
chairman of the National committee candid
" admitted that they had not been inv-
ted in the call. There was little confusion
thereupon, and chance for q good deal more,
the question coming up at once whether
the southern states were states or territories. 1t
was concluded, without pretending to dispose
of the knotty question. to call them with the
rest. Then Colorado delegate complained
at the omission of his state, which was only
kept out of the Union by a Presidential veto.
1t was decided to admit Colorado over the ve-
to, and that estate" was placed on the roll.
Then a.deegate from Montana claimed that
his territory had as good right to go on the
'roll of states as any un-reconstructed state
of the south So the difficulty was finally
bridged by admitting all the states and all the
territories on an equal footing; and then the
call went on peaceably to the end
Committees on organization, on resolutions,
on rules, etc, were appointed in the same way,
and the convention took recess until o.
clock.
On re-assembling at five o'clock the conf
mittec on organization reported the name OF
Gov. Hawley, of Connecticut, as permanent
Chairman, with list of Vice Presidents and
Secretaries, all of whom were duly voted in.
The committee on rules and order of business
also made a report, which was adopted. The
committee on resolutions would report to-mor-
row; and it being now stated that there must
be some delay before the committee on creden.
tials could report, it was proposed to occupy
the time by hearing speech from Gen. Sickles
The General declined. Then Gen. Cd. W. Lo
gan was invited, and also declined. Finally
cx-Gov. Brown, of Ca was persuaded to take
the stand, and made short speech, very
curious mixture Of secessionis:n and radicalism
to be very much alike. Then the committee
on credentials made satisfactory report
which was adopted, and the convention adj
!iourncd to 10 o'clock Thursday
The proceedings next day were of course
the real business on hand, to which up to this
time all was preliminary. They commenced
with good deal of noise and squabbling over
nothing in particular, until the resolutions o.
the National Union League were presented
over which there was u long winded debate
But our space will not permit us to follow the
thread of the proceedings further 1t mus,
suffice to say that after the adoption of the
platform, which we shall publish hereafter
Gen. Grant was nominated for President by
the unanimous vote of all the states; and af
ter him, Oh the fifth ballot, Schuyler Colf,x
was nominated for Vice President The 9TH
ballot stood, 217 for Colfax, 200 for Wade, lac
for Fenton, IS for Wilson, and IS for Hamln
Coliax having a majority, all the other cand
dates were withdrawn, and his nomination
was made unanimous.
The crowd Of people in Chicago was un
questionaby large, and was composed mainly
Of Republicans; but there was no enthusiasm
no fire. no earnestness among thcm---nothine
of the spirit of 1860, when Lincoln was NOM
mated at Chicago.
The Opera House was not q fit place 70
such meeting. At best it could hold bu
5000 besides actual delegates, while there wer
$4,000 people in Chicago who would willingl
have paid round price to be admitted to tn
sittings of the convention.