The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-21
ILLINOIS.
Organization of the Convention
Remarks of Gen. H0aCIey.
wADE's NAME.

CHICAGO, May ~.
Weather fine, warm, clear and bright. The
Convention opened at noon in Crosby's Opera
House, which was completely filled. A large
number of ladies are present in the galleries.
Thousands of persons have had to be turned
away from the doors for lack of room. The
excitement is intense, chiefly with reference to
Vice President and the impeachment situation.
Some of the Western delegates manifest strong
disposition to press vote denouncing the re-
publican Senators who voted against the con-
viction of the President.
Wilson's friends are numerous but have no
lobby to back them. though there is general
betting that if New England would unite on
him. he would be nominated early. Mr.. Ham,
lin IS also growing in favor for supremacy,
Wade and FeDton's friends become discouraged.
Many of their supporters say Hamlin is their
next choice but it is universally conceded that
no national convention ever assembled i'll the
midst of so much uncertainty.
Among the invited guests on the platform
Gen. Grants father is conspicuous.
The latest opinion seems to be that if Wade
is not nominated his friends will decide the
contest in favor of either Colfax or Hamlin,
few If any of Wade's friends going to Fenton.
1890 o'clock. Ward, chairman
of the National Republican Committee called
the Convention to order and made brief adj
no steps backward to demonstrate that the war
was failure. An emancipated race had been
lifted from slavery and to-day unites with the
republican party to maintain the republican
party. Neither armed treason nor political
treachery can arrest the triumph of our cause.
Great applause. If you designate as leader
the great captain of the age the nation will
greet it as a precursor of victory to our cause
and peace to the republic. [Great applause.
Prayer was then offered by Bishop Simpson.
On motion, Gen. Carl Schurz of Missouri
was appointed temporary chairman, and was
conducted to the chair amid loud applause.
Gen. Schurz delivered brief address, giving
thanks for the honor bestowed upon him. He
reviewed the history of the Republican party,
and asserted its triumph in support OF liberty,
union. humanity and equal rights. The prob
lem OF the future is to secure the fruits OF the
past and adapt the country to the new order
of things. This requires the greatest prudence
and firmness. Referring to Mr. Lincoln he
said we measure our loss through his death by
what he left behind him. Laughter and APP
plause.]
He counselled moral courage. Victory will
be true to the Republican party as long as the
Republican party is true to itself Let no one
pass beyond the bound of wisdom and self re-
spect. GApplause. He counselled wisdom
and Justice TO the soldiers, to the Southern
Union men, to the colored race, and to the
national creditors. This sentiment ,excited
great enthusiasm. Let US be just inside the
party as well as out of it.
b r. Corren, Ohio, Luther Caldwell N. Y.
and I. J. Richards Tenn, were appointed tenn
porary Secretaries.
committee of one from each State were
appointed committee on credentials. Debate
arose On the call of California it was an
nounced that there was double delegation
from that State.
Mr.. Sears of California said as the gentle
man has mentioned the State which IN part
represent, wish to deny that there Is any
contest whatever in regard to the State OF Cal
ifornia. 1t is true, sir. that there is man
mere VINO mas been before the Executive Com
mittee, claiming to contest our seats, but, sir,
there is one man only
MIR. Van Zandt of Rhode Island rose to a
point of order, stating this matter sbould he
referred to the Committee on Credentials
Mr.. Sears asked two minutes to make an
EXPLANATION. He said we do not desire 70
bring this contest up here, but the gentleman
has forced it upon us. The man Who here con-
tests our seats voted a Copperhead ticket ot
the last election in California (Hear, hear !
He and two or three others met in back room
and selected delegates to attend this Conyen-
ton. They have no party. They have had no
primary election-had no Convention. They
had nothing, and believe in my humble judg
ment that he came here and that his passage
is paid by Democratic money, to keep up this
division IN our State. We are here represent
ing the Union Republican party of California
We polled forty thousand votes in that State