New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-06

PHILADELPHIA.
THE CONVENTION.

Morton McNlichael nporary
ChairmaM-Judge Settle Per.
manent President.
Speeches Of Norton, Logan, Gerritt smith,
and Others-UnbouMded Enthusi..m ~,
GraAt-The Name Received with Ch.er.-
The Contest for Vice Presidemt-V,lsor
Leading COlfax - Has Nomination uu,,.
certain-The Platform Agreed Upon.
PHILADELPHIA, June 6, l a. m.-Senator
Wilson is gaining strength every hour. ami
his sanguine friends assert that he will he
nominated on the first ballot, but il is more
than probable that the second ballot will he
reached before nominee is chosen and from
present appearances that nominee will he
Senator Wilson. The following is fair es-
innate OF the strength of both Colfax and
wilson alter the complimentary votes have
been given: Wilson Alb, Colfax 339.
The committee ON resolutions have come
to satisfactory conclusion on the platform.
1t will not differ in spirit from that put forth
in 1861 and 1865, but there will be a strong
plank in addition recognizing the great labor
movement throughout the country. George
b. Loring, of Massachusetts, is chairman of
the committee.
As early as nine o'clock this mornino the
streets around the Academy were alive with
people from every portion of the country.
Men were running hither and thither franti-
cally, endeavoring to obtain admission tick
cts for themselves and friends. Tickets were
scarce though, and many were disappointed.
BY eleven O'Clock the Academy was well
filled, and from that time until twelve O'Clock
the delegations kept tlocking in. The seats
assigned to the press are exceedingly elicibly
located, and command fine view Of the seats
assigned to the delegates. The newspaper
men present, Of whom there are great
many, represent nearly every journal in the
country. Among them are several lady cor
respondents, all of them apparently busy
just before the convention was called to
order the platform was thronged with scores
OF prominent men engaged in conversation,
the general topic of conversation being the
relative merits and chances of the candidates
for the Vice Presidency. AT 1915 Governor
Clafin, Chairman of the National Executive
Committee, called the convention to order.
and spoke as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: Eect-
ed according to the usage of the Republican
party in convention of the people, held in
every State, you have assembled for the pur-
pose of placing in nomination candidates for
the two highest Offices in the gift of the
American people. You represent party
founded on the broadcast principles of free
dom, justice, and humanity, and whose
achievements have been the wonder and adj
miration of the civilized world. The promises
OF reform and progress made four years since
have been faithfully fulfilled--in the guaran-
tee by the nation of equal rights to all; i'm
the reduction of the public expenditures and
the public debt; in the decrease of the public
burdens !; in the improvement of the public
credit /; of the establishment of the public
faith, that no act of reputation shall ever
stain the statute book, and in securing peace
and order throughout the entire republic.
You are summoned to declare anew your
fidelity to those principles and purposes which
have brought such beneficent results to the
nation. We will not fear the people will de-
sert those who have been faithful to their
high trust for other men and other organiza-
tons, although they may adopt our principles
and promise to adhere to our policy. Let us
60 forward with confident faith that our cause
will triumph, notwithstanding unexpected de-
lection, over all combinations, however skill
fully planned. because in its continued sue
cess are centered the best interests and the
highest hopes of the country.
The Rev. DIR. Reed, of the PRESBYTERIAN
church at Eighth and Cherry streets, then
opened the proceedings with PRAYER
Governor Clafiin then rose and said: "I
have the pleasure, by the instruction of the
Executive Committee, of presenting to you
the Hon. Morton McMichael, of hilalelphia,
for temporary chairman"
Messrs. Lane, of Indiana; Plat, of South
Carolina, and Lewis, of Louisiana, then
escorted Mr.. McAiichael to the chair, amidst
the widest enthusiasm.
Mr.. McNichael, quiet having been secured.
then spoke as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: /
Inn 30,
for the brief period 1 shall enjoy that honor,
over such an assemblagc as this. am the
more gratified because, as a delegate from
Pennsylvania and resident of Philadelphia,
it gives me an occasion to welcome YOU to
our State and city; to say to you. all how
glad We are to have you among us how care
full we shall endeavOr to be to promote your
comforts while you remain with us how de-
sirous that when You leave us you will leave
us with such impressions as will induce YOU
frequently to return. Under any crcum-
stances, the presence of so many dstin-
guished men, gathered from all parts of this
mighty land, which grows and stretches so
rapidly that in these recurring quadrennial
cOnvOcations new States, new Territories,
and, in this case, happily for the cause of
humanity and progress, a new race--new, at
least, in the possession of political rights and
civil functions, and soon to be endowed with
all the attributes of equality-are repre-
sented under any circumstances, your pres
ence would be to us a source of satisfaction,
and it is especially SO in view of the purpose
which has brought you hither. The nalcon-
tents who recently met at Cincinnati were
without a constituency; the Democrats, who
are soon to meet at Baltimore, will be with
out principle. The former, having no mo-
tive in common but personal disappointment
attempted fusion Of repelling elements.
which has resulted in explosion the latter,
degraded from the high estate they once Oc-
cupied, propose an abandonment of their
identity, which means death. Unlike the
first, you are the authentic opponents of
great national organization, based upon prin-
ciples
Firm as the marble, founded as the rock;
AS broad and general as the casing air
unlike the last, your object is to preserve,
not to destroy. And, gentlemen, differing
from both these in character and aims, YOU
will differ no less in the nature of your de-
iberations. On the subject which has most
perplexcd, and must continue to perplcx
their councils, in yours, rather let me say in
ours, there will be absolute harmony. With
us the selection of a Presidential candidate
is foregOnc conclusion. In that regard the
people have decided for us in advance, and