Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-06-14

PHrLADurWA, June 9Th, 1872.
Deqr Free Press d Times
The convention has closed with the boom Of
cannon, and blArs Of trumpets AID cheering Of
excited and entbusi ss;ic thousands. It hiss been
a grlga onveutb]n-exceeiingly noteworthy
even among the gr, a. aud exciting conventions
Of former pres.ie ndal ye,rs Looking back
| upon il, I write hastily what we're to me tome
| Of lie more ftriLinE characteristics. These were
Firs;-The. caraest. substantial, high-toned
character Of the 4ssemblsce. I, was not only
not c collection o. thyste-s, brmmers and pot
house politicians, hu. II lad ia il no sp3reciable
proportion ofsush elements. The delegates we're
individually. szt o. course 1t mss, bright in
tellgent, disu.fei, responsible representatives
o; the best classes Of american citizens. They
were there ..uoi i5r good time, 80 but drawn bys
strong and caraest purpose. Viii, showel tseli'in
every face. There vas no CROW ding TO The bars,
no array 4 wine bottles st the long and croHdt
hotel tables, no: E nan, 80 far as observed.
who hal drawn IS excitement from physical
stimalsr;s. I. vss q splendid body Of repre-
sentative republican,
Secoad-The stronr enthusiasm OF the oc-
cksion. This surprised ne. expected TO zee
. tuoag, retolute AID harmonious gathering.
This was more. Itvas full Of genuine AMI IN
mistaksble enthusiasm. Had it been-That it
has been With such foolish IA sity styled by its
opponents-an "oiice-holdert convention, - this
could hardly have been so. \ gathering Of
federal officials would have hesitsted about ex-
hibiting what might have be sn called selfish
and purchased enthusiaFm. These men Of the
people felt nc such delicacy in expressing their
admiration Of President CT snt, their confidence
il him, snd their indy nat. N st his slGnderers.
This last was 4 very m.rl ed sentiment in the
convention; and ere csn aot be doubt that
the reaction CT Mr.. Summers speech gave
strong lift to the great wave Of generous emo
ton
Thrill .e unsaimity. This Vas absolute. For
the frst til ne III the histo y Of the party, if not
Of tie cor utry, = nomina ion Of President was
made By ballot, Hithou; change ola vote and
without dissenting vote. liz will be remem-
bered that the nomination oi Grant in 1868, WAS
made by scclsmation; AMI that on the re-nomir-
st;oi Of SIR. Lincoln in 1854, the - votes Of
Sin gle stale, Missouri, were given to another
M NJ. S. Grant, Gathsre from every S ate
a ID territory, white and b sc!.. original al II
slSyery men and ex-rebes, Is tie soldiers of bot b
union and confederate arm les. all united. to
man, in the expression of the conviction
that the interests Of the coun try denanieithere-
election Gifts pTesentchiefn agstrate. And on the
only question which divided the convention, that |
of he vice presidency the final sequieseenee and
unanimity Was &C ,rcely leal absolute.
Fouy m-But lie most marked impression !
made oy the cOnve 1tion, On me, and doubtlesr on
nosf spectators, IVES that of its polger. The men
Thf composed it felt and showed that they we're
b representatives Of mighty party, complete
i its organization, representing great and true
and vital principles, charged still with the duty
of preserving the Republic, organized for VIC
tory, snd bound to 60 On conquering and to
conquer Every speech made and every vote
taken showed the CONSEQUENCES Of this strength.
In view Of it, the defectons that from narrower
points Of view have seemed formidable, were seen
to be petty enough, Of consequence only to the
deEertefs The thought Of changing the course
of the party in consequence of them. had no
place in any mind, or expression in single
word With ouch gathering, the motley mob
al Cincinnati, and the demorslizel and des oer.te
crowd that is to meet at Baltimore, compare as
does a band Of guerrillzs, or the remnants of
scattered and beaten column, with magnificent
army of veterans, perfectly equipped, under
tried and trusted generals, and sweeping On to
certain triumph.
There were other very marked characteristics
Of the Convention, such, for instance, as the
presence and speeches Of the colored delegates,
who surprised and pleased everybody by their
ability as speakers and general good appearance,
to which msy sllude in future letter I have
further space in this, only to note fact or two
connected with the share in the proceedings
taken By the Vermont delegation
The delegation was influential, even among
such a body of strong men, by the weight and
character and reputation of lite members One
or two, SIS have said, were by individual pref
erence Wilson men bat were sgreed with the
rest that it best not TO divide the vote of the
State The rest favored Mr.. Colf1x, not only be-
cause they believed him to be the preference of
the majority Of the republicans Of the State, but
because they sincerely thought tina; ali things
considered, it wss best to renomina;e the
old ticket entire. Entertaining the utmost
respect for Senator Wilson, it seemed to them
he could better serve the party and the country
on the floor Of the Senate, than in the chair
They deemed it Of doubtful expediency to make
q vacancy in the.Senate which it was known Ben
Butler was anxious to fll; and remembering
yermont's early support Ct Mr.. Colfax at Chi
csgo, and how kindly and safely ''the old team
had gone thus far together, they though, it safe
enough to be sent again over the course OF
! course they aequiesoed cordially and to man in