Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-09-11
THE LOUISVILLE CONVENTION.
Great Letter from Charles O'COnOr.
He RepudiateS Greeley and the Balli-
more Convention.
Charles 0'COnOr and John Quincy
Adams Nominated.
O'C0NOR DECLINES THE LOUISVILLE
NOMINATION.


Convention Adiourns without Nominating
LOUISVILLE KY, Sept S-The Nationa
Democratic Convention met to-day in the Com
mon Pleas court room of the court heuse, Pre-
vious to and during the assembling of the dele
gates, the Second Regiment National band OF
Philadelphia, played various airs. At about one
o'clock Col. Duncan called the convention to
order. Rev. DR.. Plat addressed the Throne of
Grace in prayer for concord and peace and
freedom from sectional jealouses throughout the
land.
Col Duncan then spoke as follows
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION TT is my
duty to call this assemblage to order. Its OBJ
ieets are well known and require no explana-
ton. We have been derisively characterized
as boilers, mercenaries, &c, by editors and
politicians who have sought an alliance with a
faction of the Radical party, and who have
abandoned all the principles whiehhave hitherto
characterized our organization.
No spirit of presumption or forwardness in
duced the gentlemen who acted with me TO APP
peal to the American Democrats against the fla
grant violation of party faith, and other mega
ton of the principles involved in the nomination
of Greeley. We did it with higher and nobler
motives. We did it to vindicate truth and to
protest against the offered reward for political
treason to one who had occupied life time in
the bitterest animadversion of those whose sup
port he now has sought.
The assemblage that see before me to day
evinces an earnest intention to uphold that ban
ner which had fallen from nerveless and in
competent hands, and TO prove that the old Or
ganization was not dead, but only sleeping
[Applause.l
We want no more hydra-headed platforms,
which can be constructed according to the wish
of the reader, for we have clear and undoubt-
ed theories which have but one Interpretation,
whether expounded in the North or in the
South. We can have no interest to reopen
questions of the past. which the sword has so
bloodily decided. Great applause We will
give no encouragement to aught that looks to-
wards revolution, nor can we, whilst submitting
to the inevitable and poweress to reverse what
had been accomplished, satisfy ourselves by
commentator of acts performed in the viola
ton of the constitution. Great applaus ]
For two months every thought of my brain has
been monopolized every energy of my mind
and body has been directed to the accomplish
ment of that object. The sincerity of my mo-
tives should await the criticism, and If there
have been errors of omission or commission,
they should be overlooked, for the spring of my
action has been intent to do right and to aid in
the preservation ofthe party and the perpetua-
ton of its principles. prolonged applause;l
AT the close of his speech, Duncan introduce
ed Levi S. Chatfeld, of New York, as Temporal
~ chairman. Cheers followed. Three cheers
were also given for Duncan
Chatfeld was unanimously chose as chairman.
Spaulding, of New York, Lyons, of Virginia,
Wheaton, of Michigan, were appointed COM
mittee to conduct Chatfeld to the chair. Chat
field on reaching the platform said Gentlemen
of the the Conventions 1t is my first duty,a it is
my sincere pleasure, to tender you my hearty
He said he was born Democrat of the Jack
son-J Jefferson school and he never had seen
the time when he desired to abandon its princi-
piles. If we had not been sold at Baltimore we
would have triumphed in November. Our as
sumed representatives sold us to an old white
hat and coat, for that is all there is Of him. Zap
plause He thought Duncan and Flanders, who
protested against the sale at Baltimore, deserved
thanks.
Duncan moved that VIM. NJ. Ferry, of Mich
igan, be appointed temporary secretary-carried
Spaulding, of New York, presented sealed let
Ter from Charles O'Conor. Three rousing
cheers Which were repeated for OConor.
Spaulding handed it to the chairman:
NEW YORK, Aug 81.
To the Democratic National Contention, Gppoi'a-
ted to assemble at Louisville Sept. Sd, 1872:
Mr.. O'Conor's letter is very long one and
we condense it as follows:
He reviews at length the weak points in our sys
TEN of government, and shows how the multi
plication of officers increases corruption and en-
dangers the public safety. He refers to the start
ling frauds of the Tammany Ring in New York
and says that all good citizens Joined to suppress
them. He said the reform movement promised
10 become National, but that the Presidential
election threatened to break in upon it. He said
one of the baneful tendencies of the period wal
federal interference in State and local affairs
He says:
Now of this practice above all other living
Americans, Greeley is recognized the cham
pion, and no body of organized opponents TO u
has ever existed in the country, except the Dem
ocratic party. \ ct by the decree OF conVen'
ton assuming TO represent that party, Greeley
has been gaZetted as its standard-bearer. Oppo'
sition TO that proceeding has, in my mind, a tal
deeper source than merely attachment to party
Ny views Of the public interest and existing
public necessities compel me TO repudate the
Baltimore nomination Of Greeley. Whenever
speaking or writing on the subject have uni
fOrmly condemned it and declared my READINGS;
10 support a Democratic candidate. This cir
cumstance has led to supposal IN some quar-
tiers that L bad aspirations to Office, and il ha:
been suggested that my name might be offered
to your acceptance as a candidate. The object o.
this letter is to avoid Misrepresentation on this
point. If compelled 20 decide between Grant
and Greeley as candidates for the Presidency,
every Democratic elector must rely very much
upon mere conjecture.
Those inclning 10 the latter as choice Of
evils, suggest that q mitigation Of oppression
in the South would result from his success
There may however, be equal ground TO hope
for that good result in either issue of this rival
ny. When once his second term shall have
been secured, General Grants only motive for
infictlng misery on that portion of his country,
men will cease An effort to secure third
term, or 20 establish dictatorship cannot
reasonably be apprehended, and consequently
comparisons of probabilities offers us merely
blank olympiad on one hand or four years o,
undehnable activity on the other.
That wise people, whose usages we have gen.
orally followed, had occasion to pass through O
transitional period somewhat similar to that
now affecting Southern interests. In their ac-
lions Al that time we could find safe precedent:
Tor a course of policy viii h would promptly
reiastate Southern prosperity. But il there be
one among the master spirits Of the age who
0-,o, ~ ineiinad eould not adopt that policy. il