Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-07-18
THE BALTIMORE CONVENTION.

classed as follows: Uninstructed, 4Z4; IN
structed to make no nomination, 78 instruc-
ted to support Greeley, 224; instructed to
nominate straight Democratic ticket, 3.
The latter class embraces the delegation from
Delaware, which State continued, throughout
the deliberations of the Convention, to per-
versely oppose any other course than that laid
down by its State Convention. The South
Carolina delegation, as our readers are aware,
were instructed to make no nomination; go,
also, were the delegations from the States Of
Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee. Those In
structed to support Greeley were the delega-
tions from Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska,
Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. Of these, six
are northern States, possessing strength in
the Convention Of 146 votes.
At ten minutes after IL, Mr.. August Bel
mont, the Chairman of the National Demo-
cratic Executive Committee, advanced to the
front of the stage of the opera house, in which
the Convention assembled, and called the
body to order in the following speech:
Gentlemen of the Convention-It is again
my privilege to welcome the delegates of the
national democracy, who have met in order to
present to the American people the candidates
for President and Vice-President for whom
they solicit the suffrages Of the democratic and
conservative voters of this great republic.
At our last national convention on the 4th
of July, 1868, predicted that the election Of
Gen. Grant would result in the gradual usur-
pations of all the functions of the government
by the Executive and by Congress, to be en-
forced by the bayonets ofa military despotism.
The vast majority of the people of the Uni
ted States have witnessed with grief and sor-
row the correctness of that prediction, and
they look forward with fear and apprehension
to the dangers which are threatening us, if by
the reelection of Gen. Grant the policy thus
far pursued by the radical party can be con-
tinued.
The thinking men of both parties have be-
come alive to the fact that we are now living
under a military despotism overriding the
civil authorities in many States of the Union;
that by the enactment of arbitrary and uncon-
stitutional laws, through depraved majority
in Congress, the rights of these States are in.
fringed and trampled upon, and that Casarism
and Capitalization are undermining the very
foundations of our federal system, and are
sweeping away the constitutional bulwarks
erected by the wisdom of the fathers of the
republic.
These abuses have become so glaring that
the wisest and best men of the republican par
ty have severed themselves from the radical
wing, which is trying to fasten upon the coun-
try another four years reign of corruption,
usurpation and despotism, and whatever indi-
vidual opinions we may entertain as to the
L -. Cal. sloko koI ~
opposition to General Grant, there cannot be
any doubtof the patriotic impulses which die
tated their action, nor can any fault be found
with the platform of principles upon which
they have placed their candidate.
The resolutions of the Cincinnati Conven-
ton are what the country require, and they
must command the hearty support of every
patriot throughout the vast extent of our land.
In the struggle which is before US we must
look to principles and not men, and l trust
that no personal predictions or prejudices
will deter us from doing our duty to the
American people.
General Grant has been good and faithful
soldier During our civil war his stubborn
and indomitable courage helped TO crown the
Union arms with victory, and the American
people have rewarded his services with the
most unbounded generosity. am willing to
concede that his intentions on taking the
Presidential chair were good and patriotic, but
he has most signally and sadly failed in the
discharge of the high trust imposed upon him
by the confidence of grateful people. He is
at this moment the very personifcation of the
misrule which is expressing US, and his reelec-
ton is fraught with the most deplorable con-
sequences for the welfare of the republic, and
endangers the liberties of our people.
On the other hand Mr.. Greeley has been
heretofore bitter opponent of the democratic
party and the violent attacks against myself
individually, which have from time to time
appeared in his journal, certainly do not en-
title him to any sympathy or preference at
my hands, but Mr.. Greeley represents the ma
tional and constitutional principles of the
Cincinnati platform, and by his admirable
and manly letter of acceptance he has shown
that he is fully alive to their spirit and that
if elected he means to carry them out honestly
and faithfully. Should you, therefore, in
your wisdom decide to pronounce in favor of
the Cincinnati candidates, shall for one most
cheerfully bury all past differences and vote
and labor for their election with the same zeal
and energy with which have supported here
tofore, and mean ever to support the candi-
date of the democratic party. "..= q"
The American people look with deep solici-
tude to your deliberations. It is for you to
devise means by which to free them from the
evils under which they are suffering; but in
order to attain that end you, are called upon
to make every sacrifice Of personal and party
preference.
However much you might desire to fight the
coming battle for our rights and liberties un-
der one of the trusted leaders of the democrat
ic party, it will become your duty to discard
all considerations Of party tradition if the &C.
lection of good and wise man outside Of our
own ranks offers better chances of success.
You must remember that you are here not
only as democrats but as citizens of our COM
mon country, and that no sacrifice can be too
great which she demands at your hands.
And now, before I propose to your accep-
tance the temporary chairman of this conven-
tion, permit to detain you one moment longer
by few words of an entirely personal char
acter. With my present action terminate my
official functions as chairman of the National
Democratic Committee, an office which by the
confidence Of my constituents and the courtesy
Of my colleagues I have held for twelve con-
secutive years.
During all that time I have striven with
honest zeal, and with all the energy and ca
pacity which God has given me, to do my du-
ty faithfully to the party and to the country,
and to render myself worthy Of the great trust
confnded to me. ... ..:-
While I was grieved and deeply mortified