The Van Buren press., 1872-07-16
BALTIMORE CONVENTION.
So S.
Greely & Brown,
TIE UNANIMOUS CHOICE.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS-0
GANIZATION EFFECTED.
tLirrLE Rock GAzErrE.l

banners on which are inscribed the coats o
arms OF the several States. The building
though too small for such an assemblagc l.
admirably ventilated, and more comfortabl,
Than could be expected in this oppressive
weather. The chairman's desk was equipped
with live-oak gavel made of a piece of tn,
old irigate Constitution. and which has done
service at several previous democratic ma
tional conventions. Among the distinguish
ed visitors on the platform is Hon. Reverdy
johnson, whose entrance was greeted with
applause
The convention was callsd to order by Au-
gust Belmont, who spoke at length on the inn
mensc Importance of the work before the
delegates, and Of the oppotsion to himself as
chairman of the National Executive Commit
tee and, in conclusion. said;
| | have the honor 10 propose to you as your
! temporary chairman distinguished venera-
BILE citizen of virginia. grandson ofthat pa
triot statesman Thomson Jeficason. lt is an
| auspicio,is omen tnat the son of the author
of the Declaration Of Independence Is to in
| augurate the struggle Of the democracy tor
! freedom and equality for every American
citizen. and against oppression and tyranny
! in our fair land From prudential principles,
it strikes me as the duty of this house and the
body TO Wrest the government from the hands
of the present despotc and corrupt holders
and place IL in honest hands; to restore to
/
ofpersonal right, and to all States perfect in
tcgrity of local sclf-government. This event
the recognition of the supremacy of civil
ians' constitutional hw-will in my judy
ment, discharge all our present duty.
Dir, Bclmonts remarks were frequently in
tcrruptcd by applause. Mention ofGreclry's 5
name was received with loud demonstrations
of approval; so also were the speakers per-
sonal references to himself. The band played
Dixie" Randolph's name was received
with cheers.
The Rev. Henry Slycr being present ad-
dressed the Throne of Grace
Mr.. Frcdcli X a. Prince. of Massachusetts.
was chosen temporary secretary.
Mr. Matligan. Of Maine, moved that L. O.
Perrin, Of New York, be appointed Temporal
ry reading secretary. Agreed to.
On motion Of Mr.. Hoffman the committee
Oh credentials and organization appointed, to
consist OF the gentlemen whose names had
Just been sent up.
Mr. Cox Of New York. moved the adoption
Of the rules of the last Democratic National
Convention Tor the government of this con
vcntion. until otherwise ordered Adopted.
On motion Of Mr. McIIcnry, Of Kentucky.
a resolution of thanks to Mr.. Belmont for his
very able and efficient services rs chairman
of the national committee, was adopted. Re-
cess until y. IN.
The temporary chairman, Mr.. Randolph,
on taking his seat, said:
| am aware OF the very great honor con
ferred on me by this body. 1t is not due to
any personal merit Of my own hut is n token
of respect to the State from which | come,
and "A recognition of other circumstances
possibly adventitious. | am. perhaps. the
oldest member Of this body. and "A life of
eighty years spent in the democratic rcpnbli-
can party constitutes me 4 senior member. ]
remember, freshly. every presidential con-
test from the first election of Jefferson up TO
the present time, and can say with truth
that remember none which involved higher
questions of personal liberty, local self gov
crn Ment, honest administration constitutions
al freedom than the present, or one which
demanded Of our people call for more earn
est resources. ....s', q
-. a..z,n, a.s------~- a.4s.s--.s>--
The Convention rcasscmbled at n few min
utes after o'clock. The committee on or
,nization reported J. X, Doolittle of Wiscon-
sin. permanent president with Il fun compile
m mt of vice presidents and secrctaries-one
OF the former being d. w. Carroll iand Que of
the latter Maj. W. d. Blochcr, both of Arkan-
sas.
On motion, the report of the committee on
permanent organization was adopted and the
committee discharged.
Senator Bayarl, Of Delaware. and Gov.
Hoffman. of New York. were appointed by
dent to the chair
On mounting the platform, Mr.. Doolittlc
was received with applause. He spoke as
follows:
GkSILENES OF rns CoNyEsrIoy-I thank you for
this great honor Words cannot tell how much, but
you will allow me to at once from what is per
sonal to speak of tho great occasion and the duty
and purpose which bring us here Two years ago
nearly five years after the bloody period of civil wal
had ceased the llboral republicans of Missouri TAP.
| pausc) feeling keenly all evil Of proscrptive test
| r.. hatng - ht
left upon them long after the itself had ceased
and feeling kcenly the executive federal dication in
the local elections determined to organize move
ment to restore equal rights to all citizens applause
white we'll as black, (applauscl to restore locu
,S % S d TO nr Rey be,
said this thing has gone far enough II not too far
The time has come when all honest and patriotic re
pubcans should say halt, and reassert the vital doc
trine of republican government that under the con
stitution the powers of the federal government ar,
defined and limited (api lause and cries of good
eoodl and that the people of the States have righ
| to govern themselves in their own domestic Affairs
upon the basis of equality of all the States before tn,
higher law and before the constitution and equait,
| of all men before the law (appause) of univorsa
loyalty, amnesty, suffrage and peace, taking no stcI
backward, taking no right, nor no franchise whicl
had been secured to BLACKS, and pledging hemselyc
to suppor! them in all their full yigor. They, at thu
name OF liberty, in the name of republican govern
men itself, that freedom and equal rights should b
P sroas %Dd called ppon Graz Brown p
plausc) to lead the movement whom they placed II
nomination for soyeInor. And then what followed
upon the success Of that movement as above any par
ty triumph (cheers), resolved to sustain It with the
whole strength Love OF country, love OF republican
liberty, love Of equal rights OF all men, inspired tina
union, and taught men to act together who had beer
politically opposed to each other all their lives upor
other questions and in other times and without vic
la,ing the honor logic, conscience or consistency o
| either side. This patriotic union was based upon
higher grounds than ord dinary polluca! action
| Cheers, Even those who had fought against each
other in battle clasped hands over the bloody chasm
Qoud appausel, and side by side, like brothers, with
hearts beating in unlson-bcating with strong, with
high purpose they helped to bear its flag, its gorou,
liberty. That is liberal repub,icanism tcheers), ane
\ that is democratic republicanlsm. Great applause
The victory which came from that union was th'
and of all disloyalty in word, real end of th'
civil war came with that victory. and did not com
| till thea in Missouri. Intense applause. II re
deemed that State. 1t gave rights to men, ~ 900 il
number who had been bound and icttored. Nilsson
ri is now free state in this union. with her right
and dignity and equality under the constitution an,
under the laws, and not one muruur of dsloyalty il
anywhere heard by that union. Federal dictation il
Missouri in their local elections was oyegthrown ant
peace and 10 GOOD will by that union liberty will
equal rights for All have given to the State unbound
ed prosperity. and her peoples JOY almost unspeak
able
lie then reviewed at length the rise and progress .
the liberal republicans in Missouri! gave scathini
review of Grants administration. and in conclusion
referring to the object of the present liberal reform
movement. said it means to place in the highest Of
fees of our government men OF whom all the worlS
will say They are honest and they are capable.
| (Applause.) Gentlemen, have thus stated the sit
| uations, duties and purposes which brings us here
great responsibility rests 9pon thts convention.
be, to put an end TO the misrule which, for tn
last few years, has afflicted US, too well know
tation will be best consulted. not even naminI
cheersl it means also to give strength and siabllt
TO our financial affairs and our national credit b
bringing honesty, economy and fidelity tQevery po
siton, federal, etate and municipal by which, pub