Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-11
A Day at ChaDpaQua.


Convention, to notify Mr.. Greeley Of his
nomination by the Democracy as their candi-
date for the Presidency, performed that duty
at the Lincoln Club Rooms in New York,
last Thursday, and were invited By Horace
to lunch with him at his farm house in
Chappaqua the next day, where they could
have quiet talk, '1earn what he knows about
farming and have q general good time.
Nearly ell the committee accepted the invita-
ton, and with several other friends of Mr..
Greeley took an early train from the city to
20 up and 90 take drink with the expectant
next President We will let the Tribune
tell the rest of the story of the days doings
They were all received at the pine grove
planted many years ago by Mr.. Greeley's own
hands, to protect the bleak exposure OF bis
garden at the foot of the bill side. After
welcoming each one cordially, he invited
them all to - take a drink. The crowd
thereupon followed him, apparently with
mingled expectations, through the woods on
the hillside to the largest of the Chappaqua
springs, whence cups Of cold water were
profusely ladled to the intense amusement of
the Southern delegates, many of whom de-
clared themselves unaccustomed to taking
water so freely without some little dilution.
The crowd then dispersed themselves about
the farm, looking at the various objects of
interest the usder drainage in what was
once a swamp, the pond above the springs
the house in the woods, meadow land, Guilt
waited fields, barns, &c, &c. About o clock
in the afternoon they all met In the pine
grove, where a table had been spread with
luncheon for all, and where the guests were
raaaivad nv Mr. (1raaleu'G dauUhtpr
After luncheon the guests seated them
selves on the grass, and Mr.. Greeley mount
ing chair, addressed them as follows:
My friends, we have met IN a merely social
gathering, for no other purpose than to foster
the good feeling and harmony that have
sprung up between different parties, from
widely separated sections of the Union.
propose to say a few words myself on the
subject of my tarm-a subject which certain
ly need excite no approximations on the part
OF my political friends. 1t is twenty years
since my wife and l determined to move to
this spot. We had lived in the city, had
been married fifteen years, and had lost four
children out Of six; and we felt that if we
did not give the remaining two home in
the country we should have none to survive
US We looked around for some time before
we were satisfied. Ny wlfe's wants were few
and humble. She wanted a farm that had a
first rate spring, an evergreen shade, and a
cascade of ripping water upon II. 1t IVES
two years before | found place to suit.
was at Pleasantville, making temperance
speech, when my old friend, John Z. Fergu-
son, here with us to-day, told me OF TINS
farm. tasted the spring water and was
satisfied Mrs. Greeley did so too, and said
it would do decidedly. There some
difference about the price. When it was
discovered that we were willing 10 pay "a
certain price for it, the other party naturally
concluded that we would pay higher price
and so it came that the negotiation took time,
We bought it, however, not for it's financial
value or for the money return II would make
US, nor because 1t was all bog and rocks,
upon which | could experiment with my
ideas OF farming (true, you can't very well
get a cascade without rJcks,) but tor It's
combined advantages. Beginning with forty
acres, VIC built the house IN the woods,
where there was then not half the wood
there is now. The bog produced mosquir res
and frogs IL had tnat facility. The con-
certs Of these combined productions were not
always unpleasant, though they were rather
untImely. | went 10 work, and made blum
ders, OF course. Every friend predicted that
| would get out in a year. l SAID that II |
did the Sheriff would sell me out, though
that chance Is lost now, tor the deeds are
made out IN my wife 5 name, and they could
not sell the farm without her consent. l
have not made much money here; but [ did
not buy the farm for that purpose. But l
have contrIved 10 invest = good deal Of money
in places where 1t has gwen me far smaller
returns in proportion than that invested
here have sunk some money here, but
have the satisfaction OF knowing and owning
the hole where 1t went down. / have large
assortment of friends VINO never come here,
but who know just what each turnip cost,
and who are perfectly satisfied that I have
destroyed every tree IN my woods | love
the woods | have an affection for my trees
and | do not cut down To destroy, but 70
build up. Where l find dead OF worthless
trees hinderlng the growth OF better and
nobler trees | cut them down TO make room
Tor nobler growth, and | trim of the lower
pendant branches OF the trees because | find
that half the woods destroyed by fire have
been lost by the thick condition OF these
lower limbs, which gives the fire fuel and
Roadway. This is the first time that many
OF YOU have been here. | have lived here
TOR twenty years. have deep affection for
this place | hope TO live here and IN Gods
own time to die here A good farmer would
probably have made money out OF it, but
don't pretend to be good farmer, because |
can only work at farming few hours in
each week, and that only about twenty weeks
IN year, and | have made the place pay
well tor itself | hope that all of you-not
all at once, OF course, but in groups more
wieldy than the present-wIn frequently
call on me. A Voice Down at tue w hiue
House Bad farmers make their blunders
and 90 bull-headed right along. Now have
made blunders-new ones-but | never kept
on making old ones. | thank you for your
presence and attention. l will now ask Sen
ator Gwin of Mississippi, more recently OF
California, to address you. There may be a
number of short speeches from gentlemen
here, but | will take good care that the train
does not leave you.
Senator Gwln said Twenty eight years
ago | was a member of the National Dem
ocratic Convention, held at Baltimore TO
nominate a Presidential candidate. The
delegates were instructed to vote Tor Martin
Van Buren,. But, in the mean time, he
wrote letter opposing the annexation OF
Texas, a pro-Slavery measure, and there
upon the delegates got clear of him. The re-
suit was the annexation of Texas and the
founding and settlement of California In
1860 another Democratic Convention was
held in Baltimore, at which the Democratic
party split up and divided on the question of
Slavery in the Territories. elimination and
ensued, and the result was
civil war and devastation. The Democratic
Convention just held at Baltimore was bar
monious beyond everything. The gentleman
there was not favorite of any of
the delegates; he was not the choice of
bakers dozen Of them. 1t was said that his
previous nomination was farce, and yet the /
representatives of 3 100000 of the people !
Of this country went there Just TO vote for /
Horace Greeley as their Presidential candi- /
date. What IS the cause Of this gentleman's /
hold upon the hearts of these people? They
know that be is honest, that he is Incorrupt |
bic. We have not had strict honesty and |
in the Presidential chair /
lately, but we are going to put them there