Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-10

tlon is assembling at Fo1d'S Opera house, which
is handsomely decorated for the occasion, with
banners, on which are inscribed the coats of
arms of several states. The building, though
too small for such an aSsemblage, is admirably
ventilated and more comfortable than could be
expected in this oppressive weather.
The chalrman'S desk is equipped with the live
oak gavel made from piece of the old frigate
Constitution and which has done service at sew
eral previous democratic national conventions
Among the distinguished visitors on the plat
form is Hon. Reverdy johnson, whose entrance
was greeted with applause.
Al ten minutes past 10 o'clock the convention
was called to order by August Belmont chair
man Of the national democratic committee, who
said
MIR. BELMoNT's SPEECH.
Gentlemen of the Conventions 1t is again my
privilege TO welcome the delegates of the ma
tional democracy who have met IN order TO pre-
sent to the American people the candidates for
president and vice president, for whom they So
| llclt the suffrage Of the democratic and conSer-
vatiyc voters of this great republic.
| AT your last national convention on the 4th
| OF July, 1868, | predicted that the election of
| General Grant would result in the gradual usur-
| patton OF all the functions of the government
by the executive and by congress, to be enforced
| by the bayonets of military dcSpOtism. The
vast majority of the people of the United States
have witnessed with grief and sorrow the cor
| rcctneSS of that prediction, and they look for
NhAh Nlli anu 10 INC GailHbTS
which are threatening us; if by the reelection
| of General Graut the policy thus far pursued by
| the radical party be continued.
| The thinking men OF both parties have become
| alive to the fact, that we are now living under
/ military dcspolism, overriding the civil au-
| thorty, i'll many states of the Union. That by
| the enactment of arbitrary and unconstitutional
| laws through deprayed majority in congress,
| the rights of those states are infringed and
Tamped upon and that C@Sarism and central
lzatlon are undermining the very foundations of
| our federal system, and are sweeping away the
| constitutional bulWarks erected bv The wisdom
| oil the fathers OF the republic. These abuses
| have become so glaring, that the wisest and
| pest men OF the republican party have severed
| themselves from the radical wing which is try
| ing TO iasten upon the country another four
| years reign of corruption, usurpatiou and des-
| potlSm; and whatever individual opinion we
| may entertain as TO the choice of the candidate
| whom they have selected In opposition to Gen
Grant there cannot he any doubt Ofthc patriotic
| Impulse which dictated their action, nor can
any fault be found with the platform of princi.
pies upon which they have placed their candi-
| dates.
The resolutions of the Cincinnati convention
| 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 trust that no per-
Sonal prejudice or predictions will deter us from
| doing our duty to the American people, Gen
| Grant has been good and faithful soldier dur
| ing our civil war. His stubborn and indomita-
| BILE courage has helped to crown the Union
| arms with victory, and the American people
| have rewarded his services with the most un-
| bounded generosity. am willing 10 concede
| that MS intentions, on taking the presidential
| chair, we're 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 personidcation of the miSrue which is
| depressing us. His selection is fraught with
| the most depOrabe consequences for the well
| iarc OF republic, and endangers the liberty of
| the people on the other hand Mr.. Greeley has
| been heretofore bitter opponent of the demo.
cratic party, and the violent attacks against my
| sell individually, which have from time to time
appeared in his journal, certainly do not entitle
nm to any sympathy or preference at my hands ;
but MIR. Greeley represents the national
| and constitutional principles of the Gin
clnnati platform, and by his admirable
and manly letter of acceptance, he has shown
that he is fully alive to their spirit and if elected
| ne means to carry them out honestly and faith
| fully. Should you, therefore, in Your wisdom
| decide to pronounce in favor Of the Cincinnati
| candidates. shall for one most cheerfully carry
| all past difference and vote and labor for their
| election with the same zeal and energy which |
nave supported heretofore, and mean ever to
| support the candidates OF the democratic party
| Inc American people look with deep solicitude
| at your deliberations. IL is for you to devise
means by which to free them from the evils un-
der which they are suffering. But in order to
| obtain that end you arc called uDon TO make
| every sacrifice of personal and party preference
| however much you might desire to fight the
| coming fight for our rights and liberties Under
| the trusted leadership of the democratic party
| IL VIII become your duty TO discard all consid-
| erahons OF party tradition. If the selection of
| Il good and wise man outside of the ranks offers
| DeIGGr chances of success bar
mat you are here not only as democrats, but as
| citizens OF our common country, and that no
sacrifice can be too great which she demands at
| your hands, and not before. ] propose to your
| acceptance the temporary chairman of the con.
| Yention; permit me TO detain you a few mo-
| mentS longer by few words of an entirely per-
| sonal character With my present action
terminates my official functions as the chair
| man OF the national democratic committee, an
| office which, by the confidence of my conStit.
uentS and the courtesy of my colleagues, ]
nave held for twelve consecutive years During
| all that time have striven with honest zeal and
| wlth all the energy and capacity which God has
given me, TO do faithful with the party and to the
country, ana to render myself worthy of the
| great trust conhded to me. While was grieyed
| and deeply mortified to see, at various times.
| my motives and actions misconStrued by sew
eral democratic papers, and some even descended
| 10 tue fabrication of the most absurd fasehoods
concerning my social and political conduct. |
| that my colleagues on the national committee
and those who know me, did justice TO the in
| tegTlty and purity of my intentions, in all the
| trying situations in which my official position
| has placed me- Let me tell you, gentlemen
| there is not one among you who bears warmer
| and trder affection for our party and our coun
| try than have done and ever shall do You
| love this great republic your native land as
| you do the mother who gave you birth; but to
me she IS the cherished bride and choice of my
youth, the faithful and living companion of my
| manhood, and now that | enter upon the seer
and yellow leaf of life, cling to her with all the
| manifold blessings received at her hands. re-
| tire from the position which have held to take
| my position in the rank and file of that great
party whose national, constitutional aud con.
| Servatve principles have claimed my unWayer-
Ing allegiance for the last thirty years, and as
| long as the Almighty will spare my life / win
never falter in my love and devotion to our
party and our country | have the honor to
propose to you as your temporary chairman a
distinguished and venerable citizen of Virginia
grandson of the patriot aud statesman,
Thomas Jefferson 1t is an auspicious omen
that scion of the author of the declaration of
Independence is to inaugurate the struggle of
the democracy for freedom and equality for
every American citizen and against oppression
and tyranny in our own fair land
Mr. Belmont's remarks were frequently inter-
rupted by moderate applause The mention of
Greeley's name was received with loud demon.
stTatlOns OF approval. 30 also were the speak
el's personal reference to himself Accommodating
he said have the honor to propose the name
of Hon. Thomas Jefferson Randolph of Virginia
as your temporary chairman. Music By the
band, "Dixie.")
Mr. Jefferson Randolph took his scat amid
cheers. When the music ceased Mr. Randolph
said:
ADDRESS ny MIR. RANDOLPH
| am aware that the very great honor rom
ferred on me by this body is not due to the pcr-
sonal merit of my own, but token of resncct
to the state from which came, and a recogni.
ton of other circumstances possibly adventi-
tious. am, perhaps, the oldest member of this
body, and life of eighty years spent in the
democratic republican party constitutes me a
senior metaber. remember freshly every pres
idential contest from the first election of Jcffer.
son to the present time, and | can say with
truth that | remember none which involved
higher questions of personal )erty. local self
government, an honest f1ministraton and con
shtutonal fire. dom, than the present, or one
which demanded of our party and our people and
call more, or more earnest resource 10 pruden.
tial principles. ltstrikes me as the duty of this
hour and Of this body to wrest this government
from the hands Of its present despotic and
corrupt holders, and to place il in honest hands.
and to restore - the citizen everywhere the
proud consciousness Of personal right, and TO nh
the states a perfect integrity Of local self.goy.
crnment this, with the recognition of supreme
cy Of the civil constitution and the law, will, in