Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-08-03
GRANTS DEATH BLOW.

ley nud II, GrRdz Brown by the Demo.
cratic Convention Ht nRItImOre-TlIc
Cincinnati Platform Adopted by an
Almost Unanimous VOIe-An I'm
m,nse Amount Of Enthusiasm and
the Proceedings SingHIarly Har.
mOniOus.
We copy below an extract Of the pro
ceedi4gs Of the National Democratic
Convention which met at Baltimore on
the 9th inst, compiled from the full and
graphic reports of the Louisville CoUricr
JDtHndl:
BALTIMORE, July 10, 2 A. M.-The
Committee on Resolutions had three
hours discussion tonight, and finally
resolved by vote Of thirty-three to
four, to present the Cincinnati platform
unchanged to the National Democratic
Convention for adoption, The follow
States voted against the resolution
Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, Oregon.
The following is the text Of the reso-
luton of the committee "We, the
Democratic electors of the United
States, assembled in National Conyen-
ton at Baltimore, present the following
principles, already proclaimed at Oin-
cinnati, as essential to Just govern
ment." The Cincinnati platform is then
added.
Cassidy, of New York, proposed this
preamble. There was no serious dis
pute as to tho main point of presenting
tho platform, but the discussions were
upon the manner of doing it.
CALLED TO ORDER.
The Convention was called to order
by August Belmont, Chairman of Demo-
crat National Executive Committee.
Mr.. Belmont said:
REMARKS OF MIR. BELMONT.
GENTLEMEN OF TIE CoNvENmoN-It
is again my privilege to welcome the
delegates of the National Democracy,
who have met in order to present the
American people candidates for Prcsi-
dent and Vice President, for whom they
solicit the suffrage of the Democratic
and Conservative voters of this great
republic At our last &ational Conven-
tion, on the 4th Of July 'G8,. l predicted
that the election of Gen. Grant would
result in the gradual usurpation of the
Government by the Executive and by
Congress- itobc emf reed by the bayonets
of military despotism. The vast major
ity of the people of the United States
have Witnessed with grief and sorrow
the correctness Of that prediction, and
they look forward with fear and appre-
hension to the dangers which are
threatening us by the election of Gen.
Grant, if the policy thus far pursued by
the Radical party be continued. Think
iDg men of both parties have become
alive to the fact that we are now living
under a military despotism, overriding
civil authority in many States i'll the
Union that by the enactment Of arbi
trary and unconstitutional laws through
the deprOved majority in Congress, the
FGht FfaMSat t thP8a States at 9! are nfriage4 and
are undermining the very
foundations of our federal system, and
are sweeping away the constitutional
bulwarks erected by the wisdom of tho
fathers of the Republic. These abuses
have become so glaring that the purest
and best men of the Republican party
have severed themselves from the Radi-
cal wing, which is trying to fasten upon
the country another four years reign of
corruption, usurpation, and dcspotism.
And, whatever individual opinion we
may entertain us to the choice of the
candidates whom they have selected in
opposition to General Grant, there
can't be any doubt of the patriotic i'm
pulses which dictate their action, nor
can any fault be found with the plat
form of principles upon which they
have placed their candidates. The reso-
lutions 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 to men; and l trust that no
personal prejudiccs will deter lis from
doing our duty to the American people.
General Grant has been a good and
faithful soldier during our civil war.
His stubborn, indomitablc courage has
helped to crown tho Union fields with
victory, and the American people have
rewarded his services with the most I'M
bounded generosity. l am willing to
concclc that his intentions on taking
the Presidential chair were good and
patriotic, but he failed in the discharge
of the high trust imposed upon him by
the confidence of grateful people. He
is at this moment the very personifica-
tion of the mis-rulo which is expressing
us, and his reelection is fraught with
the most deplorablo consequences for
the welfare of the republic and endan-
gers the liberty of our own people. On
the other hand Mr.. Greeley has been
heretofore Il bitter opponent of the
Democratic party, and the violent at
tacks against myself individually, which
have from time to time appeared in his
journal, certainly do not now entitle
him to any sympathy or preference at
my hands. But Mr., Greeley represents
the national and constitutional princi-
pies of the Cincinnati platform, and by
his admirable and manly letter of ac-
ccptance he has shown that he is fully
alive to their spirit, and that if elected
he means to carry them ont honestly
and faithfully. Should you therefore
in your wisdom decide to pronounce i'll
favor of the Cincinnati candidates, l
shall for one most cheerfully bury all
past diiicrcnc Is and vote for their cleo
ton with the same zeal and energy with
which | have supported heretofore the
candidates of the Democratic party.
The American people look with deep
soicitude to your deliberations. 1t is
for you to devise the means by which to
free them from the effects under which
they ore suffering; but, in order to at
tain that end, you are called upon to
make every sacrifice of personal and
party preference. However much you
may desire to fight the coming battle
for our rights and liberties under one of
the trusted leaders of the Democratic
party. it will become your duty to dis
card all considerations ofparty tradition
if the selection of good and wise men
outside of our ranks offers better chances
of success. You must remember that
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.
L II l.