The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-07

Kentucky delegaton, Hon. G. NJ CLAW arose
and cast the five votes given Brown for b;s 1soId
and honored friend, Horace Greeley" Wherein
'on hot blood in the delegation claimed that
this was a vote of the Chairman, and that the
delegation had not been consulted. Cassius ev-
identity meant business, both in his voice and
the look which flashed from his eyes, and his
opponent sank down into the oblivion of the
stunned mass There were several other
changes of votes and then Missouri asked leave
to retire for consultation. There was consider
able commOtion in the delegation and many yio-
lent expletyes greeted the exposure of the con-
spiracy Finally the delegation got out of the
hall without any actual physical collision, and
then the second phase of the bargain appeared
Alex. Mcclure withdrew the name of Gov.
Curtin, and asked leave for Pennsylvania to re-
tire Tor consultation, by which he meant that
ne might have an opportunity to whet that
KNIFE which ON the previous evening he had
threatened to put into the free traders.
scHURz OPPOSES THE BARGAIN
The session of the Missourians was stormy in
the extreme. Senator Schurz relinquished the
char to Mr.. Julian, and, appearing before the
delegation OF his State, proceeded to make a
brief but vigorous speech against the consum-
nation OF the bargain by the nomination of
Greeley. He said that he yielded to no one in
admiration of the high character of Mr.. Greeley,
or in appreciation of his great services to hu-
manity, but unfortunately, Mr.. Greeley had
idosyncracies which made him the weakest
candidate the Convention could select. He had
been one of the most prominent and persistent
advocates of temperance by legislation so that
it was idle to suppose that the German vote
would be cast for him. Besides it was indis-
pensable to the success of the movement that the
candidate should carry Ohio. 1t was nonsense
to say that Mr.. Greeley could do that.
soLD BUT NOT DELIVERED
These arguments of Schurz with the disgust
OF the Missourians at their transfer like sheep,
caused both Brown and his bargain to be repu-
dated Presently the delegates returned, and
the ballOting again begun. The.success of the
conspiracy was even then far from assured
Alabama and Arkansas, two of the rotten bor-
ough States, which had before divided, led off
solid for Greeley. California gave him half
and Georgia all, while before she had none for
him. But there We're no other breaks of conse-
quence before Missouri was called, and that
State gave GREELEY only ten, while she gave
TRUMBULL sixteen and ADAMS four. The an
nouncement of toe vote by Gen. MCNEIL, the
Chairman, being instantly followed by one of
the delegates shouting, "we've been sold, but
uot delivered" When it came to Pennsylva-
mia, it was found that MCCLURE had been
equally unable to fulfill his contract, as that
State had only Is for GREELEY, with 26 for
ADAMS and IL for TRUMBULL. When the
result of the ballot showed ADAMS 243, GREE
LEY 245, TRUMBULL 148 and DAVIS 20, the
conspiracy seemed failure The Adams men
became radiant, and for time delighted in the
delusion that the days of political purity had
come again, and that their candidate, for whom
no questionable means had been used, was TO
chicanery of professional politicians.
PROGRESS OF THE FIGHT.
At the conclusion of the ballot, there was
unusual uproar caused by the meeting of dele
cations. The emissaries of the corrupt Greedy
| Brown ring were at work, and the Adams men
| became uneasy, but the roll-call of the third
ballot soon began, and being completed showed
ADAMS 264, GREELEY 25S TRUMBULL 146 and
DAVIS A. Virtue was still triumphant against
intrigue. ADAMS on the fourth ballot had 279,
GREELEY 251, TRUMBULL 141. Not olny had
ADAMS gained, but GREELEY had actually lost,
and it was generally supposed that the Trum-
bull vote, which was the balance of power
would, when it left him go to ADAMS and
nominate him.
THE BREAK.
On the next ballot the break began, Trum-
bull going down to 81, Adams rising to 300, and
Greeley to 256. The latter had gained only 8,
but Adams had gained 80, and there was no
| longer. any doubt in many minds but that
| Adams would be nominated on the next ballot
| The Trumbull men were going over to him. 1t
was thought there was no longer any danger
| of a stampede to Greeley, and there was gem
| eral conclusion that the Biairs, Gratz Brown,
| Cochrane, Hutchins, Mcclure and the other
intriguers had gained nothing by their labors:
AT this juncture the Illinois delegation asked
| leave to retire, and in the confusion following
their exit, the calling of the sixth ballot begun.
Alabama and Arkansas voted solid for Greeley.
| Georgia next went solid the same way, and
| then the critical moment had come. John
| COchrane jumped to his feet and set up yell,
in which all the plotters Joined. 1t was min
| utes before the roll could be called further In
| diana followed almost solid for Greeley, and
! the yells were renewed with more volume and
| intensity than before. 1t was evident that
| Greeley was to be shouted down the throat of
| the Convention, and in vain Schurz pounded
for order. There was no order in the crowd OF
political tricksters below him, and as gains for
| Greeley were announced in Iowa. Kansas, Ken
| lucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, which
| finally voted Greeley, with Adams 10 and Trum-
bull 2, it was evident that the Tribune philoso-
| pher was stamped into the nomination But
i Mcclure had to make q proper showing, and
| Pennsylvania, before the changes commenced
stood Adams 50, Greeley is.
5t SHOUTING MOB:
| At the close of the call the Convention degen-
Grated into mob of yelling madmen. Private
| tales had shown that the plot had succeeded,
and everywhere chairmen of delegations were
| on their feet demanding to change the vote of
| their States, which was done, and finally the
! vote was announced--Greeley 4S2, Adams 1877,
| and Horace Greeley had been nominated as the
| Reform candidate for President The scene at
] this point was simply indescribable, a motion
| for a recess had been made but had been de-
| feated-yet there was an actual recess, because
nothing could be done pending the return of
the Illinois delegation. The fact that Greeley
| was actually nominated as the figures stood,
seemed incomprehensible, and, to masy, inn
possible. The Convention awoke to the situa-
tion by degrees, as if stung by the shock of an
/ awful calamity. On the New York side there
| was uproarious confusion, and the red neck-ties
I of Tammany Republicans were actively at
] work trying to induce delegates to change their
votes.
| DlsMAY.
But on all other hands the relization of the
situation settled like pail The Southern
States, which had been scattering their votes for
| Chase. Brown and Trumbull, hurried to change
| them to the winning man, and the announce
ments were made amid loud cheers and storms
of misses from the floor and the galleries Cries
| of shame" and yells of delight were mingled
| in the common dscord Every mans face was
a study. Hundreds of delegates stamped
their feet and swore. Judge Hoadley, of the
Ohio delegation, shook with rage. Stanley
| Matthews swelled until it seemed as if he would
burst. The pig-iron arrow which he shot at
| Mcclure last night had been turned, and now
| pierced his own heart. The faces of the GIN
/ dependent journalists" which had Just been all
| aglow with joyful hope at the splendid vote of
Adams, now grew black under the overspread-
| ing clouds of disappointment and disgust. The
face of Schurz was fresh study for the facile
pencil of Mast. The audience seemed to be-
| come enraged and delighted by turns Hats
flew wildly and anathemas were hurled at the
heads of the bargainers
| ANNOUNCING THE RESULT
| 1t was long time before the ballot was an
| nounced, and when it was it was mere guess
work, for the changes had been accomplished
| in such turmoil that the secretaries were un-
4
voice trembling with visible emotion. Senator
| Schurz said: "the result of the sixth ballot is
| as follows: Whole number of votes cast, ia;
necessary to a choice, 1853, of which Charles
| Francis Adams has 1S7 and Horace Greeley
has 4S2. You have, therefore, nominated Hor-
ace Greeley as your candidate for President"
l. .n NO UNANIMITY EVEN YET
In a moment more, three or four motions to
| make the nominations unanimous were launch
ed at the Chair, but were met by stentorian
cries of mo, no no, from all parts of the floor.
| The motion being put, it was met with wild
| cries of AYE" from the Greeley men, mingled
with scorching Kisses, and when the negative
was called for an angry shout of "No, no,
went up from scores of the benches But the
deed was done and a recess of ten minutes fol-
lowed, against the protestations of the Greeley
champions, who wanted TO rush the 1ratZ
Brown bargain right through.
During the intermissiOns the scene was
changed from the appalling to the ludicrous
The men at first stunned at the result began to
realize the length and breadth of the farce and
then to laugh immoderately. During this brief
recess the complexion of the audience changed
almost entirely. Scores of delegates left in ut
ter disgust and rage, and the galleries emptied
with great raPidity. The spirit of the Conyen-
ton was broken and the interest was gone.
The whole affair had collapsed like a bubble,
| and lt rnQuirpd nuita nm To the hOdV