Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-03
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
Carl schurz's Specch- preparations for
the Business of the Convention.


and order were Indispensable to hearing in 50
large hall. He requested everybody to keep
seated unless TO rise TO speak, and in the latter
case announce the state of the speaker.
Missouri delegate urged committee of per-
manent organizatlOn-one from each state. Fitz
Henry Warren moved to amend by including
territories.
After brief discussion the amendment was
carried. The motion, as amended, was carried
Mr.. Cochrane moved that a committee of nine
draft the rules and regulations of the conven-
ton In the meantime the rules of the house of
representatives will be adopted.
Mr.. Tonsey of New York moved that all
propositions relating TO principles of the plat
form be referred without debate to the commit
tee on resolutions when appointed
Mr.. Mcclure of Pennsylvania moved that q
committee of one from each state and territory
on resolutions be appointed
Mr. Atkinson of Massachusetts moved to
amend by making the committee of one from
each state only. Mr. Atkinson modified his
amendment, so as to continue the committee to
one from each state, thus excluding territories.
Mr. GrOsvenOr of Missouri urged the iGpor-
tallce OF the immediate appointment of com
mlttee on credentials in advance of the appoint
ment of a committee on resolutions
The chair conCurred in this view. 1t was the
fairest duty to constitute convention by aScer-
tanning regularly who the members were.
Mr. Mcclure withdrew his motion at the re-
quest of Mr.. Cochrane, who moved for the APP
pontment of committee on credentials, to
consist of one from each state and territory.
Adopted.
The roll was called and several committees
were named.
The chair read q communication claiming for
Laura DelorCe Gordon a seat in the convention
as representing California. 1t was referred,
amid laughter, to the committee on credentials.
Mr.. Mcclure renewed his motion to appoint a
committee of one from each state on resolutions
and it was adopted
AT the opening of the afternoon session, Judge
| Spaldng oil Ohio, from the committee on per-
manent organization, reported for permanent
president, Carl Schurz, with one vice president
and secretary from each state and territory, as
follows:
Vice Presidents Alabama, Thomas Lamert;
Arkansas, d. X. Underworld California, VIM.
Rackerby; Connecticut Hon. David Clark; Del
| aware, none; Florida, none; Georgia, r. l..
Mott; Illinois, John Wentworth; Indiana, Geo.
| W. Julian; Iowa, }. A. Romberg; Kansas, Hon.
| S. J. Crawford Kentucky, Labant T. Moore;
Louisiana, l.. I. Delasize; Maine, S. w. Per-
| kinS; Maryland, Henry W. Hoffman; MGssa-
| chusetts, Gen W. L. Bartlett; Michigan, o. ?.
| Clark; Minnesota, Aaron Gordrick; Mississippi,
| Col. Cooke; Missouri, Josiah Forbes; Nebraska,
john Mccormack; Nevada Geo. G. Lyon; New
Hampshire, VIM. II. Grove; New Jersey,
| Miller Mexican; New York, Thomas Ranes
| North Carolina, II. IL. Helper; Ohio, o. Toilet
| Oregon, j. W. Johnson; Pennsylvania, NJ. b.
Lowry; Rhode Island, L. Harris; South Caro-
| lima, w. w. Wheeler; Tennessee, Gilbert May
ers; Texas, E. Morgan Hamilton; Vermont,
Major j. H. Salisbury; Virginia, George Rye;
| West Virginia, Ward Ii Lemon; Wnconsu,
| W. II. Doe; District of Columbia, Joseph Ca
| sey; Dakota territory, George W. Proper;
Montana, f. c. Eyeretts.
The following are the principal secretaries {:
First, Gen. W. f. McClane, of Indiana; second,
John Y. Davidson, Of Minnesota; third, F. W.
| Wright, of Maine; fourth, j. ID. Rhodes, of
| Ohio
The report was adopted amid great applause.
Mr.. SchuH then advanced, the band playing
| "Hail to the Chief"
Mr.. Schurz said: Nobody can survey this vast
| and enthusiastic assembly, gathered from all
| parts of the republic, without an emotion of as
| constituent and hope. Astonishment, consider
| ing the spOntaneity Of impulse which has
| brought it together; and hope, considering the
great issues Tor which 1t has met The republic
may well congratulate itself upon the fact that
| such a meeting was possible. Look at the Cir
| cumstanGes from which it has sprung. We saw
the American people just issued from great
and successful struggle, and in the full pride of
| their national strength threatened with new
| evils and dangers of an insiduouS nature; and
| the masses of the population apparently not
| aware of them. We saw jObbery and corrup-
| ton stimulated to unusual audacity by Oppor-
| tuntieS of protracted civil war invading the
| public service of the government as well as al
saw public opinion most deporably lenient in
| its judgment of public and private dishonesty;
we saw the government INDUCING in YantOn
disregard of the laws of the land, and reSortng
10 daring assumptions of unconstitutional
power; and we saw the peOple-apparentv, at
east-acquesGing with reckless leyity in the
transgrcssions threatening the very life OF our
free institutions; We saw those in authority with
tyrannical insolence thrust the hand of power
through the vast machinery OF the public
service into local and private affairs; and
we saw the innumerabe mass of their adherents
accept these encroachmeDts upon their indepen-
dence without protest or resentmenti we saw
men in the highest places of the republic en-
ploy their power and opportunities for selfish
advantage, thus stimulating the demo raization
of our political life by their conspicuous exam
pie, and the Loud chorus of partizan Sycophancy
drown the voice Of honest criticism; we
saw a part of our common country
which had been convulsed by dsas-
trOus rebellion most grievously suffering
from the consequences of civil war; and we saw
the naughty spirit of power refusing to lift up
those who had gone astray and we're now suffer-
Ing, by policy of general cOnciliatioH aud The
stateSWapalip OF common sense. We observed
this, and at the sane time a reckless and
greedy party spirit in the name Of the great or
ganization crowned with the laurels Of glorious
achievements, striving TO palate or Justify
these wrongs and abuses, TO gtife the moral
sense of the people, and.to drive them by tyran-
nical party discipline not only to submit to this
for the present but To perpetuate it, that the
politcalpower of the country may be preserved
in the hands of those who possessed IT,
He who has calmly and impartally surveyed
this spectacle, could not fail to be deeply
alarmed, not only at the wrongs that have been
and were being perpetrated, but at the subjuga-
ton of popular spirit, which did not rise up
against them. The question might well have
been asked-haVe the American people become
rlty IN .,,to
their national harmony, to the purity Of their
political life, TO the integrity Of their free insti-
tutions to the very honor Of the American
name, that they should permit themselves to be
driven like flock of sheep by those who assume
to lord il over them2 That question has now
found an answer--nol The virtue, the spirit of
independence, the love OF liberty, the republican
pride of the American people, are not dead yet,
and do not mean to die; and that answer is
given in thunder tones by a convention OF Amer
lean freemen here assembled.
Indeed, these who three months ago first
raised their voices, did so with an abiding faith
that their appeals could not remain without re-
sponse; but the volume of that response has
now far exceeded their anticipatons. The crust
of narrow preludices, of selfish partZanShp,
which but yesterday seemed 10 stop every free
pulsation Ol the popular heart, is suddenly burst
asunder. The patriotic citizen rises above the
partizan. We begin to breathe again as free
men we dare again to call things by their right
names; we have once more courage 10 break
through the deceptions with which the popular
mind has been beIogged; we feel once more that
our convictions of right and wrong are our own,
and that our votes belong to the country and
thus we defantly set our sense of duty against
the arrogance of power like the bugle blast of
doomsday. The summons is reSounding north
and south and east and west. The conscience
of the people, which seemed dead, has arisen
from every point of the compass; the hosts are
hockinp together. aud here we are
Let me hOpe-aye, do hope, with fearless de-
termiuation-to do our whole duty, as ii moth
ing could withstand movement 50 irresistibly
inspiring. Indeed, the breath of victory is in
the very air which surrounds us; and that VIC
tory will not escape from our grasp if we are
true to our mission. But YOU must fear with
me If in this hour of enthusiasm, when our
hearts are big with proud presentiments, adj
dress to you II word Of soberness We have
grand opportunity before u.s. grand and full of
promise. We can crush corruption in our pub
lie concerns; we can give the republic pure
and honest government; we can revive author-
~ OF laws; we can restore TO full value the con-
stiutional safeguard Of our liberties; we can
inluse higher moral spirit into our political
life, we can reanimate in the hearts of the
whole people, in every section of the land, a
traternal and proud national feeling; we
can do all this. But we can do
il only II throwing behind us the slaylsh sci.
fish spirit of political trade, we obey the purest
aud oiticst inspirations of the popular uprising