The Portland daily press., 1872-07-10
The Greeley Ratification Meeting.
The Opening of the COnvcntion-Mr. Bel
NOM tells his Grief and his Love
Temporary President's Speech
Dixie-Mr. DOolittIe Quickly
made President-Etc,, etc.

BALTIMORE, u ly Sat fifteen minutes past
~ o'clock the Convention was called to order
by August Belmont, chairman of the National
Executive Committee, in speech of some
minutes in length, but not word of which
could be heard by the press members other than
those of the Associated Press and American
Press Association, seats having been assigned
them on the platform near the presiding officer
stand.
During Belmont's speech, he made allusion,
it is supposed, to Horace Greeley, as the Greeley
men in the audience commenced shouting.
Que of Greeley's admirers among the dele
gates arose and proposed three cheers for
Greeley, which were given by about two-thirds
of the delegates, the other third remaining
quiet in their seats 50 a-t
Mr.. Belmont nominated Mr. Randolph as
temporary presiding officer, and the latter
came forward and after being applauded deliv-
cred brief speech which could not be heard.
Col Thomas Jefferson Randolph is well pre-
served son of the Old Dominion. He is son
of Gov Randolph and grandson of Thomas
Jefferson. He is six feet and seven inches high
and somewhat resembles Gen. Scott about the
time that he ran for the Presidency although
not quite SO stout. He was received with cheers
as he came to the front, but when the band
struck up 'Dixie' there was loud applause.
The officers and committee-men from Maine
are to be:-Vice President, William HI. Nc
Crillis; Credentials, s. G. Andrews; Resolu-
tions, I. III. Hubbard; Permanent Organiza-
ton, James M. Churchill. From New Hamp-
l. u.
olutions, Hon. HI. Bingham; Permanent Or
ganization, George F. Putnam; Credentials,
Frank Jones: Secretary, M. V. B. Edgerly.
MIR. DELMoNT's SPEECH.
Gentlemen Of the Convention 1t is again my
privilege to welcome the delegates of the Ma
tiOnal Democracy who have met in order to
present to the American people the candidates
for President and Vice President for whom
they solicit the suffrages of the Democratic
and Conservative voters of this great republic
At your last National Convention, on the 4th
of July, 1868, predicted that the election of
Gen. Grant would result in the gradual usurpa-
ton of all the functions of the Government by
the executive and by Congress, to be enforced
by the bayonets of military despotism. The
vast majority 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 apprehension to
the dangers which are threatening us if by the
reelection of Gen. Grant the policy thus far
pursued by the Radical party be continued.
The thinking men of both paroles have become
alive to the fact that we are now living under a
military d"spotism, overriding their real au-
thority in many States of the Union; that by
the enactment of arbitrary and unconstitution-
al laws through depraved Congress the
rights of those States are nfringed and tramp
led upon; and that Cesarsm and centraliza-
ton are undermining the very foundation of
our federal system and are sweeping away the
constitutional bulwarks erected by the wisdom
of the fathers of the Republic. These abuses
have become so glaring that the wisest and best
men of the Republican party have severed
themselves from the radical wing, which is try
ing to fasten upon the country another four
years reign of corruption, usurpation and des-
potism. 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 be any doubt of the patri-
otto impulses which dictated their action, for
can any fault be found with the platform of
principles upon which they have placed their
candidates? The resolutions of the Cincinnati
Convention are what tbs 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 1 trust that
no personal prejudice of predictions will deter
us from doing our duty to the American people.
Gen. Grant has been good and faithful SOL
der during our civil war. His stubborn and
indomnitabe courage has helped to crown the
Union arms with victory, and the American
people have rewarded his services with the most
unbounded generosity.
am willing to concede that his intentions on
taking the Presidential chair were good and pa
triotic, but he 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 personfication of
the misrple WHICH is depressing us. His selec-
ton is fraught with the most deplorable conse-
| quences for the welfare of the republic and en-
dangers the liberty of the people. On the other
| hand Mr.. Greeley has been heretofore bitter
opponent of the Democratic party and the viO-
| lent attacks against myself, undoubtedly which
have from time to time appeared in his Journal
! certainly entitle him to-no sympathy or pref
erence at my hands, but Mr.. Greeley represents
the national and constitutional PRINCIPLES Of the
| Cincinnati platform and by his admirable and
manly letter of acceptance he has shown that
he is fully alive to their Spirit and if elected he
means to carry them out honestly and faithful