The New York herald., 1872-07-09
BALTIMORE, July 8, 1872.

Away down East Baltimore street is the Mary
land Institute building Half way up the first story
is marble inscription showing the altitude
reached by the great jones' Falls flood, which q
few years since inundated the lower portion Of the
city. Baltimoreans claim that is the clearest hall
in this country. 1t is as broad as Pearl street In
width, and as deep as from Broadway to Mercer
street in length. There are no pillars in 1t, and the
view from the Baltimore street entrance when the
stage is removed Is one vast auditorium, capable
OF accommodating many thousand people. Over
hanging galleries surround it, which capable of
accommodating one-third as many auditors as the
main floor.
POLITICAL "REMINISCENCES OF THE PLACE.
1t was In this hall that the Convention OF 1860
met which nominated John @. Breckinridge and
from which the Douglas boilers left to nominate
the Little Giant at the Front Street Theatre near by
This hail. in fact, is the political historic spot in
Baltimore. The Know Nothing Conventions Of the
city and the adjacent country were held within its
wallis The buildings Of the first hook and ladder
company OF the old volunteer fire organization are
within half block Of 1t. The contiguous streets
have been the scenes of many bloody encounters
which will live forever in the local history OF the
Monumental City. Innumerable State, county and
municipal conventions have been convoked therein
"EACH STEP FROM SPLENDOR TO DIsGRACE.o
But the first and grandest national farce that
ever occurred to disgrace this historic spot reached
Its elimination to-day The antiGreeleytes had
advertised their intention to meet at the Institute
at noon. Blanton Duncan, of Kentucky; Judge
Flanders of New York, and Delegate Van Allen, of
the latter State were the prime movers Of the 0c-
casion. There was no lack of previous notice, but
the expected crowd was not forthcoming. At ten
O'Clock Judge Sherwood, of Connecticut with
Judge Flanders and several others, inspected the
hall and made the necessary arrangements for the
meeting at noOn They were even then
astOnished to find that very few outsiders or
insiders gave evidence Of sympathy with the pros
pective bolt. Judge Sherwood, particularly, was
about the prospects of the undertaking and
very anxious to explain that the movement had
commenced too late 1.-THE truth isn said he,
''that this Greeley movement has swamped or
OvernOwed the masses Of our party, but If we had
commenced soon enough we could have swayed the
tide. 1t is too late now, however, and we must do
the best we can in an humble way to save the party
from Destruction" ~.
'-.' -. - AT SEA by MYSELF" w.
The hours and half hours sped and still no one
came to give encouragement. At halfpast eleven
q few journalists stroled In, and at twelve O'Clock
noon, when the Convention should have met,
about thirty of that profession were present.
In few moments afterwards, however, Duncan,
Of Kentucky, appeared, in company with Judge
Flanders, Delegate Van Allen and Mr.. Ledley, of
Illinois, Duncan knows everybody and everybody
knows Emcan. Consequently he was the centre of
attraction for the moment. Everybody asked Dun.
can why the Convention did not assemble.
After consultation with Judge Flanders Duncan
tended merely for private consultation, ana not as
public demonstration" Judge Flanders added
that the advertisement calling convention was
unauthOrzed.n
COUNTING THE HEADS.
In the meantime Van Allen had counted noses,
and found only eight bOlters present. of which Dun.
can was the only legitimate delegate to the regular
Convention. Alter further delay Van Allen called
the assemblage to order, and nominated Judge
At this juncture there were forty journalists
present, eight bolters, and about thirty citizens
OF Baltimore, who had dropped In casually.
HEAR THE CHAIR.
Flanders made speech, upon taking the Chair
point Of the present administration and % decrying r
Mr. Greeley not only as 'the enemy of his race, but
as the. enemy in particular of the democratic
subsequently Judge Sherwood was elected Sec
retary, and had either the good sense or discretion
Meanwhile a person who reioiced In the name
OF Edward F. Stokes, from South Carolina,
got the floor, and harangued the assemblage for
party to preserve the constitution unimpaired
and the certainty that Horace Greeley would de-
strOy it," He Is described by those who know him
as a halfcrazed person who travels through his
State in wagon beating base drum, over which
he floats the Star-!Spangled Banner and another
flag, which he has himself invented, to represent
the principles Of the democratic party. His friends
have on several occasions tried to capture him for
% ana Sae ed he With
his speech he grew warm and dramatic to such an
extent that turning around he approached Mr..
syvania and forced upon him his hand, exclaim-
ing south Carolina thus greets Pennsylvania
The outsiders enjoyed this exhibition more than
Flanders, grew nervous under the illl nlllctlon.
Stokes remarks ELECTED such rounds Of applause
however, from the irreverent crowd present that
he continued and 1t was with difficulty that he was
finally choked OIL.
took the floor, with resolution for the appoint.
ment of a committee Of ten TO prepare plan OF
permanent organization. -~--~.
mittee, Tor there WSf5 Only 1 eight boilers present
Nevertheless Duncan made speech very brief and
Mr.. Greeley. lie not, only arraigned Greeley
democratic party. but quoted from his Tribune
newspaper editorials to show that he had sustained
and praised General Buffers famous order No. %,
as the .'woinah ORDER" and in which southern wo-
men that might have insulted Union soldiers are
describedas 'pr0stitutes,2- r.
20 A HIT H1rl
The Batimoreans and others present who op.
posed Greeley's nomination greeted this portion of
sled approval The resolution to appoint COM
mittee OF ten was adopted, and, pending the fran
TIC elort OF Van Allen to ind ten men among te
thereon, Judge Sedley, Of Illinois, was called upon
10 ill up the time.
Personal EXPERIENCES.
He soon developed the fact that he had been dis
appointed In his ambition to serve as delegate TO
the regular Convention and subsequently related
several anecdotes about his immediate and per-
sonal connection with stephen A. Douglas, which
served to add importance to his presence. The
meeting, or convention, then adjourned to meet
again tomorrow or at the call OF the Chairman.
AT WORK AND ACTIVE OUTSIDE.
Opponents TO Mr.. Greeey's nomination have been
by no means idle. Although their work has been
done In q desultory and ineffective way, they have
been very active although not very bold, in urging
their claims In every quarter. They find, however,
that the programme OF this Convention has been
more thoroughly fixed In advance OF Its meeting,
than was that Of the Philadelphia Convention:
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