The sun., 1873-04-21
Mr.. Adam. on the Chicago Convention

Mr.. Adams on the Chicago Convention.
In his recent Grafton Mr.. CHARLES
FRANCIS ADAMS discusses the action of
the Convention at Chicago by which Mr..
LINCOLN was nominated for President in
stead of Mr.. SEWARD, referring TO the
opponents of the latter in a manner which
seems to us inconsistent with the spirit of
justice which pcrvades the rest of the
Grafton.
That we may not in any degree mis-
represent the views of Mr.. ADAMS, we will
quote his language upon this subject:
when the nominating Convention assembled
AZ Chicago, the eyes Of all were turned toward
him as the csnd date OF all others the most dis
as delegates friendly Ia him, and the general
pectation was that he would be nominated at
once. but It Was remembered that In 1874
HrSRy CLAY was defeated because he had a long
record 81 public service, from which many
marked sayings aud dolngs might be quoted 70
affect impresslbe waverers and JAMES X. POLK
was elected because nobody could quote any
thing against him, for the reason that he had
Furthermore, the ghosts ofthe higher law and OF
the irrepressiole conflict fitted about TO alarm
excited imaginations. Last hut not least came
In the element Of bargain and management.
naninulated by adepts at intrigue, which Is
The eject u all these influences united was to
turn tho tide at last, and Mr.. SEWARD. the
veteran champion u the reforming policy, was
set aside I'm favor of "a gentleman ~ little known
10y ANYTHING he had ever done as the most san
gune friend Of such a selection could desire
According to this, while Mr.. SEWARD was
weakened IN the Convention 10y his pro-
nouuCcd opinions on slavery and is
constitutional relations, h" was finally
| beaten by bargain and management man
ipuated by adopts AT intrigue; and Mr..
ADAMS also tells Us in another passage that
he himself was fun of disgust nj the
management rcsorted to TO defeat Mr.
SEwAED's nomination." This language is
natural in one so strongly attached To Mr..
SEWARD as Mr.. ADAMS was, and so deeply
interested in his success on that occa-
sion; nut the truth is that il was not man
agement or intrigue that defeated Mr..
SEWARD; and although II could hardly he
expected in a eulogy upon him, delivered
in the presence Of many OF his intimate
friends, that the real cause should be fully
demonstrated, historical accuracy certain
ly requires that it should at least he allu-
| ded to. This cause was the bad reputation
| Of the Republican leaders who in the State
| of New York were identified with Mr.
SEwARD's fortunes, and the popular belief
that they were corrupt, that they were
unequalled adopts at intrigue, bargain
and management-a belief which had
been confirmed and intensified by the ac-
| tion Of the Republican Legislature of New
York during the two previous years. No
one ever supposed Mr.. SEWARD himself to
be corrupt man; but the corruption
among his followers was notorious, and had
| been unsparingly criticised in all parts OF
F.,s,, A.,
the only ground of the strenuous resistance
| which for a long period beforehand the
| late Mr.. GREELEY had made to Mr.. SEW
ARDS nomination both in the columns Of
the Tribune and in personal intercourse.
This objection he urged persistently at
Chicago before the opening of the Conyen-
ton and during the whole period of its
session; and il was this objection, and this
| only, which finally brought the delegates
to vote against Mr.. SEWARD and insured Il
majority for Mr.. LINCOLN. We dare say
there was bargaining and management
| for, as MIR. ADAMS truly says, they are
| almost inseplrahlcfIom similar assemblies
| but this element was no more pow crful AT
| ChiCago--in fact II was n great deal less so
| than in any other convention that we
have known, and it had IA great deal less to
do in determining the final result.
MI ADAMS is equally mistaken in assert
ing that the eminenCe of Mr, SEWARD a. an
mti-slavery leader and orator, and his
memorable declarations respecting the
higher law and the irrepressible conflict
contributed to his defeat. ON the con.
trary they were the sources of all his
strength; and nothing but the cause We
have mentioned could have prevented
them from making him the candidate.
We dwell upon this subject not from any
wish TO stir up the heats of an old oontro.
versy, but to render justice to the oppOn
ents of Mr.. SEWARD in that Convention
and especially to HORACE GREELEY, the
most conspicuous among them, and IN,
one universally recognized as by far the
most influential in the affair,