Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-06
rranA Blair at The Ch!eago M:saam.

| The Chicago Convention of lsGD. which
nominated Abraham Lincoln. was composed.
like all such bodies, Of the Republicans OF
principle and courage and those of a timid
and perilouS "expedlency" 1t was evident
IN the situation OF the country that. opposed
to naughty and confident party in full
possession OF the government, AID threat
enlng is ruin II they were defeated, the
true policy for the Republicans was a bold
declaration OF their principles and an APP
peal to the national conscience and courage
The time for trimming and hesitation had
passed hen the committee on resolutions
! reported tie platform, Mr.. Giddings, of
ONO. moved an amendment re-aSserting the
"-eli-e1ident truths of the Declaration of
Independence. Mr.. Cartier, of Ohio. strenu-
ously objected that the Convention might as
well re-a~sert the Ten Commandments.
| Another gentleman Joined in opposition.
and no one sustaining the amendment,
! probably fearing tina. any discussion of the
/ platform or change in It might lead to IN
expected and undesirable results, M Ash
man, the president, eagerly put the ques-
ton, anu with evident satisfaction declared
the amendment lost. Mr.. Giddings and his
friends thereupon rose TO withdraw from the
Convention. ~ they passed the seats of
the New York delegation, one of its mem
bcr>, seeing in their departure the retire
ment OF the strong, aggressive anti-slayery |
element, which was indispensable in the i'm |
lending contest Is really the soul of the Re |
publican party, and feeling that nothing /
could more fatally discourage that party and /
all brave Sons OF Liberty IN the MON than
the knowledge that the Convention had been
afraid in that national exigency to repeat the
words ui the Declaration as its political
creed, and had actually rejected them when
offered, stopped Mr. Giddings and begged
him 10 remain, as he would offer substantially
the same amendment.
Sending word to the chair that he wished
to be recognized as soon as possible, the
member rose, and Mr.. Ashmun, not suspect
ms that any thing would proceed from the
New y OK delegation that could disturb the
Convention. Immediately gave the New
\ orker the floor. and he renewed Mr.. Gid
dings amendment, merely changing its form
81 IL 10 include the opening words of the
the Declaration. Instantly there was an
lproar, and the point OF order was yocifer-
luSly made that the Convention had lust viz
iua.ly passed upon the same amendment.
Mr. Ashmun, eagerly as before, and with an
lir OF irritation that the trouble should have
'een renewed. decided the point to be well I
AIKEN, and passed peremptorily to the next '
'1slness. Daring the reading Of the plat u
orm and the debate upon the amendment !
Il MIR. GidcingS, the member from New !
Ork had observed at the end of the seat =
pposite hlS own upon the aisle, and but =
tw feet IRON hun, a sturdy, sandy haired n
nan, who sat carelessly swinging one leg %
nd foot over the arm Of the seat, and squirt i
NJ tobacco juice upon the floor, apparently e,
Indifferent to everything that took place. III
tut as Mr.. Ashburn peremptorily ruled the IA
md haired man by sudden spring raised 10
imself erect upon his feet, standing on the OF
sat, and with IL voice that commanded the \
lair 50 that he instinctively turned and m
'uld not help recognizing the speaker, ex- "
aimed, Mr.. President - Mr.. Ashmun III
'~ponded, The gentleman from Missouri. " ".
rise to point of ORDER 1.-The gentle ca
an will state 1t. MY point is that the pI
nendment of the gentleman from Ohio was h.
one clause Of the resolutions, and that of IN,
e gentleman from New York to another, in
ID that the question, therefore, has not sp
en- decided by the Convention" The ev
int was indisputable. Mr.. Ashmun saw an
and said, coldly, The gentleman's point 10y
well taken, and the gentleman from New pi
,rk has the floor The amendment was wi
lewed. few words were said in support 20,
it, and the Convention. now understand I lu
, the situation, reversed its previous vote, sna
i with enthusiastic unanimiIv adopted the RI,
eniment. while Mr. Gliding and his an,
ends resumed their seats in the Conven- its
n. Wo
The sturdy, sandy-haired delegate was SUI
rank Blair and it was he who thus the
ed to the Republican platform of 1850 owe
consecrating phrases OF the Declaration, Ma
to hearty cooperation with the Repub- to
n party the original anti-savery! senti- syn
wallpapers Weekly. ana
should be added to this, that the member 4
he New York delegation, whose PROMPT TIVE
on prevented the retirement of Mr.. n ,aa,
dings and perhaps saved the convention ply
the nomination from failure, was una
xr.,,. wer
rye William Curtis, now editor of Har littl
Weekly .the writer of the above such
lie. We well remember his earnest S ;n.n
lence, as he babe the Convention beware upol
they sligbted as trpe and Influential -, bach
4 - - g, sion
- VI "u'n"n ireedoni as Joshua L. ton
ings. or took action which might cost crus
new party Of freedom the support of a naPi
whom he represented. The whole W
will not soon be forgotten By any was
v;.rossod :, fatht
HON,
us lr