Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-31
The Republican National Convention OF 1850.

the most memorable nominating convention
ever held in this country. No man who wa
there will ever forgetit
The writer in the Bonner. alter correct
ing statement elsewhere made. that Hugh
Henry was the spokesman Of the Vermont
delegation III the Convention. proceeds q.
| follows:
In our estimation the great event i'll Hor
ace Greeley's life was his opposition to ths
nomination of Seward at Chicago. The
reasons he gave, and tbs manner in which
he enforced them. We have hitherto given
| in the Banner. Subsequent events proved
that Mr.. Seward could NOT have been elect
ed Mr.. Lincoln was easily triumphant
MIR Greeley's opposition to Mr.. Seward Sc
cured the nomination of Abraham Lincoln
On the evening before the convention as
sembled, Mr.. Greeley met the friends of all
candidates in the large rotunda of the Sher-
man House He had no raised platform to
speak from, but as the immense crowd
| gathered around him, he unlimbered the
several curves that in ordinary times made
him appear stoop- shouldered and somewhat
crooked in build and when he had
strai ghtened up, he was the tsllest man in
tn. host of delegates and outsiders that had
gathered there. Near him stood the Hon
Hugh Henry. who also allowed his head TO
rise by gradual degrees above THAT stock, y
with which everybody is familiar who ever
knew Hon. Hugh, until. next to Horace
Hugh was the observed II all observers.
And Hugh backed Horace
That evening. Mr.. Henry Iusstei MIR
Greeley to come before the ', Iont delega-
ton at their headquarters which had
been provided by the Vermo RS then resi-
dent in Chicago. and addr the delega-
| ton. Previous to this. L. Sever. Mr..
Greeley, who had heard of the possible vote
Vermont might give for Seward. had re-
quested the privilege OF q hearing by them
as their State was almost the State of his
nativity. Accordingly it was arranged that
Mr. Greeley should address the delegation
a; o'clock Monday morning, the cOnven-
ton meeting at IL clock that day.
Personally we then favored the nOmina-
ton of Mr.. Seward Before the final ballot
was taken we did not We had learned OF
Mr. Greeley's intended visit to the delega-
ton, and communicated the fact to the
Seward Vermonters outside Of the delega-
| ton. Immediately upon the fact being
made known 10 them. several friends OF Mr..
Seward, not of the delegation, improvised 3
committee, composed of Edward 5. lsham
Esq. son of Hon. PierpOint lsham ,resid ent
of Chicago then, as now Norman Will
liams, Esq. of Woodstock. then practieing
his profession in Chicago and the writer
of this editorial. to invite Hon. William NJ
Evarts, Of New York, Mr.. Stewards lead
ing champion. to come before the delega-
ton, and answer Mr. Greeley.
In this proposition the members Of the
delegation readily concurred. and Mr.
Greeley and Mr. Evarts together came be-
fore them, in public meeting, at the dele
cations rooms.
Mr. Greeley. who was territorial delegate
from Oregon. by courtesy, said he now felt
at home among VermOnters. and made 4
strong and convincing statement of fact,
and argument TO show wherein it would be
impossible to carry Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Indiana anc Ohio tor Seward substan-
tiating his assertions BY correspondence or
conversations with the nominated guberna-
tOrial candidates IN these States. closing
with the remark that four years ago we
made gallant tight for Fremont and Day
ton to establish the Republican party, now
let u give the labor Of the coming cam
paign 10 win = victory for the principles Of
the party 50 glori0usly founded.
Mr. Eyarts met these statements with 4
mastery asd eloquent speech Meantime
Mr. Greeley had retired 10 attend to other
duties. and ct the close Of Mr.. ETsrts sd-
dress. Hon. Hugh Henry asked the priv-
lege Of proposing few question:" TO Mr..
Eyarts
IL wa- IA the questions, answers aGd bret
debate then following that Mr. Henry made
his mark at the " Chicago Convention SIX
teen years ago.
We think the appointed delegates we're
not ail present. Unless our memory IS more
treaeher0us than It : apt TO be. Hon. T. g.
Root and Others were present IS slternates
for absent members
By the ordinary allotment VI names in the
list. and by common precedent. Hon. Eben-
eeer y. Briggs. OF Brandon. was chairman
Of the delegation. and ID IT, several meet
ings had acted 6 its presiding cheer But
next, after the close Of this last meeting "in
chamber. the delegation would meet in
" wigwan. where many thousands would
cOngregate. and il was felt By the ielega-
tim that the "pre,enas and voice Of Dir
brigg- WIS hardly suited for the perform
snce Of the duty that III CHI be required Of
the chairman OF Vermont representation
IN national convection. larger than any
that had ever assembled IN our country.
Alter conveying to Mr.. Briggs. BY unani-
nous vote AID personal assurance. their
great respect AMI esteem for him. the de-
legation BY al equally unanimous vote
chose lion Peter / MashbuTn to act a.
chairman Of the delegation II tie e0nyen-
ti0l
Ii VA The lhI1 day Ji the Convention
when ballotlng commenced 1t was the
third ballot that nominated candidate
On the first ballot Vermont gave its vote
complimentary AMI entire tor Hon. Jacob
Coilamer Ia thu ballot i55 votes were
cast, necessary iar = choice 233 Mr..
Seward had 1874 Ar Lincoln l02 The
Others largely diversified On the second
ballot New Hampshire Wa Mr. Lineoln's
FIRST gam.
Next came Vermont, and how strange the
recollection will seem 10 any Of the ten
thousand and more people then present in
that vast cOneourse. that the silence OF in
tense anxiety was oppressive IL wa sn
enthusiastic convention.
Then. too. there fingered the deep regret
which We all felt when the patriarch,
Joshua K. GiidingS. walked out Of the
Convention again. the bOisterOus protesta
tons OF the multitude. because his radical
anti-sayery paragraph was not made 3
plank in the platform. Thus the Conyen-
ton had been sometimes sorrowful as well
a. Jubilant. But silent arI.efy was the
prevailing and all-absorbing element when
the name of Vermont was called
In the midst Of this quiet calm, Mr.. |
W ashburn arose. and with that impressive |
dignity which always characterized him. |
whether addressing n court or Jury, com
his regiment on the field OF battle. |
or hOnOring cur State a. its Governor, gave |
the first enthusiastic enuncistlon of a change |
tlsr a l.
y prOclaiming
Vermont casts her ten votes for HoSEsT |
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. OF ILLINOIS
1t Is unnecessary 30 write of the wild |
cheers that swayed the throng at this an
There were also other and
deeper emotions II icy and gladness, and |
many handkerehiei- that waved II jubilant
sxuitaIion of lesser events in the Conven-
ton : progress. were mOistened with ex-
preston OF d feeling deeper and better than
words Or cheers could express. Then. and
not TIL then, II was known that the Martyr
Lincoln was to be the President of our Re-
public in is days Of most terrible peril.
In this ballot Mr.. Lincoln gained 70 votes,
md on the third ballot, Immediately fol-
owing, was nominated by allarge majority.
mi his nomination. on motion OF Mr..
sSarts, was made unanimous.
Our own recollection is that Mr.. Wash
,urn 5 announcement was in the words:
Vermont casts her ten votes for the young
'iaHt Of The Northwest, ABRAHAM LINCOLN;
But the Rutland GiO5e has consulted the
Topographic report of the proceedings and
avs tina. his words were 1.-THE young
.iant of the West The GLOBE also calls
ttention to the fact saA. the vote Of New
hampshire was divided on the first ballot
i follows Abraham L.ac0la ,susa, VIII
IAN II Seward one. Salmon P Chase
ne. and John Fremont one, and
hat on The second ballot. the vote Of
New Hampshire wa- still divided, Mr..
lincoln having niBe votes 10 one for Mr.
ewari. 50 that while New Hampshire
vas Mr.. Lineoln'- hr-i gain il was
am OF only one nth Vi hes delegation
he GLOBE adds