New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-28
POLITICAL.

was handsomely OCcOr0t6O. Inc delegates
we're promptly seated and called to order
at 1920 P. NJ by Augustus Schell.
He nominated Henry WattersOn, Of Ken
lucky, as temporary chairman. Th, was
unanimously agreed to, Messrs. Barnu no. of
Connecticut, and Ransom, of North Caro- p
lima, being appointed committee tor the
purpose Of conuucting Mr.. Watterson to
the chair.
Mr.. Watterson, being presented, was re-
ceived with applause, and said:
Gentlemen Of the Convention-We are
called together to determine. by our wis
dem, whether an honest government, ad-
ministered by honest men, shall be restored
to the American people, or to decide, by
our folly, that it is the destiny of this coun-
try to pursue an endless, ever revolving
circle Of partisan passion and. corruption.
until, with the loss of our national we'll
being. we lose the poor mans last hope
civil liberty itself. Every citizen of the
republic, be he of one party or the other
feels and has felt for many q day, the de-
pressing influence of what are called harsh
times. We look about us, and We see
neglected fields and vacaat house. the
factories closed; the furnace door is
the happy activity of prosperous life is
nowhere to be found. Loyalists tatten
while honest men starve-empty the mart
and shipless the bay. What is it that has
wrought 80 great change in q land that
under the rule of an intelligent, progressive,
constitutional party, advanced within half
q century from the. condition of q huGdle Of
petty and equa!id provincial sovereignties
to the fOrmOst place among the nations of
the earth2 The reason of men must answer,
partisan misrule and sectional misdirec tiOn.
The Republicans, my friends, are not alone
responsible; with them rest the disgrace,
with US the follies. These twin agents of
national mischief have kept the people
of the North and South aside, and
have supplied sustenance to corruption.
They have disturbed values; they have IN
settled prices; they have made otr whole
financial system q cheat and sha,ue; they
have driven the best elements Of political
society into exile, and have organized
charletanifm into sort of . public polity.
enabling the rogue to get cheap advaI-
tage of his dupe, and sacrificing every pop
ular interest to the lust of that oligarchy
which has become so encrusted with power
as to believe itself entitled to rule by the
sheer force of its own wrong doing. So
much let US set down to the convenient
pretext of war; 80 much to the long
account of damages between the
North and the South. 1t is for
you to say whether the same conflict, with
the consequences multiplied and magnited,
shall by any act of yours be inaugurated
between the East and the West. l shall
not undertake, on an occasion of this kind.
and in the presence of such an assemblage,
to enforce the familiar lesson of mutual for
bearance. Nobody doubts our ca pacity to
make battle among ourselves. Entreating
you to direct your energies to the common
enemy, ask indulgence only on my own
behalf. You have called me to Q place OF
norriety, of distinction, but of difficulty, to
place which requires the best training Of
q better man than l am. In taking it, I
trust to your confidence, to good nature and
hearts incapable of an unmanly or unfair
act. The work before Us should relate,
to ideas rather than individuals. 1t is
the issue, not the man, that should
engage US. We have come here to make
the pc. ple's-not our fight-for free no less
than for honest government; for the reform
of the public service and there generation of
public morals; for administrative relief
from administrative nihilism-nihilism en-
braced in the simple creed of home rule, re,
duced taxes and q living chance for ths
South as well as for the North-for both
the East and West. If anything comes of
our proceedings, it must spring from the
spirit of association and fellowship when
warmed. The followers of Andrew jackson
and Silas Wright, of Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster, meet together on common ground
at last, to wrest the government of their
fathers from the clutch of rings aud rob-
bers, federal, State and municipal, aud who
mean to extirpate these where they ara
found, and whether they be Republicans or
Democrats.
The points of the speech we're emphasized
by frequent applause. At the co aclusion
he introduced Rev. Mr.. Marvin who offered
prayer.
The chair announced as temporary seca
retary Frederick o. Prince, of Massschu-
setts, and T. U. Walker, of Iowa, and G. X.
Donovan, of Ohio. assistant secretaries. He
also announced Dan Able, of Missouri ser
geant-at-arms.
Mr.. Abbott, Of Massachusetts, moved
resolution adopting the rules of the las t
national convention until otherwise or
dered.
Mr.. Littleiohn, Of New York, inquired if
this included the two-thirds rule9
Voices-Yes, yes; if 90, all right
The chair answered-It does.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Smalley. of Vermont, offered a reso7
luton to call the States in order for the pre-
sentation of candidates. Adopted.
Mr. Wallace, of Pennsylvania, in order
| to have Democratic precedence observed,
| moved to reconsider the resolution just
adopted. He urged that States should
name their members of committees on
credentials, and permanent organ zatiop,
before any other business is done. He
hoped there would be no innovation on
past precedents.
Mr.. Weed. of New York. insisted the reso-
luton adopted ia in accordance WITH pre-
cedents; under it credentials are received
only for reference to the credentials com
mittee.
Mr.. Wallace read from the official pro-
ceedlngs Of the convention of 1868 to show
the first business was to name the COM
mittees.
L
Mr.. Do0little, of Wisconsin, suggested
there be appointed q temporary secretary
He suggested that E. o. Perrin be appointed
The chair decided this was out Of order
The motion to reconsider was rejected,
and the secretary proceeded to call the roll
of States for credentials.
Mr.. P0merOy, of Illinois, moved Mr.. Per,
rim be appointed temporary secretary.
Mr.. Finch, Of Iowa, objected. Mr.. Perrin
did not inherit this appointment, if he had
had it before, and the appointment should be
left to the committee on organization
The chair finally decided the motion OF
of order.
A Minnesota delegate moved q resolutic
to call the roll of States for the committe.
on permanent organization and credentials
Adopted.
The. roll was called. and committee
named.
Mr.. Carroll, of Tennessee, moved that
when the convention adjourn it be to 5 P
tooNrMuED on EIoHrH PAas.I