New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-16

Republican Convent1ons In the Past.
Tho history Of tho United States 10 his
tory Of the rise and fall of parties. Tho
parties have had their birth and renewed
their energy in national conventions; they
have died ct the ballot box, and from tho
scattered fragments of the old the new
have arisen. With the near approach OF
the seventh National Convention of the
Republican party, some interest may be
felt in brief review of those which have
gone before. This great party have held
five successive conventions for the nomina-
ton of candidates for the presidency, and
one preliminary convention, in which it
was formally organized, but at which no
nominations were made. This convention
address to the people was issued. Slavery
was the main issue, point being given to
the question by the border war in
Kansas, then ct it's height. In the
following June the National Convention
for the nomination of candidates met at
Philadelphia. Between 600 and 700 dele.
gates were present. Henry s. Lane, after
ward Governor of Indiana, was president.
Robert EEmet was temporary chairman.
Some of the men who took IN active part
in founding the new party were Charles
Christiancy. Kingsley s. Bingham. Gov
ernor of Michigan; Will .m H. Seward,
Salmon P. Chase, John Mclean, John c.
Fremont, William Lewis Dayton, Thaddeus
Stevens, Henry j. Raymond, Abraham
Lincoln, Charles Sumner. Nathaniel p.
Banks, John A. King, Jacob Collsmer,
Cassius NJ. Clay, ThuilOw Weed, Philip
Dorsheimer and other prominent men in
their day but scarcely remembered now.
Seven Governors or ex-Governors of States
were among those who took part in this
convention. The prominent candidates for
the presidential nomination were William
H. Seward, then Senator; Salmon P. Chase,
then Governor of Ohio; John Mclean, one
of the Supreme Court judges, and
John C. Fremont The two former were
withdrawn, and the contest was be-
tween Pennsylvania, which supportesd
Justice Mclean, and the friends of
Fremont, who were scattered all over
the Union. The Pennsylvania politicians
made long and earnest fight for their can
didate, but the general sentiment of the
country was so strongly in favor of Ere
mont that he carried the day. Fremont
was nominated ON the first ballot, receiving
1853 votes to 1879 for Mclean. For the vice
presidency there were q large number OF
aspirants, but William Lewis Dayton, of
New Jersey, subsequently minister to
France during President Lincoln's admin
istration, was successful on the first ballot,
receiving ~OS NOU0S. AUIou0m A|iuoOA 10
ceiyed ITO votes for the vice presidential
nomination, Charles Sumner had 80 votes,
N. P. Banks %, jacob Callamer, Of Yer
mont, Is, John A. King, of New York. 8,
while smaller number of votes were cast
respectfully for Seabury Ford, David Viii
mot, Cassius NJ. Clay, Joshua r. Giddings
and others. Against Fremont the Demo
Gratis put up Buchanan, and, owing to Penn
sylvania surprising the country by going
Democratic at the October election, Blu
chanan was elected.
The second National Republican Couven.
ton convened in Chicago on the sixteenth
of May, 1860. The result of that meeting
was the most tremendous civil war known
to the history of the world. The c0nven-
ton assembled with the confidence Of vic
tory. The Republican party was no longer
q tOrlorn hope leading an assault on an ap-
parently immovable power. The Dem
ocratic party was split into factions, while
all the highest and lOftiest sentiment OF the
North was running in favor of the policy
represented by the Republican party. Be-
fore the convention met it seemed certain
that Mr.. Seward would be its nominee. His
friends were abundantly confident, and they
were fully as numerous as Mr.. Blalne's will
be in the coming convention. 1t was looked
upon almost a. fOregOne conclusion that
the New York statesman would receive the
nomin alton. But when the convention met
the other candidates threw their united
strength against him, and from his own
State his worst foes gathered for his defeat.
Horace Greeley has generally been accre-
dited with being Mr.. Stewards most bitter
opponent on this occasion, and the most in
fuential. The first ballot in the convention
stood as follows:
Seward, .1.3k William L. Dayton. .l8
Lincoln .........lo2 John Mclean ..........l2
Simon Cameron. 5OA Jacob Colamer........lo
CT sse .......... 49 Scattering ............. 8
Edward Bates. 43
This gave Mr.. Seward q very decided
lead. But on the second ballot the Cameron
strength went over in a body to Lincoln,
with some other support. and placed the
latter very nearly abreast. The vote stood:
Seward. .la4k Bates.
Lincoln .............lsl Dayton. ............lS
On the third ballot Mr.. Lincoln had 23l "
vores lacking Only three of q nomination.