Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-03-27

be the nominee OF the chicago Con-
ventiOn. In this connection the
following leader from the Evening
Post of the Sd inst. is worth cOnsid-
Grafton:
NEW YORK AND CHICAGO.
The Utica convention divided by
a vote of 217 to 1870 on the question
of declaration in favor of General
Grant as the Republican candidate
for President. Senator COnkling,
therefore, controlled the convention
by a majority of only thirty-seven.
The effect of this unsupported
strength of the oppOsitiOn-unsus-
pected before the delegates assem-
bIed, but duly ascertained when the
leaders got upon the grounds seen
in the moderation of the proceed
ings.
The other day it was intimated
that the managers intended to take
away from Congressional districts
the right to name delegates and to
secure by a majority vote of the
convention the appointment OF "a
solid Grant delegation to Chicago.
Nothing like this was done or even
attempted.
The moderating influence of a
narrow majority is seen also in the
declaration for Grant which was
adopted. The Pennsylvania con-
vention resolved "that the delegates
elected to the Republican Conven-
ton from this State are hereby in
structed to support General u. s.
Grant for the Presidential nomiDa-
ton, and to vote as a unit on that
and all questions that may come
before the convention" The New
York convention came short of this.
1t did not direct the delegation "to
vote as a unit" The Utica reSOlu-
ton is to the effect that the Repub-
licans of this State ''pledge to the
Republicans of other States their
ability to cast" it's electoral vote
"for Ulysses s. Grant" and that
1.-The delegates this day assembled
are called upon and Instructed to
use their most earnest and united
efforts to secure his nomination"
1t would be hard to instruct more
lightly than this and at the same
time to instruct at all. An Obliga-
ton could scarcely be imposed in
lOOser terms, in a way more open
to construction, and already it is
beginning to be construed with the |
largest liberality.
The mOderating influence is seen |
once more in Mr.. COnkling'sspeech. |
InjudiciOus friends Of the Senator |
have made the phrase "the greatest |
effort of his life" a familiar and |
laughter-provoking one in its appli.
cation to him; but we are not sure |
that the words do not Justly de- |
scribe his address before the cOnven-
ton on Wednesday,. We do not
recall any one of his more preten-
tiOus performances in the Senate
that can be compared with it for a
moment in skill, ingenuity, peril
hence and force. In view OF the
the object of the speaker
and all the circumstances of the
case, it must be regarded as a mas
lerpiece in its way, even by those
who differ most widely from its
After all, however,
the most remarkable thing about
the speech was its subdued tone.
The arrogance which has often been
so offensive was carefully disguised.
The appearance of domination and
lictatiOn were avoided, and for once
he naughty chief of the machine
Covered his crest.
We do not suppose for moment
hat the Senator has passed through
| sudden process of regeneration.
The changed tone is easily explained
ly his consciousness that his hold
lpOn his party in the State is not so
strong as it was. The result shows
hat his information was trust
and scarcely had the sound
IF his very clever speech ended
when one hundred and eighty dele
rates voted against him. He pre-
5ailed by mere majority of thirty
even in d vote of three hundred
md ninety-seven. The opposition :
has done better than it expected to
10.
OF course the fact remains that
he convention declared for Grant.
Ne shall see whether or not the
declaration guarantees to him the
evenly votes of New York in the
chicago convention. Mr.. WOodin,
Who opposed all instructions what {
,ver and who said that if free to
'Ote as he pleased, he would not
'Ote for Grant, still admitted that /
he would feel bound to conform to
he declaration of the convention.
How far this view is shared by the
it is impossible to say.
The Tribune, at what we must con-
eSs seems to us a frightful risk of
as party rebel, a sort of
'scratcher" or "bolter," insists that
he resolutions are binding only
lpon the delegates at large, and it