Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-06-11

| the committee on credentials set it aside.
Gen. Sharpe of New York moved that refer
ence to it in the report be stricken out and
the motion, after much sharp debate, which
at times assumed personal form, was
carried.
TIE COMMITTEE on CREDENTIALS.
In their report, the committee on creden-
| tial say they do not believe the right of con-
| gressional district representation should now
| be invaded for the first time by the action of
| the national convention. If the State con-
vention can by bare majority override the
will of the people fairly expressed in the Sc
lection Of district delegates it might as well
! .nrnini 1T .,,.na oil .l.le.soiaa Nominations
made through such representation were not
likely be ratified by the people. 1t was the
duty of the convention 10 disapprove emphat-
icaly all attempt to override the high moral
custom of the party. The committee sus-
tanned the sitting delegates from Utah, as
regularly and fairly chosen.
Mr.. Clayton of Arkansas presented min
GRITTY report in the matter of the Illinois con-
test. The report gives II long history of the
case. 1t starts out with denial of the
charge against the state convention of hav-
ing entered into Il gigantic conspiracy to de-
fraud the electors. Not syllable of evil
dence of such II conspiracy had been laid be-
fore the committee and on examination the
record completely and decisively refuted
such a charge. Speaking of the state con-
vention the minority say, in bodies of this
character Il minority or majority must rule.
There can be no division of rule and u ma
jorty of the republicans of Illinois assembled
in the state convention, pursuant a 10 call
proceeding from legitimate official source,
declared their preference for Grant and III
structed the delegates of the convention to
vote rs i unit for him. Is this convention
To say a ma iority of the convention
OF the stale OF Illinois possesses no such
power? VIII this convention undertake 10
say aud will the country justify it in saying,
majority of the people in so great state
shall not he permitted TO express prefer
encc on questions of this character, and that
if they have clear and distinct preferences
they shall be utterly helpless in the selection
of methods by which that preference is 10 be
made eifcctual Ii is absurd upon the face
of tito say that Illinois or any other state has
the right to instruct its delegates 10 vote for
Il particular candidate and yet has not the
power To make such instructions etfectual
and binding. 1t is absurd TO say great
state possessing this power of giving express
sion to its will and the will OF its majority,
possesses no means for preventing the defeat
that will follow by violated instructions, by
broken pledges or by corrupted faith. Since
the republican party has had existence, there
has been but one Instance where the republi-
cans of the state failed TO instruct their dele
gates to the national convention to vote rs Il
unit They were instructed 10 vote for Lin
coin on precisely the same terms Us the state
delegation were instructed to vote for Grant.
There has fortunately been in the political
history Of Illinois, US it appears no instance
in which any delegate thus instructed ever
deemed il wise or prudent 10 undertake 10
violate these instructions. There has been |
hut one instance III which those |
instructions were given, and that in 1876, |
when II positive ma iority OF the convention |
favored the nomination of MIR. Blaine. by |
"A mere oversight the formality of instructions |
was omitted and the delegates taking advan-
tage of it voted against the clearly known |
will of the convention and practically defeat
ed the nomination of MIR. Blaine We are
assured il is but an historical truth that i'll
1876 not delegate could by any possibility
have found place rs such, had his opposition
To Mr. Blaine been announced.
The report says we can't recognize the ac
ton ot II minority even when it is taken sep
aratrly and in detail and we are confident
in the belief that this convention can take
no step more certain 10 lead to the most dis
astrolls result in the future than the denial 10
the republican electors of Illinois of the right
of majority OF these electors TO an expires
sion IN this convention of their will anu in
their fashion and through their selected
agents Thus confident and believing we re-
spcctfully submit TO this convention and
through the convention TO the country that
Inc regularly elected and now seated dele
gates should retain their seats in this body.
The report also HOMOGENEOUS with The ma
lority report in reference TO the Utah, West
\rgina and Alabama eases.
The minority defence OF the right OF
state convention To instruct delegates 10 vote
IS unit received considerable applause. in
which Mr.. Conkling conspicuously joined
The report was very volumlnous.
ADJOURNMENT.
Mr. Clnyton of Arkansas moved that the
minority report ON Alabama be accepted in
,lacc of the majority report, but before ac-
ion was taken, Il motion TO adjourn until
,'rluck was carried.
ruR CONVENTION EE-AssEMBLEs.
Mr.. lIoar took the chair at O'Clock, but !!
,ot more than fifty delegates were i'll their ,
eats. At 80 the convention was nearly
ull The entering Of Garfield and Conkling :
vas the occasion OF the usual greeting from 5
he .nllrri,s. Five minutes later the chair {
allied the convention To order Mr. Gonger !
moved that the delegates from Louisiana, e
Who had been admitted by order of the con v
cniion be notified Of their right 10 take their =
rails The chair said they were entitled 10 p
inh Anis. The chair stated that the ques II
on hctur, the convention was the contest IN !.
lalann. Mr. Harrison Of Indiana moved :,
, limit the debate To one hour and suisse h