Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-06-10

not to report until the convention order.
ed the committee to report, and hoped
that the immediate report would be OF.
dered.
A motion was made from the Grant
side to substitute an order that the com.
mittee on Credentials be ordered to re-
port. Yeas and nays were called. The
chairman of the Kentucky, Alabama
and other delegations attempted to en-
force the unit rule, but the dissenting
delegates got up and protested, claiming
that the vote was not rightly announced
The excitement was intense throughout
the hall, and the cheers and applause
were at times almost deafening. Conk
ling announced the New York vote-4
yeas and % nays. Immediately a shout
went up, indicating this acknowledge
ment by the Grant leader of the defeat
of the unit rule. The total vote was SIS
yeas, 406 nays. This was in some meas
ure test vote, as the yeas indicated the
Grant strength and the nays the oppo
Sition.
On motion, the whole matter was laid
on the table, and the convention ad.
iOurned to 10 o'clock in the morning.
The convention was called to order Oh
Friday morning at half-past ten o'clock
The immense hall was packed with peo,
pie, including large number of ladies
Senator Conkling offered a resolution de,
claring that every member Of this con-
vention should be considered bound in
honor TO support its nominee, whoever
that nominee may be, and that no man
should hold seat who is not prepared to
so agree. MI. Hale said we all came
here with our preferences, but he had
not heard a delegate declare that he
would not vote for the candidate, who
eSer he may be. Mr.. Conklingis resolu-
ton was adopted by acclamation, but
Brandagee and Conkling demanded a
vote by States. The rOll-call resulted
yeas 756, nays 8.
West Virginia gave the three mega
tive votes, which were received with
Kisses. Mr. Conkling then offered res
OlutiOn declaring that those members
who voted no did not deserve and have
forfeited their seats in this convention.
Mr.. Campbell of West Virginia, one of
the three, made Il gallant defence of his
position, and was sustained by Mr.. Gar
field in strong, cOgent speech, in which
he remarked that the offending gentle
men had not said that they would not
vote for the nominee, but that they
would not surrender their right of free
thought. He concluded by hoping the
gentleman would withdraw his resolu-
ton. Upon this statement Conkling was
induced to withdraw his resolution.
The committee on Rules submitted
their report, which was not acted upon
until after the report of the committee
Oh Credentials was acted upon. The
majority and minority reports of the
latter committee-the former affirming
and applying the principle of district
representation, and the latter denying it
were then submitted. The majority re-
port seated the three contestants from
Alabama, eighteen from Illinois, and
four from Kansas. The committee re-
ported in favor of the sitting delegates
from the Second district of Illinois, the
Ninth and Nineteenth districts OF Penn
Sylvania, and the Third district of West
Virginia.
At the evening session, the dilatory
tactics of the Grant managers were full
ly developed. Every expedient to con-
sumo time was resorted to, and it
was some time before vote could De
reached upon Alabama, when it stood
449 in favor of admitting the three
Blaine contestants to 500 against, the
AZ votes of Illinois going into the Grant
total. A notable incident of the session
was the extraordinary reception given to
the first mention of Blaine's name in
the convention. The cheering lasted
sever al minutes, the majority of the con-
vention joining IN it. At subsequent
period both Blaine and Grant were
cheered, and for some time the conven-
tion abandoned itself to a frenzy of en-
thusiasm, which was attended with ex-
traordinary scenes. After the report of
the committee on Illinois had been
adopted the convention adjourned.
Saturdays session of the Republican
National Convention was consumed by
debate upon the contested election cases,
the rules of order and the adoption of
the platform. The minority report of
the committee was adopted i'll the West
Virginia case, thus unseating two
Blaine men and seating one Grant and
one Sherman man. The vote on this
question was interesting, as it was con-
sidered to be Blaine against the field,
and the Blaine side polled $50 votes,
against Alt representing the combined
strength of the other candidates. The
Utah contestanGs were also admitted,
contrary to the recommendation of the
majority report. Mr.. Sharpe, of New
York, moved to proceed to balloting be-
fore adopting any rules. This would
10 t.tIln off q
tion, and the convention without any
regular order controlling debate. Gar
field opposed the motion, and only the
Grant men voted for it, showing but 276
votes in its favor. When the platform
was submitted it was amended by a
civil service reform plank, and the con-
ventiOn then took recess until evening.
The night session was entirely taken up
with the nomination of candidates to be
balloted foi, and at midnight the con-
ventiOn adjourned until Monday morn
ing.
Monday morni ing dawned with b. light
skies, and when the convention was
called to order at 20 minutes to IL the
delegates were all in their seats. Up to
the opening of the ball it was generally
ucilcScu Iudt DlLlllc WOulu lcdu UIduU
on the firsI ballot.
The excitement in the convention was
intense, and the hum OF human voices
drowned even noise of the bands in the
galleries. All the leaders were cheered
as they took their places, and the confu-
sion was SO great tnat when the Rev.
Chas. Hall Everett rose TO offer the usu-
al preliminary praper, Mr.. HOar had to
make special appeal to the delegates
to secure order. AT the close OF the in
vocation the fifth and sixth planks of
the platform were read at the request
of several delegates, and then, on motion
of Mr.. Hale, seconded by Senator Conk-
ling, the first ballot was ordered. The
vote proved surprise, for it gave G ant
lead of 20 votes over Blaine, though
he showed that he lacked just rs votes
of nomination. The vote az announ-
ced, was Grant 3O4, Blaine 2S4, Sherman
90, Edmunds 34, Washburne 60 and