The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-26
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Tuesday. As usual, however, in such cases
most OF the delegates were on the ground a
early as Saturday, AMI between that day and
Tuesday morning so much preliminary work
was done that the convention, when in actus
session, had its work not only greatly slmpli
fled but more than half done.
Firstly, two important elements in the con
test for the presidential nomination were re
moved by receipt of letters as early as Sunday
evening both from Tilden and Seymour, with
drawing their names from the contest The
letter from Seymour was brief, and said sim
ply that he could not be a candidate before
the convention for nomination and should
positively not accept the nomination under
any circumstances The letter of Mr.. Tilden
was a long one, and very ably written. He
commences by briefly reviewing his own pc
litiCal career both as Governor of New York
and presidential candidate; refers to the OPP
position of Tammany and the cause of it;
claims that he was elected president IN 1875
but by the CowardiCe of congress and the con
nivance of corrupt and vicious men the peo-
pie were defrauded of their choice; that the is
sue between right and wrong thus made was
so important as to overshadow all others, and
that he IN his own person had since then
been more or less the representative Of the
outraged majority; and after stating that he
had endcavorcd faithfully to keep that all-im-
portant issue before the people, attracting to
himself the ISLANDERS Of those who had protited
by the great fraud he now surrendered to the
democratic party, once more assembled IN
council, the trust they had laid upon him,
asking to be relieved of the burden and to be
permitted to retire from public life
The retirement of Seymour and Tilden of
course caused Il thorough revision of all the
states The IlliaOls delegation that had In.
tended to support Seymour now met and after
a very dscredltablc wrangle took u vote and
by "A to II decided to cast the vote of the state
for Morrison; the New York delegation who
were instructed for Tilden, decided to vote on
the first ballot for Payne OF Ohio, and so
among all the other delegations new comb.
nations rapidly took place.
Besides these preliminary movements, the
National Committee had decided on present
ing the name of Judge IIoadley OF OHIO for
chairman, and the various state
delegations agreed on the names each should
present for the various committees on credcn-
tals, organization, rules, resolutions, &c.
Thus when, on Tuesday at II O'Clock, the
convention formally met, it was thoroug hly
ready to proceed to business. MIR. Barnum,
chairman of the National Committee, called
the body to order and presented the name of
Judge IIoadley for temporary president, who,
on taking the chair, delivered an eloquent
and patriotic address which was voclterously
applauded. Then the usual committees on
organization, &c, were appointed,
and the convention adjourned to 10 O'Clock
Wednesday morning.
During the internal, the committee on Gre
dentials met, having but two contested cases
before 1.-THE case of the delegation of the
Butler democrats from Massachusetts, who
claimed seats against the Faneull Hall or
regular" democrats; and the case of the
Tammany Hall delegates from New York
who claimed seats against the regular" dele.
CATION of the Syracuse convention. The com
mlttee decided in both cases IN favor of the
regular" democracy. The Fanueil Hall and
Butler delegates then got together and patched
up peace between themselves, each agreeing
to take half the delegation. The New York
dispute, however, had to go before the con
ventlon.
On re-asscmbling, on Wednesday morning
The first business of course was the report OF
he committee on credentials. There being
40 question in regard to any delegation ex-
,ept that of New York the claimants on each
side were given full permission to argue
heir cases respectively. a number of speech
IS in favor of admitting the Tammany dele
gates were made, Gov. Hubbard, of Texas,
being the chief speaker In their favor, John
Kelly for some reason, not appearing to speak
n his own behalf, while the opposite case
was presented John r. Fellows, Rufus w.
Peckham and others. The convention decid.
ID by vote of 457 against 20G in favor of the
rilden delegates.
The committee on permanent organization
reported the name of Gov. Stevenson of Ky
rs permanent chairman, who, on ascending
he platform made the usual speech.
Without further prellminaries the conven.
ion proceeded to the nomination of candi.
late for the presidency.
Nc Elrath, of California, nominated JusticeI
5 j. Field for the high office. He was sec.
,nded 10y Colorado and Virginia.
Hon. George Gray nominated Senator Bay.
ard, OF Delaware, whereat there was much
cheering. Saltonstall, Of Massachusetts, sec
lnded him.
Hon. Samuel 5. Marshall, of Illinois, nom
mated William r. Morrison.