The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-09-20
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.
Former Meetings as Described by
Long John Wentworth.

FORMER Meetings as described Dy
Long John wentworth.
[Chicago In.er-Ocean.J
"The first national POLITICAL convention
said Long John Wentworth yesterday, "ever
held in Chicago was in 1860. | was mayor Of
the city at that time. Did you know that
Horace Greeley was the man who nominated
Abraham Lincolns"
NO, said the reporter. "Was Greeley
delegate from New York"
"No, FROM Oregon"
"From Oregon!"
Eyes, he had the Oregon proxies. Well,
you see, there was a bitter political
fight between Seward and Greeley,
and Horace made up his mind to
down him. Seward was the prominent cam
didate before the convention, and every body
expected to see him nominated. Greeley
didn't care who was nominated so it wasn't
Seward. Well, Bates and Chase withdrew
in favor of the dark horse. Greeley lad no
candidate of his own to start ON, but he is
entitled TO the whole credit of nominating
Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. When
Lincoln came to be president he did what few
nell would dare do--he made up his cabinet
of his opponents. He put in Seward for sec
retary of state, Bates for attorney general,
Chase for secretary of the treasury"
"The second national political convention
held in Chicago" said the Hon. Phil Hoyue,
"was that Democratic convention of 1864
that nominated Mcclellan and Pendleton.
Sfy two boys we;e pages in that convent on
now they are young men. The convention
was held on the lake shore in the old wigwam.
1t had a canvass roof. l went in with
Governor Dick Yates and Pitt kellogg.
thought it singular that the governor of Il
linois couldn't get into convention, so
helped them get seats The convention was
very orderly, indeed. l remember seeing
Vallandingham. Crowds followed him about.
| believe he made speech from the steps of
the old Sherman house, where he was stop
| ping
''The next was the Republican convention
of 1863 held in the Crosby opera house
where Grant and Colfax were nominated
Joseph b. Hawley presided l saw Dan S OK
les, Forney and r. w. Thompson present
l think Logan nominated Grant. Amy way
the convention was unanimous for Grant
The effect was great when the roll of states
was called and the vote of each was an
aounced by the president in his magnif ,en
sonorous voice. The choice of Colfax fol
vice-president was not unanimous at fiji st
| but was afterwards made so
mo more conventions were held here unit
! in 1870, when Garfield and Ar
thur were nominated. OF course, you re
member all about that it was such a shor
time ago. Grant and Blaine were the prom
inent and talkedof candidates. Garfielt
was the dark horse, starting on one vote
cast, | tfink, by delegate from Pennsyl
vania. There was great excitement through
out the country. 1t lasted from the 2d to To
9Th OF the month The first two days wer
consumed in Strengthening the delegations
There were fights in nearly all Of them. TIL
nomination was made ON the 8th, about
o'clock. There wouldn't anybody believe a
first that Garfield was nominatei-jast a
they wouldn't believe the report of his assas
sination. / heard the speech of Flannigau
of Texas, when be said: IF we're not her
for the offices what the - are We here for
The chairman SIN led, and everybody els
laughed, the newspaper boys the loudes
of all"