Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-27
A FAMOUS GATHERING.
The Buffalo Free Soil Convention of
1s4S-SOme Interesting "reminiscences
A Possible Parallel.

1s4S-SOme Interesting "Reminiscences
A Possible Parallel.
A correspondent of the Buffalo Courier
writes from East Aurora, n. Y, as fol-
lows: Thirty-six years ago the Free Soil
Convention nominated Martin Van Buren
and Charles Francis Adams for President
and Vice President of the United States.
Ihat convention, as is well known, as
sembled in the city of Buffalo Aug. s,
1S4S, and the anniversary is full of inter-
esting "reminiscences to those who were
present on that occasion. 1t was one of
the largest outdoor and doubtless one of
the most important political conventions
that was ever held in this country, and
one that was traught with greater results
to mankind than any other similar meet
ing of the nineteenth century. 1t will be
admitted, l think, that this convention
lad the corner stone of the great
republican party, whose mission it
proved to be to abolish African
slavery in this country. 1t was COM
posed of representative men from every
Northern State and many Southern States.
and included some of the ablest men of
their time, who subsequently rose to high
positions, leaving behind them an endnr-
ing fame. The convention met under an
immense tent belonging to Oberlin Col
lege IN Ohio, which was brought thither
by the delegates from that State, and was
erected in the old court house park.
Charles Francis Adams, OF Massachu-
setts, presided. These men met to delib-
crate upon the all-absOrbing question of
the day, the restriction and abolition of
slavery. Said II. B. Stanton, member
of that convention: SIT left an enduring
mark on the politics of the great State of
New York and of the nation, Its in6u-
ence was felt throughout the country and
determined the Presidential election of
that year. 1t revOlutioniZed the opinions
of large portion of the Democratic par
ty of New York on that question, and
wrought change in the policy of that
party in nearly all the Northern
States. 1t led the way to the organi-
zation of the Republican party and the
great events that followed " 1t was a
singular gathering. It's membership in
cluded the best selections from the three
great parties, the AbOlitionists. the Wings
and the Democrats. There was John p.
Hale, John Van Buren, Salmon z. Chase.
&. Z. Chamberling, Preston King, Jas. L,
WadswOrth, SanfoBd K. Church,
Samuel j. Hidden, James r. Doo-
little, Martin Grover, William Cassidy,
Reuben K. Fenton, John Cochrane, Isaac
L sSHIlsbldlCg y uuB6 NOAH DAVIS, JOSlua
K. Giddings, Frederick Douglass, Jas, w,
Nye, Benz. F. Butler, Horace Greeley,
President Mahan, of Oberlin College, and
others of more or less distinction. It will
be observed that most of these gentlemen
afterward rose to high positions in our
country's history. Notable among those
present and the one who impressed me
most by the earnestness of his speech \
was the venerable Joshua r. Giddings,
OF Ohio, who, it will be remembered,
with John Quincy Adams, had efought
the good fight" on the floor
of Congress in behalf of the right of pc
tition and the abolition of the slave trade
in the District of Columbia. He had
achieved reputation already world wide
as the leader and champion of the cOlored
race. Possessed of a commanding figure,
with voice loud and deep, when he rose
to speak the immense audience which |
filled the park was hUshed to silence. | |
cannot forget these words of his: 81 |
know of no sight so sublime as that of a |
multitude assembled to maintain their |
inalienable rights" and his remark that
when he heard his friend, the Rev. Mr.. |
Clark, who opened the convention with |
prayer, allude to John Quincy Adams he |
believed that If that aged statesman had |
lived to hear it he would have said: Now, |
Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in |
vatiOn.'" But when he closed his speech |
by saying that his principles were en- |
bodied in these words: 'tFree soil, free |
speech, free labor, free men and free ter |
ritories," the vast multitude could re- |
strain their feelings no longer, and, rising |
as one man, they gave one loud and pro- |
lOnged cheer for Giddings and free soil. |
With what unanimity of sentiment and |
feeling the convention reached its final |
choice for President in the nomination of |
Martin Van Buren appears in the fact |
that on the Informal ballot in committee |
Mr.. Van Buren received 244 votes and |
John 2. Hale 181. The former was there
fore nominated on the first ballot for
President. No prominent man in that
scarcely hoped, much less ex-
pected, to elect the candidates that had
been nominated, but this convention ac- |
all that had been desired. |
which was the defeat and overthrow of |
Lewis Cass. History will record this |
fact, that the holding of the Buffalo Free |
Soil Convention of 1S4S was the event
from which African slavery can mark it's |
downfall in this country. Will the Ma |
tional Prohibition Convention which re- |
Gently closed its sitting at Pittsburg by |
the nomination Of st. John and Daniel be- |
come as historic as regards the abolition
of alcohol as was the convention which /
OVorthraUU c1avoru