The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-14
THE FOURTH CONVENTION.
Nomination of Grant and Colfax at
Chicago.

The fourth National Republican con-
vention met in Crosby's Opera House,
Chicago, on Wednesday, May 20, 1868,
under peculiar circumstances. General
Grant, the candidate for President, had
already been selected by the people and
there was no discussion and no diff
ference of opinion on that point. The
only issues were the Nice-President
and the platform.
There had assembled in Chicago at
the same time a general convention of
soldiers and sailors which was more
numerous and not less conspicuous for
distinguished men than the regular
political gathering. The regular con-
vention was called to order at IL o'clock
by Marcus l.. Ward, of Pennsylvania,
who nominated for temporary chair
man Carl Schurz, of Wisconsin. The
committee on temporary organization
reported in favor of Joseph II. Hawley
for permanent president. Before the
report was adopted a delegation from
the soldiers and sailors convention,
headed by General Lucius Fairchild,
entered and presented a resolution ask
ing the nomination of General Grant
for President All rules were for the
time forgotten and a motion made by
Henry S. Lane, of Indiana, to nomi-
nate Grant by reclamation was adopt
ed by a unanimous vote. This was
not recognized in a formal way and
the convention proceeded with it's busi-
ness. On report of General Lee, of
Louisiana, the territories and the Dis
trict of Columbia were allowed two
votes each in the convention. The
unreconstructed States of the South
were admitted with equal privi-
leges of the others.
| On Thursday the platform was re-
ported by Richard w. Thompson, of
Indiana This congratulated the coun-
| try on the assured success of the re-
construction policy of Congress; de-
manded the guaranty by Congress of
equal suffrage to all loyal men of the
South; denounced forms of repudia-
ton as national crime; deplored the
| tragic death of Abraham Lincoln; de-
clared in favor of pensions to the de-
tenders of the Nation: commended the
spirit of magnanimity and forgiveness
exhibited by General Grant; recog-
nized the principles laid down in the
Declaration of Independence as the
| true foundation of government; de-
clared in favor of fostering and encour-
aging foreign immigration by liberal
and just policy and expressed sympa-
thy with all the oppressed peoples
struggling for their rights.
! Nominations being in order John A.
/ Logan, of Illinois, rose and said: ''In
| the name of the loyal citizens and
soldiers and sailors of this great Re
public of the United States; in the
name of loyalty, liberty, humanity,
and justice; in the name of the Ma
tional Republican party, | nominate
as candidate for the chief magistrate
! of this nation Ulysses S. Grant" The
roll of States was called, and Chair
man Hawley declared, Gentlemen of
the convention. the roll call is com.
plete. You have $50 votes. and you
have given ESQ votes for Ulysses 8.
Grant" 4 scene wholly indescribable
ensued In the midst of the tumult
I OF enthusiasm a dove, painted red.
ivhite and blue. was let loose. and flew
/ over the shouting thousands, while
the band played ''The Battle Cry or
Freedom When quiet was restored
| George +. Root sang wen Fight 1t
Ont Here on the Old Union Line"
while old soldiers wept for joy, and
thousands of eyes were moist
| Among the candidates for Vice-Pres-
ident brought forward were Harry
/ Wilson, of Massachusetts; Schuyler
IColfax. of Indiana; Ben f. Wade, of
| Ohio; Reuben T. Fenton, of New York;
James Speed, of Kentucky; A. S. Cur
tin, of Pennsylvania; Hannibal Ham
lin, of Maine: james Harlan, of Iowa;
is. G. Pomeroy, of Kansas, j. A. j..