Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-02-28

dav." said he, although my mem
ory is doubtless at fault on many OF
the details ! think the convention
made a greater impression on me
than it otherwise might have done
because it nshered uae into active po-
litical life. | was a beardless boy
then, having just attained my major
lily. | had identified myself With
the Republican organization in
Beaver county, and together with
Hon. B. B. Chamberlain was chosen
by our county committee to repre-
sent Beaver county in the cOnyen-
ton. / Distinctly remember that ]
felt ont of place In the assembly, be-
cause so many of the members were
men Of years and standing in national
affairs, and all many years my Sc
niors.
Hon. Francis P. Blair, who pre-
sided, was man of venerable APP
pearance. / suppose he was at least
10 years of age but vigorous, and one
of the leading spirits ofthe occasion.
Although elected president of the
convention, his advice was much
sought in the committee rooms and
his place was filled by some of the
Vice-presidents during large part of
the convention.
"There we're many orators there
who were men of renown, but except
when Greeley or some other popular
favorite spoke, or when some par
ticularly telling point was made,
there we're few cheers. The enthu-
siasm was deep.deep as the very ma,
lures of the men who were deliber-
ating, but 1t was toned down by the
feeling of responsibility that rested
upon them. They sincerely believed
that the country was on the verge of
a great danger, and that it depended
on that convention to do something
to save it. There was an absence of
political clap-trap, uproarioHs cheer
ing and the usual marks of political
gatherings of that day and later
days. Old Lafayette Hall was
crowded at every session, and as it {
was more a mass meeting than a reg II
nlarly organized convention, it can {
not be told to day how many were {
really delegates" /
"Were no records preserved ofthe
proceedings n was asked.
"TO the best OF my knowledge. !"
'eplied Mr.. Weyland, "there are
lone in existence, except those to be :,
ound in the files of the newspapers I
4 those days. If the resolution to >
'rint the proceedings was ever car Il
led out | never heard of it, and I
m sure l should have obtained :
opy of the pamphlet had it been .,
'sued, ] understood from some !
Ource a number of years ago that y
he minutes were oarelessly kept, and a
fterward lost. At the beginning of y
ne first session a request was made r,
lat all wishing to be considered q
Iembers should step up and register r. e.
leir names. do not know why =,
lie register was never completed, "
ut it is my belief that but few names o.
ere enrolled on it,and it was thrown M
tide. o ~
"It required some sand in those tn
.ys to become identified with such of
movement. Black Republicans pl
e opposition called us, and that til
cant almost as much as Abolition W,
b. 1t was a time when politics re-
rs all at skies and sevens. New
rites were springing up on every m,
lie and as rapidly dying out. There on
emed to be no permanency to any tr,
lvement, except the steady en- tic
Oachment of the slave power on cit
,e territory. If a man cut loose 90
,m the old organization to Join a no
W party and the new party failed, cia
many did fail he ruined his politi
future with those he left. To ioin
Lh the Republicans meant in many
,tions that be would be subject TO its
icule, more especially if the move mil
mt proved a failure. For this rea- clii
! many who cast their fortunes ere
b the organization almost from the
moment of its birth stayed away saw
m that Pittsburg convention. The va
n who we're there had faith in the Eal
vement and were not afraid to be sla,
ntiied with it, and it is a matter his
extreme regret that the record of abo
If names has been lost. his
| suppose that small care was ex. On
ded upon the records, because of
even the most sanguine man forr
re fOresaw what would result from slav
days work. The outside world wer
it would be a fash in the PAN rega
it was not until the Fremont Nun
paign was inaugurated some con-
this later that the country really M
Ike to the strength of the young knol
It born at Pittsburg. Then the ton,
eness of the struggle absorbed crea
attention of the public for time, lmps
The birth of the party was for by \
en- in its growth. The records CLAIM
lost, and death claimed many of Tt
participants, so that the whole imm,
er was almost forgotten. CLAIM
What temperance did Mr.. Greeley We to
,nt?n Pa
s remember him, he was vrU : j
ed in a very light suit, and was he =,
2 the central figure of the con- 1oy,,
on, not even excepting IT, ven milf.
2 Francis p Blair. He i'm 90 sstl
ed me IS q man of great force, wss !,
OF the orator that many others VIII Wi
His speech was given the on me-
It attention, but aside from that bacan
not take leading part in The dsna',,
edings2 He was not placed on mhaJ
l believe, on account tbroo
pressure of his other business. go sao =,
lother striking figure was Stata Z
a r. Giddings, of Ashtabula 49, - -,