Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-07-02

fires followed few years later II
stood as the most disastrous conflag-
ration ever known in this country.
A NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Only once has national conven-
tion of great political party been
called to assemble on the Fourth Of
July That single exception was
the Democratic convention of 1868
nt New York. The country was in
a disturbed condition The war had
left its legacy of passion and of de-
preston, that always follows civil
discord. President johnson had be-
come separated from the Republi-
can party that had elected him as
Abraham Lincoln's associate, and
| the reconstruction measures, the
carpetbag governments Of the south
and the use of the United States
military in the states lately in the
rebellion were the burning questions
of the hour. It was felt that the
Democratic party had now a fair
chance to return TO power, and the
Fourth of July was selected as q fit
ting day for the convention to meet
in order to initiate the campaign
with eclat. And on the same day
soldiers and sailors convention was
also held in New York and indorsed
the Democratic nominees in advance.
The Democratic convention sat for
several days and on the twenty first
ballot nominated Horatio Seymour
for president. George II. Pendleton
Andrew Johnson, General w. S.
Hancock, Sandford e. Church and
Thomas A. Hendricks were promin-.
ent candidates, and it is almost for
gotten political history that Chief
Justice Salmon p. Chase although
n Republican-wa seriously cOnsi-
dered in connection with the nomi-
nation. But when election day
came Grant defeated Seymour.
THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION
July 4, 1868, was even more dis
tinguished by the famous amnesty
proclamation issued by President
johnson to those who had been on
the Confederate side during the war
Devoid of its preamble and whereases
this is the historical document /;
"Now, therefore, be it known that
|, Andrew Johnson, president of the
United States, do by virtue of the
constitution and in the name of the
people of the United States hereby
proclaim and declare unconditional
amnesty and without reserve to all
and TO every person who directly or
indirectly participated in the late
insurrection or rebellion, excepting
such person or persons as may be
under presentment or indictment in
any court of the United States hav-
| ing competent jurisdiction upon u
charge of treason or other felony, a
full pardon and amnesty for all Of
Tense or treason against the United
States or of adhering to their enemies
during the late civil war, with re-
storation of all rights of property
except as to slaves and except also
as to any property of which any
person may have been legally di-
vested under the laws of the United
States"
DEATHS OF ,Ex-PREsIDENTs.
Three ex-presidents of the United
States have died on the Fourth of
July. Two were signers of the
great document that is commemora-
ted ON that day and both died ON its
semiannual anniversary. Thomas
jefferson, who drafted the Declara-
tion of Independence, died at Mon
ticello, Va, in 1926, at the age of
SO. He had lived to see the repub-
lie firmly established among the ma
tions of the world and himself
abundantly honored by his country
men. On the same day in Quincy
Mass, John Adams, who had been
jefferson s associate in the stormy
days of the republic, passed away at
the age of 81. One of the last acts
of his life was to send from his sick
bed to the Fourth of July celebra-
tion of the town of Quincy this
toast 81 give you independence
forever. - His last words were
jefferson still lives, " but Jefferson
had already by few hours preceded
Adams to the land of the hereafter.
Five years later, in 1881, James
Monroe died in New York city on
the Fourth of July. He was buried
in tho marble cemetery on Second
street, east of the Bowery, but in
1858 his remains were removed to
his native state, Virginia.
Chief Justice Marshall, who did
more perhaps than any other person
of his time TO give permanence and
explanation and judicial determine
ton to the constitution, lay on. his
death bed on July A, 1885. He had
served as chief justice for 80 years
Those about him thought he would
expire on that day, but he fingered
until July 6.
President Zachary Taylor was
smitten with mortal disease on July
4, 1850. He attended the corner
stone ceremonies of the Washington
monument and was overcome by the
heat. Returning TO the White
House, he ate with imprudence and
that night took to his bed, which he
never left. A few days later he
passed away.
FAMOUS TREATIES SIGNED.
Several of the treaties that the
7 United States has made with foreign
nations have been in some way as
sociated with the Fourth of July
} In 1897 the first commercial treaty
, with Sweden and NO1yvav was con