Year: 1869

met to-day at noon in WetIng Hail. In this
central city Of the State. There were no ao-
sentees from the roll OF delegates aud alter
mates but In one notable instance. that Of
ex-G0vernor Seymour VINO failed to put In an ap
pearance, but was represented by substitute.
Voting Hall Is capable OF accommodating about
1000 people, but 80 little interest was awakened by
tho question whether new political departure
would be taken by the democratic party or whether
Il would still cling to the dead issues; whether 1t
would continue TO retrOgrade on the Old track
or inaugurate new progressive policy BY which 1t
would stand or fall in the great national campaign
OF 1872, that large and suggestive gap of vacant
seats were seen everywhere throughout the hail.
The day was beautifully fine and as State
Convention usually attracts large numbers from
the surrounding country, 1t was very evi-
cent from all absence Of public demonstra-
ti0n and popular feeling that the events and
results Of the days proceedings had very
little attractions for the people OF the Salt City Its
envirOns. The New York and Brooklyn delegations
entered the building In full force, and as they were
attended by numerous retainers and friends, who
Of course, had no office to seek or axe to grind,
when they walked down the centre aisle one look
ing OF the familiar faces might fancy ne was IN the
wigwam In Fourteenth street instead Of in Weiting
Hail. Syracuse


On the platform there were not more than two
dozen members Of the party. Throughout the pro-
ceedings the calling OF the Convention to order the
speech OF the Chairman OF the Central State Com
mlttee the nomination anu election of the tempo
rary Chairman, and the address of the latter, the
most unusual apathy and depression seemed to lie
Ake apall upon the assemb.age. 1t was only when
Nltten foreshadowed In his speech the coming plat
fern Of the party that few cheers from the country
members were given, and these but served to damn
with faint praise the principles he put forth. This
when he denounced the fifteenth amendment and
negro suffrage as repugnant 70 the spirit OF de-
m0cracy. II must bc here said that no answering
cheer echoed back from the Tammany benches even
the slight applause OF the country members


MR.. TILDEN's SPEECH.


On calling the Convention to order Mr.. TILDEN
sstd:-


DELEGATES AND FELLOW DEMOcRATs-ScarcelY
haM year has passed by Of the Presidential term
Of General Grant, and yet that period has been long
enough 10 supplant, even In the minds OF repubi-
the advent of his administration. The period has
been filled by rapid succession of movements,
watering places OF the country. (Langhier and ap-'
plause.) At time when we are just emerging from
eivil war, and when there lay all about u.s. and
she conflict, this greatest OF human trusts,
which, when we were but three millions OF people,
flied the mind OF Washington with anxious soici-
tude, now expanded to the care OF six-andthirty
millions Of human beings, Is. In the mind Of Gene
raj Grant, scarcely q sense OF serious duty. AT the
close OF the civil war, in which have pershcd
million OF the flower OF our youth and which mas
diminished our accumulated resources by at least
two thousand m1liOns-at time when industry ID
oppressed by heavy taxes and when all the pro-
cesses Of production are Obstructed by a revenue
system the most complicated and q tariff the most
burdensome, forced upon the country In the hour OF
our national agony by greedy mOn0p0lists, who
then obtained influence IN the halls OF Hongress-at
the occasion and incentive OF career OF amuse-
ment, carnival OF holiday pleasures. They
are q huge joke. The instincts OF the nation
read the spirit OF government In little things. 1t
was but few days ago that met one Of the most
eminent republicans In the United States, ana he
pnt up his hands with gesture that awed me into
silent attention and said:"l Will tell you one thing
between us--Grant Is failure" The name OF the
author OF this unexpected communication Is cOnf-
dential but the secret itself Is known to the whole
republican party. Notwithstanding thar grave mat
ters or national concern are treated with levity,
the administration OF General Grant has been
AsstduOusly endeavOrlng to work what Ia practically
revolution IN the most important element
the constitution OF our government. mean the suf-
leage by the fifteenth amendment. They attempt,
In the 1rst place. to take from the people OF the
States that control OF tho suffrage which they have
mmemorlay exercised, OF SAYING who shall vote
within those States-tapplause)-an transfer that
question to CONGRESS-. they are creating state Of
t6e law in which, by change OF the naturalization
)aws half a million OF Chinese may be brought into
the state OF New lork and made voters without tho
consent, and in fact, against the WILL OF the people
OF the State Of New York. They are creating state
Of the law in which, without any change IN the
u
can slaves can come within this State and become
voters against the VIII of the people OF this state


Now, gentlemen let me not be told that half n
million OF Chinese Will not come, that hair
million OF Africans Will not come. What object 10


that such state Of the law Is greeted. It has no
eect no practical purpose; 1t has no utility. II 1t
h going into effect practically to the extent Of Its
operations It VIII he not only calamity but crime
against the people Of this state and every other
state against whom the measure may be enforced.
This is not all. In the second place the measure
transfers all control from the people OF the State. At
M rtlo
laws in o State. You can only change 1t by an
amendment to your State constitution and that has,
In this State, to be twice submitted to the people.
Now, / say this fifteenth amendment takes away ali
voice from the people In this important matter and
gives II to Congress-, as IN any ordinary matter Of
legislation. Again, by the vague, loose general
phraseoogy Of the second section OF the fifteenth
amendment Congress takes to itself the power Of
determining what legislation is necessary to carry
out the amendment Any legislation that Congress
may think ht Is authorized under this section.


Now Congres, may object to to the way In which the
district under state laws, and may appoint inspec-
tors OF election to establish and enforce new registry
each district to govern tho workings Of the law In
that district and make 1t operate exclusively from
the suffrage say the pnraseooey OF the section Is
capable OF the most dangerous construction,
and that construction vNl no doubt be
n power. tXppiausc.j And now is this measure to
ce carried out and made the law OF the andY IL Is
by force and by fraud and by no other means.
Virginia, whom we fought and conquered because
ehe tried 10 60 out OF the Union, is now considered
0ut, and In required to submit to this alienation In
enc franchise as O condition to her readmsson; and
then that being gained her assent is employed to
esteblish and enforce the same rule In the State
OF New YORK, which fought against her. For 1t Is
n0t now q law Ior virginia or South Carolina, but
law for New York, for Pennsylvania that is to be
established and enforced by the cOerced assent Of
virginia. say, then, that the force Ia exercised
against u.s. the people OF the United States II Is
wrong 10 us, and II there be any Justification for q
forcibe change OF the Suffrage In the States lately





ties created by the war what excuse can there be in
innicting tho same measure on those who fought
against us. II has in u also another
element OF fraud. The platform on which
General Grant was elected pledged the republican
Btates to the people OF these States Grant accepted
that pledge The people who voted for him voted
with that understanding, and at the moment nc
gets into office the pledge Is violated and set at
nauRht and this attempt is made to force the