Year: 1868

OuteAOc Al6cuSSlOh Oh INC


Delegates.


All the excitement and enthusiasm OF the day cul-
minated at the hour fixed for the formal opening of
the Convention. From an early hour an immense
crowd began pouring into Fourteenth street from
Third and Fourth avenues, filing up the entire north
side of the street. the only part of it left undisturbed
by the police Seeing the little chance there was for
participating sight seers in the great events
Of the day which few hours would bring about the
crowd kept flowing in and out of the street. There
was excitement enough, however for the curious in
such matters for the hours kept coming and going
In their order the street was kept alive by the
marching Of troops the music Of bands, the gather
ing Of societies. the active exertions Of the police in
keeping the streets clear and all the other excite
ments natural to such time and scene. There was
NO time during the day that run up or down to
Fourteenth street would not have compensated any
one who had time for such trip and whose sympa-
thies are touched by great public occasions. The
splendid new building, to be known hereafter the
new Tammany Hall or Great wigwam, was decorated
in very beautiful manner with flags and banners,
MOWERS and evergreens wrought and interlaced into
patriotic emblems and notices. indicative of
the great event which was to find its initia-
tiOn within its spacious was-an event which Is des
tined to spread like concentric waves to the utmost
limits OF the land, and to affect the peace, pros
perty and greatness of the whole people Of this i'm
mense Continent. The decorations OF the Hall and
the beautiful arch which spans the street have al
ready been described in these columns, and it win
be enough to say that they were conceived in good
taste and were in every respect Characteristic Of the
occasion.


little after ten O'Clock the mighty wigwam, the
<1adt nf vbic had
began to fill rapidly. There was no confusion mani
tested during the time Of the filing of the Hail. save
as regarded the arrangements made for the accom-
mediation Of the press and the trouble in this regard
arose from the want OF sufficient number OF badges
which was the sesame to the seats provided for the
reporters. With this exception there trouble
or confusion.


The seats set apart for ladies were all filed.
Among those present lending a peculiar grace and
charm to the occasion were Mrs. Belmont, MISS
Chase, Mrs. Judge Roosevelt, Miss Josephine Davis
Mrs. Mat. Ellis, &c.


The Proceedings.


At a quarter past twelve O'Clock the gavel of the
Chairman of the Democratic National Executive
Committee was heard calling to order At there
the cry from all sides, sit down. sit down. take
your seats" &C. Some little time elapsed while dele
gates hurried to their places, but when order was
again restored the chairman again rose and pro-
ceeded to address the Convention.


ADDRESS OF Mr.. AUGUST BELMONT.


GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNvENTIoN-It is my privi-
lege to-day to welcome you here in this hail, con-
structed with much artistic taste and rendered 70
you by the timehon0red society OF Tammany. zap
erected to the Goddess Of Liberty by her stanchest
defenders and most fervent worshippers. well
come you to this good city OF New York, the bull
wark OF democracy y-(renewed applausel-which has
rolled back the surgng waves OF radicasm through
all the storms OF the last eight years; and welcome
you, gentlemen, to our Empire State, which last fall
redeemed herself from republican misrule by ma
jorlty OF nearly fifty thousand votes, ana which
the great battle TO be fought next November for the
preservation or our institutions. our laws
and our liberties. loud cheers.l It is
such circumstances, and are surrounded by such
sociations; and share your own confident hope OF
the overwhelming success OF the ticket and the plat
form which will be the result Of your deliberations.
For It is 70 the American people that our appeal lies.
peope VIII no lsn%er remain deaf TO the eachngs nf
the past. They VIII remember that 1t was under
successive democratic administrations, based upon
national prnciples-the principles Of constitu-
tional liberty-that our country rose to prosperity
and greatness unsurpassed in the annals OF history
marched shoulder to shoulder together in the
conquest OF Mexico, which gave us our golden
empire empire on the , Pacific s,. our California and our
democracy-tcheersl-th will remember the days
when peace and plenty reigned over the whole
energies OF the people, when the federal tax gaherer
unknown throughout the vast extent OF the land
and when the credit OF the United States stood az
high in the money marts OF the world as that OF any
other government; and they will remember with
wise sorrow that with the downfall Of the demo-
cratic party In 1850 that fearful civil which
has brought mourning and desolation into every
household, has cost the loss OF million OF American
citizens and has left US with national debt the bur
den Of which drains the resources crpples the in
dustry and impoverishes the labor OF the country.
They will remember that after the fratrcidal strife
was over, when the bravery Of our army and
navy and the sacrifices OF the people had restored
the Union and vindlcated the supremacy OF the law;
when the victor and the vanqushed were equally
ready TO bury the past and to hold out the hand OF
protherhood and good will across the graves OF their
ocratic candidates in 1854 which prevented this con.
summation so devoutly wished for by all. Instead
o restorng the southern States to their constitu-
t0nal rights instead OF trying TO wipe out the mis-
cries OF the past by magnanlmous policy, dictated
alike by humanity and sound craftsmanship and so
American people, the radicals " IN Congress- elected
In an evil hour, have placed the iron heel OF the
conquerer upon the south Austria did not dare to
sia 70 impose upon conquered Poland the
ruthless tyranny now innicted by Congress
are invested with dctatoria power. over.
riding the decisions OF the courts and assuming the
functions Of the civil authorities the white popua-
tions are dsfranchised forced to submit TO fest
oaths alike revolving TO justice and civilization and


desased and gnoran. c race Just emerged from ser.
Of that fair portion OF our common country. These
men, elected to be Legislators. and legislators only
usurped the functions Of the Executive and the udci
ary and II IL impossible TO doubt after the events of
the past few months and he circumstance % ofthe inn
peaohment trial. that they Will not shrink from an
attempt hereafter TO subvert the senate OF the United
states which alone stood between them aud their
victim, and which had virtue enough left not to
allow the American name TO be utterly disyraced,
and justice TO be dr igged In the dust. In order TO
carry out this nenrious programme our army and
navy are kept in times of profound peace scale
which has involved yearly expenditure OF from
~ nurp mai dQbf M INN a