Year: 1872

frees, &. Matthews, James Daniels.


Colorado-S. S. Ebrom.


Dakota-George Prose-.


Montana-F. c. Everts.


Tmh-W. II. Calvin, w. Hebbans.
1t is reliably announced that Schurz
will he selected as permanent Chair
man.


There is considerable disagreement
in the New York delegation regarding
the manner in which the ballot is to he
cast, majority ruling that the ballot is
to be cast solid. 1t will probably be de-
cided in Convention to allow the States
to vote bv delegates. 1t is thought a
ballot will not be reached before to-
morrow.


AFTERNOON SESSION.


The Convention was called to order
at clock.


Judge Spaulding. of Ohio, reported
from the Committee on Permanent Or
ganization, Carl Schurz az President,
and one Vice President and one Secre-
tary for each State and Territory.


The repOrt Of the committee was re-
ceived with applause, and three cheers
were given for Schurz.


SENATOR sCHURz's SPEECH.


On taking the chair Senator Schurz
said in substance Nobody can survey
this vast and enthusiastic assembly,
gathered from all parts of this republic,
without emotions Of astonishment and
hope. Astonishment considering the
unanimity OF the impulse which has
brought it together, and considering the
purpose for which it has met. This
Convention has been convened. Look
at the circumstances from which it has
sprung. We saw the American peo-
pie just emerging from a great and
successful struggle and in the full pride
OF national strength, threatened with
new evils and dangers of an insldious
nature and the mass OF the population
apparently not aware OF it; we saw
robbery and corruption stimulated to
an unusual audacity by the opportuni-
ties of protracted civil war invoking
the public service Of the Government
As well as almost all the movements OF
the social body, and we saw the public
opinion most deplorably lenient IN its
judgment OF the public and private dis
honesty; we saw the Government in
dulge in the most wanton disregard
OF law and resort to the assump-
ton of unconstitutional powers,
and the people, apparently at least, &C
quiesce with reckless disregard Of the
law in transactions threatening the very
lie of our republican institutions. We
saw, indeed, with tyrannical insolence,
encroachments, through the vast ma
ch;nery OF the public service, aad the
people accept these encroachments
almost without protest and without
resentment. We saw men in the
highest place of the Republican party
employ their power and opportunities for
seli.advantage. We see that part OF
our common country which has been
| most seriously suffering from the con-
sequences Of civil war, and we see the
naughty spirit OF power refusing TO hit
up those who had gone astray, and who
are now suffering for il by policy OF
generous consideration and true states
manship. [Applause. We observe
all this, and. at the same time, reck-
less greed and partizanship on the part
of a great organization, with laurels OF
glorious achievements, striving to palli-
ate and Justify these wrongs and abuses,
and TO stihe the moral sense OF the
people and drive them by tyrannlcal
partv discipline not only to submit to
them for the present, but TO perpetuate
upon you that political power OF the
country by preserving it in the hands
of those who now possess it. Cheers.
He who calmly and impartlally sur
veys this spectacle could not fail to he
deeply alarmed, not only at the wrongs
that had been and were now being
perpetrated, but at that subjugation OF
the popular spirit which failed to raise
its voice against it. The question might
have been asked have the American
people become so utterly Indifferent to
their true interests, to their national
harmony and their merits Of political
life, to the integrity of their institutions
and to the honor of the American name,
that they should permit themselves
thus to be driven, like flock OF sheep,
bv those who assume to lord it over
them. That question has now, happily,
found an answer. Applause The
virtue, the spirit Of independence,
the love OF liberty, the Republican
pride of the American people are not
dead vet, nor do they die, great ap
plause. land that answer is given in
thunder tones by the Convention OF
American ireemen here assembled.
| TCheers ! Indeed, those who two
months a.o first raised their voices, did
so with an abiding faith that their aP-
peals should not remain without a
resnonse. But the voice OF that
response has now gone far beyond our
most sanguine anticipations and we
trust that prejudice or selfish partisan
spirit but which yesterday seemed to
stop every free pulsation OF the popular
heart is now suddenly thrown asunder
/


and that true patriotic principle has
risen above party. We begin to breathe
again as freemen; we again call
things by their right names;
we feel once more that our Conven-
tons are our own, that our votes are
not to be given to the psrtizan. but to the
country, fapplau-el and feeling thus
we de6antiv set our sense Of duty
against the arrogance Of power cries
Of good and cheers1 like the bugle
blast Of doomsday the summons
is resoundins North and South, East
and West, and the conscience OF the
people, which seemed dead, has now
arisen into new lie. From every point
of the compass the hosts are tiocking
| ,j'I Iaol assured that we ire