Year: 1876

early in the week that all OF It's members WOulU Do
governed by the unit rules, and stand by Mr.
Hartranft until majority of the delegates voted to
do otherwise, and that when they did withdraw
their own candidate they would vote solid
for such other man as tho majority
of the delegation should direct. even
then the result of to-day's work might have been
different. But whatever might have been the dis
position of the delegates before the appointment Of
DOM Cameron to be Secretary of War, the ma
joriy of them had too much sclf-respect to allow
him after that to turn them he might see ut
to Roscoe Conkling or any other candidate who was
willing to pay the highest price. This was the
meaning of the resolution which they adopted. pro-
viding for calling the delegation together, and this
the meaning of the bitter contest which occurred Oh
tho floor of the Convention to-day.


Early in the week there is no doubt that ma
jority of the Pennsylvania delegation had made up
their minds to vote for Mr.. Blaine whenever they
could do so without violating the spirit Of the in
structions given them by the State Convention This
fact became apparent soon as the delegation was
called together after reaching Cincinnati. Whether
Secretary Cameron surprised or not at this dis
cOvery it is impossible to say; but there is
no doubt that from the time that meeting
adjourned until the balloting began in the Con-
venon to-day he spared efforts to keep his dele
III
it to Senator Conkling but with the hope that its
open repudiatlon of him as leader might be pre-
vented. lie appealed to each member personally not
to desert him, and no aroused much sympathy
among some of the delegates that, while they could
not be induced to follow him to the support OF any
other candidate, they prevailed upon to stand
By Gov Hartranft. This the Blaine men Of the del
egaton discovered yesterday, and seeing that unless
they could break down the unit rule their candidate
might be defeated while they stood by unable to
give him any aid determined to force the ISSUE and
il necessary provide for bringing the question into
the Convention for decision. In accordance with
this purpose they proposed to Secretary Cameron
that on the second ballot, if it appeared that the
yoto OF Pennsylvania for Blaine would nominate
him. the entire vote of the State should be cast.
This Mr Cameron refused to listen to- His personal
reputation as a political involved. IL
Pennsylvania should vote solid for Blame on
the second or any other ballot, it would be
universally interpreted as a defeat for Mr.. Came
ron. II Pennsylvania changed her vote from
Gov. Harranft to any other man than Mr. Blaine
Secretary Cameron might claim tho honor of it (;
but would over believe in case it went to the
Maine statesman that the leadership of the delega-
ton had not been wrestod from him.


No course was left to the Blaine men except to
raise the question in the Convention, which they did
on the third ballot. When Pennsylvania was
reached ON the third roll-call, therefore, and Mr.
Cameron cast its IS votes for Gov. Hart
ranft. one Of the delegates from that State,
who had gone upon the platform in adj
vance for that purpose, rose, and, in behalf
of himself and three Others from Pennsylvania de-
manded that their votes be cast for Blaine. Then
there was the greatest uproar. Some one made
the point of order that under the rules
A., I,.,. - hair of eaHl
delegation to east the vote Of his state. and that
when il was once so cast it should not be changed
until tho result of that ballot was announced. OF
course there was nothing in this point 1t was
question oi tho very highest privilege whether
a delegate or any number of delegates should
be allowed to exercise their private judgment
in voting for candidates in a National Republican
Convention, or whether they could be bound down
by the instructions Of a State Convention or the
will of majority Of their delegation President
Mcpherson ruled without hesitation, that il was the
right Of every member OF the Convention to
have his vote announced rs he desired.
All Pennsyl,a ania was at once on its feet.
and twenty men In that and other delegations
shouting for recognition. One OF the delegates
from Pennsylvania appealed from the decision
Of tho Chair, and tho appeal was laid on the
table by an overwhelming rira vote. Be
fore the applause that followed the announcement
Of this had subsided. ex-Congressman Cessna of
Pennsylvana was seen frantically gcsticula-
ing and calling for recognition by the
Chair When his voice became audible above
the din, he said that he wished to he heard before
the vote was put. President Mcpherson said that
he had not heard the request of Mr. Cessna and tho
latter retorted angrily that he did not want to.
Thereupon the President said that such impuations
dishonored the gentleman from Pennsylya ania and
di,honored the Conv vontion. This caused a tremen-
dous tumult


Finally, after a scene of the widest coniusion
lasting several minutes, and during which all the
Efforts Of tho President TO restore order
were unavailing, Mr.. Thornburg of Tennessee
standing on his chair. moved that the
vote By which the decision of tho presiding
officer was sustained be reconsidcrcd, and on this
very excited debate sprung up. Messrs. Cessna and
Oliver from Pennsylvania read the instructions OF
the Pennsylvania State Convention and insist
ed that tho delegation was bound by them.
Mr. Van Zant Of Rhode Island sustained this view.
aud Mr.. Hale OF Maine suggested that the Pennsyl-
yania delegation be allowed to retire for consuta-
ton 10 which Mr. Pomeroy OF New-Y0rk objected
At the close OF Mr.. divers remarks. the President
said that he could know nothing officially about the
proceedings Of the Pennsylvania State Convention,
but had to be governed by the rules OF
this body. All OF thls tliho tho cah vi
the roll had been suspended, and of course all OF
the proceedings were out of order. by unanimous
consent, therefore. the vote of Pennsylvania was
passed until after the roll had been called throughout
when the question came mp to be decided When it
was taken up again very interesting and exciting
debate took place. in which many of the giants of
the Convention participated The question was
brought squarely before the Convention again by
the adoption of the motion to reconsider. and then,
after more discussion the decision of the Chair was