Year: 1872

FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.


The Convention was called to order at noon
by August Belmont, chairman of the National
Committee. In calling the assembly to order,
Mr.. Belmont said:


'Gentlenaen of the Convention 1t is again
my privilege to welcome the delegates of the
National Democracy, who have met in order to
present to the American people the candidates
for President and Vice President, for whom
they solicit the suffrages of the Democratic and
Conservative voters Of the great Republic


SAT our last National Convention of the 4th
of July, 1868, predicted that the election of
Gen. Grant would result in the gradual usur-
patton of all the functions of the government
by the Executive and by Congress, to be en-
forced by the hayonets of military despotism.
The vast majority of the people of the United
States have witnessed with grief and sorrow
the correctness of the prediction, and they look
forward with fear and apprehensioasso the dan
gers which are threatening us, if. by the re-elec
ton of Gsnaral Grant, the policy thus far pur-
sued by the Radical party be continued. The
thinking men of both parties have become
alive to the fact that we are now living under
military despotism, overriding the civil au-
thority 10 many States of the Union; that by
the enactment Of arbitrary and unconstltuti0n-
al laws, through depraved majority 10 Con-
gress, the rights Of these States are infringed
and trampled upon, and that Casarisn, and
Capitalization are undermining the very ioun-
dations of our Federal system, and are sweep
ing away the constitutional bulwarks erected by
the wisdom of the fathers of the republic


these abuses have become 50 glaring that
the wisast and best men of the Republican par
ty have severed themselves from the Radical
wing, which is trying to fasten upon the coun-
try, another four years, reign OF corruption,
usurpation, and despotlsm and whatever in
dividual opinions we may entertain as to the
choice of the candidate whom they have Sc
ected in opposition to General Grant, there
cannot be any doubt Of the patriotic impulses
which dictated their action, nor can any fault
be found with the platform Of principles upon
which they have placed their candidates.


''The resolutions of the Cincinnati Conven-
ton are what the country require, and they
must command the hearty support of every pa
triot throughout the vast extent OF our land. -
La the struggle which is before US We must
look to principles and not men; and l trust
that no personal prediction or prejudices will
deter us from doing our duty to the American
people.


General Grant has been good and faithful
soldier during our civil war; His stubborn, IN
domitable courage has helped 20 crown the
Union arms with victory, and the American
people have rewarded his services with the
most unbounded generosity. | am willing to
concede that his intentions on taking the Pres
dential chair were good and PATRIOTIC but he
has most signally and sadly failed in the dis
charge of the high trust imposed upon him by
the confidence Of a grateful people. lie at
this moment is the very personhcatlon OF the
misrule which is expressing US, and his re-elec-
tion is fraught with the most deplorable con-
sequences for the welfare of the republic, and
endangers the liberties of our people.


Son the other hand, Mr.. Greeley has been
heretofore bitter opponent OF the Democratic
party, and the violent attacks against myself,
individually, which have from time to time ap-
peared In bis Journal certainly do not entltle
him to any sympathy or preference at my
hands; but Mr. Greely represents the national
and constitutional principles of the Cincinnati
platform, and by his admirable and manly let
ter of acceptance he has shown that he is fully
alive to their spirit, and that if elected he
means to carry them out honestly and faith
fully.


''Should you, therefore, in your wisdom, de-
eide to pronounce in favor of the CINCINNATI
candidates, [ shall for one most cheerfuly bury
all past difference, and vote and labor for their
election with the same zeal and energy with
which [ have supported heretofore, and mean
ever to support, the candidates OF the Demo
cratic party.


1.-THE American people look with deep solic-
itude to your deliberations. 1t is for you to
devise means by which to free them from the
evils under which they are suffering; but In or
der to obtain that end you are called upon to
| make every sacrifice of party preference, howy
ever much you might desire to fight the COM
ing battle for our rights and liberties under one
Of the trusted leaders of the Democratic party.


''It will become your duty to discard all con-
siderations of party tradition IT the selection
of good and wise man outside OF our own
rank offers better chances of success. You
must remember that you are here not only as
Democrats but as citizens of our common
country, and that no sacrifice can be too great
which she demands at your hands.


Mr.. Belmont, after some personal remarks,
nominated Thos Jefferson Randolph, Of Vir-
ginia. He said ut is an auspicious omen
that scion of the author of the Declaration oi
Independence is to inaugurate the struggle ol
the Democracy for freedom and equality fol
every American citizen, and against oppression
and tyranny in our fair land.


MR.. RANDoLPH's ELECTION AND ACCEPTANCE


Mr. Randolph was elected by acclamation
On taking the chair, he said:


II am aware that the very great honor con
ferred upon me by this body is due to no per
sonal merit of my own, but is token OF respec
to the State from which come, and Is recog
n hIry fJvYAvr