Dickinson, Edward B., Stenographer; National Democratic Committee. Official Proceedings of the National Democratic Convention, Held in Chicago, ILL., July 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, 1884 . New York: Douglas Taylor's Democratic Printing House, 1884. [format: book], [genre: proceedings]. Permission: Northern Illinois University
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=democrat1884.html

The Chairman called the Convention to order at 5:30 P. M., as follows:

The Convention will be in order.

MR. A. E. STEVENSON, of Illinois: Mr. President, I ask the immediate consideration and adoption of the resolution which I send to the Clerk's desk.

The Clerk read the resolution, which was as follows:

"Resolved, That the Hon. William F. Vilas, of Wisconsin, Chairman of the National Democratic Convention, be and is hereby elected Chairman of the Committee to notify the nominees of the Convention of their selection as the candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States."

GEN. WICKLIFFE, of Louisiana: Mr. President, I wish to state to this Convention that from almost immemorial time, sir, that Committee have elected their own Chairman. It is certainly improper to pass that resolution.

MR. STEVENSON: I am unable to hear the remarks of the gentleman from Louisiana.

THE CHAIR: I ask the gentleman from Illinois to withdraw the resolution.

MR. STEVENSON: I was unable to hear the remarks of the gentleman from Louisiana.

GEN. WICKLIFFE: My remarks were that from time immemorial it has been the custom of that Committee to elect their own Chairman.

MR. STEVENSON: I think it has been the custom, with all due deference to the gentleman from Louisiana, for the Convention to select the presiding officer.

Mr. Stevenson put the question and promptly declared the motion carried, as also did the Reading Clerk.

THE CHAIR: The Clerk will read this dispatch which has been received since the adjournment.

The Reading Clerk read the telegram as follows:

New York, July 11.
The Hon. William F. Vilas,
Chairman of the Democratic Convention:

Both Democrats and Republicans on the Produce Exchange just joined in three rousing cheers for Cleveland. New York business men are solid for him.

F. S. Williams.

THE CHAIR: The Clerk will also make the announcement desired by the Chairman of the National Committee.

THE READING CLERK: There will a meeting of the newly appointed National Committee this evening at Room 27, Palmer House, immediately after the adjournment of the Convention. The members of the last Committee are requested to be present.

The Clerk also said:

In order to secure an organization of the Committee without delay, the Committee on Notification of Candidates is requested to meet immediately after the Convention adjourns in the Connecticut headquarters at the Palmer House.

MR. BURKE, of Louisiana: I have a resolution which I desire to offer.

The Secretary read the resolution as follows:

"Resolved, That in case of a vacancy on the ticket for the office of President or Vice-President a majority of the National Democratic Committee shall have power to fill the vacancy."

THE CHAIR: The question is upon the resolution of the gentleman from Louisiana. The resolution will be read again.

The Secretary then read the resolution again.

MR. FLANAGAN, of Ohio: I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion was seconded by a Delegate from Missouri.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman from Ohio moves to lay the resolution on the table. The motion is seconded. The question is on the motion to lay the resolution on the table.

The Chair then proceeded to put the motion to the Convention.

THE CHAIR: The Chair is in doubt as to the result.

MR. BURKE: I have no desire to detain this Convention, and, with the permission of my second, I will withdraw the motion.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman from Louisiana asks permission to withdraw the resolution.

The Chair hears no objection to its being withdrawn, and it is withdrawn accordingly.

COL. E. J. SIMPKINS, of Texas; I have a resolution to offer.

THE CHAIR: The Secretary will read the resolution of the gentlemen from Texas.

The Secretary read as follows:

"Resolved, first, That the Democratic party, in Convention assembled, do hereby heartily indorse the Morrison bill for the reduction of the war taxes as a right step in the direction of tariff reform."

"Resolved, second, That in our judgment the opposition to the bill by eminent and honorable members of our party was based upon considerations of policy and not of principle."

MR. BUDD, of California: I move to lay that on the table, and ask for a call of the States.

THE CHAIR: The resolution is not within the power of the house, but must go to the Committee on Resolutions.

MR. H. RUBENS, of Illinois: I move that the Convention now proceed to take a ballot of the Democracy for the honorable office of Vice-President of the United States.

A Kentucky Delegate seconded the motion.

THE CHAIR: It is moved and seconded that the Convention do now proceed to ballot to nominate a candidate for Vice-President.

MR. RUBENS: And that the roll of States be called.

THE CHAIR: And that the roll of States be called for that purpose.

Will the gentleman allow the resolution sent up by Mr. Porter, of Oregon, on that subject to be first read?

MR. RUBENS: Yes.

The resolution was read by the Reading Clerk, as follows:

"Resolved, That in nominating a candidate for Vice-President speeches shall be limited to ten minutes each, and that no nomination shall have more than one second."

MR. P. J. CARMODY, of Missouri: I move to amend the resolution by making it five minutes.

MR. T. L. PORTER, of Oregon: I accept the amendment.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman, Mr. Porter of Oregon, accepts the amendment. The question is on the adoption of the motion of Mr. Porter of Oregon as amended.

The motion as amended was agreed to.

THE CHAIR: The question is now upon the motion of the gentleman from Illinois, that the Convention proceed to nominate a candidate for Vice-President, and that the roll be called for that purpose.

This motion was adopted.

THE CHAIR: Now, let the Chair say that after Alabama is called the Clerk will wait a space of five minutes or so. The roll will be called.

Alabama and Arkansas having been called without response, Mr. Breckinridge of California, when that State was called, said:

California has a candidate to present. The presentation will be made by the Hon. Niles Searls of our Delegation.

The Chairman introduced the gentleman as the Hon. Niles Searls, of California.

MR. CHAIRMAN, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: California is a loving mother to her children, and they in turn are devoted in their attachment to California. We of the Pacific Coast have listened with admiration to the recounting of the noble qualities of the

several eminent gentlemen who have been presented for your votes and now on her behalf, and as a representative of the Delegation from the golden coast, I desire to present for your suffrages a man who has been eminent among his fellow-men; a man who in the councils of the Nation has been preeminent; a man who has led your soldiers to battle; a man who has achieved distinction, who has assisted in upholding the banner of his country. I claim not, as has been frequently done here for the candidate whom I shall present, that he has or possesses genius. Genius pays large dividends, but they are not of sufficiently frequent occurrence to make them safe as a permanent investment.

The gentleman whom I shall have the honor of naming possesses that rare common sense, that talent which has rendered him conspicuous among the military men of the Nation and among the civilians. As a member of Congress he has been at the head of your Committee on Military Affairs. As a soldier he has led the veterans of the land to victory. Yes, gentlemen, he acquired great victories, and I am honest enough to confess that he has sustained defeats; and no man who has never been defeated knows just how to acquire victory. The honored name which I desire to present to you is that of Gen. William S. Rosecrans, the hero of Stone River, the faithful soldier, the grand old commander whose image is impressed upon the hearts of all men who served under him. I present him to you as a gallant soldier, and if you make him your choice the echoes will awaken to the cries and huzzas that will come up in rejoicing over his nomination.

When Colorado was called Gov. James B. Grant arose and said:

Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the State of Colorado I desire to present to this Convention the name of the Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, of Indiana, as a candidate for Vice-President. His merits are so well known that I feel that he doesn't even need a five-minute speech to induce this Convention to vote for him, and therefore we make no speech in his behalf.

THE CHAIR: Gov. Grant, of Colorado, presents the name of the Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, of Indiana.

Mr. Bacon arose in his seat when Georgia was called.

THE CHAIR: Will the gentleman take the stand?

Address of Hon. A. O. Bacon, of Georgia.

I have but a few words to say, Mr. President. It is unnecessary that I consume the time which would be necessary in walking to the stand. I know, Mr. President, that this Convention is wearied with its long session and with much speaking, and, even if it were not for the order of the Convention, I should not consume the time which is prescribed by the resolution which has been adopted. We of the South, Mr. President, have come to this Convention with our preferences for those who shall fill the first and second places upon this ticket, in which we have been as ardent as you, gentlemen of the North. But we have contented ourselves by giving expression to our preferences by our votes, and we have been silent amid the discussions which have been heard in this hall for the last four days. As we have had our preferences for the first place so have we a preference for the second. But as in the first place we passed by all those who live within our borders and gave our votes to those who live in the North, so do we now come to present the name of one who lives on this side of the border.

Mr. President, it is difficult for those of us who live in the South to express to Northern Democrats the appreciation we have had for their assistance in the long struggle which we have made for personal liberty and for local self-government. We have been told at the South that the respectability of the North belonged to the Republican party. But as one who had the fortune to witness in this hall the assembly of the Republican Convention, I am glad to bear testimony to the fact that the men of the North who have come up here as the representatives of the Democratic party are in every particular the superiors of those who were in attendance upon the Republican Convention.

But, Mr. President, I cannot dwell upon that. While we have this appreciation of the men of the North — I speak the sentiment which is common to all of us who live in the South — among the Democrats of the North, those who stand highest in our regards — those whose aid we have appreciated in the highest degree — are those who wore the blue, and who, when the banners were furled, and when the echoes of the guns were stilled, recognized that those who had been enemies were now friends and brothers. Mr. President, I desire to say that the gentleman whose name I shall present to this Convention, and whom I am commissioned by the Delegates from my State to ask that you shall choose for the second place on

the ticket — a gentleman who is personally a stranger to us all. I desire to say further that I have the best of reasons for knowing that, while he sits within the sound of my voice, that while his friends surround him, that neither he nor his friends have now the slightest idea whose name I shall pronounce.

Mr. President: I am commissioned by the Delegation from the State of Georgia to present the name of a man who has been eminent in war, and who is no less eminent and worthy in peace. He, Mr. President, belongs not to the past. Those of us who belong to the present generation are looking to the future. We wish that the dead past with its bitter memories shall be forgotten and that our faces may be set towards the morning. As an ex-Confederate soldier, representing those who stood upon that side in the struggle which, I am glad to say, has receded so far in the past, and which, except in its glories, I hope may be forgotten — in behalf of a State that comes here proposing to give everything and to ask nothing — in behalf of a State which recognizes in the whole galaxy of States but one rival in the grand majority which we propose to give to the nominees of this Convention, I have the honor to nominate for the position of Vice-President the eminent citizen, the distinguished orator, the gallant soldier, Gen. John C. Black of Illinois.

General Black stood up in his chair and said:

MR. CHAIRMAN: I fully appreciate the splendid words of the gentleman from Georgia. He has, indeed, conferred upon me an unmerited compliment, which was almost an absolute surprise; but, sir, when I entered this hall I came as the spokesman and representatives of another citizen of the Republic. I put my hand in the hand of Joseph E. McDonald, and while his name is before this Convention I cannot appear as in any sense to rival him for any position, and therefore I respectfully decline.

The Clerk then called for nominations for Vice-President by the State of Illinois, whereupon Mr. J. B. Mann forced his way through the crowd in the aisles to the press platform, and spoke as follows:

MR. CHAIRMAN: I realize to the fullest extent the peculiar position in which my friend from Illinois is placed. He, like me, has

come here with no double tongue; he, like me, has come here to represent, in behalf of the Democracy of Illinois, one of the grandest statesmen and the noblest men whom we have ever been called upon to present to a Convention; and, while that is true, I feel that I would not be doing justice to this great man from Illinois, to the gallant soldier who bears upon his person the evidences of his devotion to the service of his country, if I allowed Illinois to be passed in the call of States without declaring that the declination which he has made shall not be received by this Convention. I know the gentleman from Illinois. Nobody knows him better. I have stood by him while I have seen the surgeon operating upon his arm, taking out the elbow joint, and yet he declaring, while that was being done, that, notwithstanding he lost a joint, his whole body yet was firm and true for the Union and firm and true for the Democracy. I know my friend from Illinois.

MR. O. W. POWERS, of Michigan: Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order. The gentleman is out of order. Under the rules, we are now calling the roll of States for nominations.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman is from Illinois, and Illinois was called.

MR. MANN: If there is anybody here who does not appreciate the fact that I am from Illinois, allow me to introduce myself. Illinois has been called in the roll of States, and I arise here in behalf of the sterling, honest Democracy of Illinois to present the name to this Convention of the most gallant son, without exception, which Illinois possesses to-day, General John Charles Black. [Cries of "Time!"] No, there is no time. No question can be out of time when we present to a Democratic Convention the name of a soldier honored and honorable as the name of Gen. Black is in the State of Illinois. I speak to you, gentlemen, you Delegates of the Convention, in the belief that you will honor yourselves, you will honor your ticket, you will make it successful, when you incorporate his name as a constituent part of it.

The call of the roll then proceeded. When the State of Indiana was reached, Mr. Menzies, of that State, claimed the attention of the Chair.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Menzies.

MR. MENZIES: I am authorized by the Delegation from the State

of Indiana to say to the Convention that it has no candidate for the Vice-Presidency, neither will it present any.

The call of the roll then proceeded. When the State of Kansas was reached, Mr. Fenlon, of that State, addressed the Chair.

THE CHAIR: The Hon. Thomas P. Fenlon, from Kansas.

GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: I crave the charity of your silence for a moment. I have only four minutes to speak, and I cannot speak loud, as I am hoarse from shouting for Grover Cleveland, of New York. I suppose it is not necessary for me to say that the State I have the honor in part to represent is somewhat known to history and fame, known since the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill all over the civilized world, and in parts of New Jersey. We have been noted as "bleeding Kansas." We have been noted as "grasshopper Kansas." We have suffered for twenty-five long years under the deepest and darkest gloom of political perdition until two years ago, when the first gleam of light penetrated the dark cloud that had overshadowed our country.

Let me speak a moment of Kansas. She is not without an honorable history. Under the lead of Douglas, of Illinois, we fought twenty-seven years ago for personal liberty. We are fighting for it now. In the war, to which I do not desire to refer in any unkind spirit, Kansas has the proud honor, according to statistics, of having more live men in the field and leaving more dead men upon it that any other State within the Union. And the proudest boast of the Kansas soldiers to-day is that they met foemen worthy of their steel.

Two years ago, drunk with political power long continued, the Republican party nominated for Governor of the State for the third time a saint from heaven. A man surnamed St. John — not he who made the pathway of the Lord open and clear, but St. John, the apostle of prohibition. Forty-five thousand Republican majority was behind them. We nominated the present Executive of our State, and, appealing to the sense, to the decency, to the judgment, to the manhood, to the Democracy of our people, in the person of our Chief Executive, that majority melted away like snow before

the Summer sun, and we elected him by 10,000 majority. In the name, then, Mr. Chairman, of a regenerated and a disenthralled State — may I not say in the name of 500,000 German Republicans of the Northwest — I am instructed to present for the consideration of this Convention the name of his Excellency, George W. Glick, the present Governor of Kansas.

THE CHAIR: The Chair asks common consent to the reading of a dispatch which has just been received, and which may be interesting.

The Reading Clerk read as follows:

Council Bluffs, Ia., July 11.
Chairman of the National Democratic Convention:

The nomination of Governor Cleveland for President has been received here with the wildest enthusiasm by thousands of Democrats. And hundreds of Republicans are equally captivated with it. A big Ratification Meeting will be held to-night. The Germans are particularly enthusiastic. A Cleveland banner has been thrown across Broadway to show that Council Bluffs intends to do her part towards carrying Iowa for the Democracy.
John H. Keatley and Thomas Bowman.

The Clerk proceeded with the call until Missouri was reached.

MR. WILLIAM H. PHELPS, of Missouri: Is it in order to second a nomination at this time?

THE CHAIR: Yes.

MR. PHELPS: I am instructed by the solid Delegation from Missouri to second the nomination of Joseph E. McDonald.

Gen. W. C. Faulkner, of Mississippi, when his State was called, came to the platform and spoke as follows:

Ever since Richard the Lion-Hearted led the Crusaders into the Holy Land it has been the universal custom for brave soldiers to meet on terms of friendship after the battle is over. Even the common school boys love each other better when they have fought

each other hard. I, as an humble citizen of Mississippi, one who occupied a position on the losing side in the late War, beg in a very few and brief remarks to express my admiration for the distinguished Federal General, Rosecrans. That I know him to be a brave soldier is not hearsay evidence; for, in a humble way, I have met him on many a field. And I know that I shall speak the sentiments of all brave soldiers on both sides of the late War when I say that there is no gentleman whose name has been presented to this Convention that can come so completely near uniting all the old brave soldiers that fought on each side of the late War. I shall not occupy the time of this Convention. But I did deem it necessary to say this much, because occasionally you will find an old politician — a "rale old stern-wheel" politician — who tries to gnaw a little meat off the old bone of contention; but all brave soldiers are ready to meet each other on terms of friendship. This late War was a family quarrel, and the family have settled it, and woe be to the outside nations that shall undertake to break up that settlement. I have shed a little blood in fighting against the old flag; I have shed a little blood fighting under the old flag; there is a little more blood in these veins ready to be poured out freely if any outside nation shall undertake to break up that settlement.

I say this much in favor of Gen. Rosecrans. And I can say it because I belonged to the losing side. Gen. Rosecrans' army headquarters were at my residence during the War, while I was out in the army fighting against him. And it is with pleasure that I can say to the people of this country that I believe he would unite this whole Nation so far as the soldier vote is concerned. I thank the Convention for its courtesy.

After the State of Oregon was called Mr. L. L. McArthur, of that State, said:

"I desire to ask a question for information. Was the resolution, limiting the number of seconds to a nomination, passed?"

THE CHAIR: Yes, sir.

MR. MCARTHUR: I rise then simply to express the united voice of Oregon in favor of Rosecrans.

THE SECRETARY: State of Pennsylvania.

SENATOR WALLACE, of Pennsylvania: I rise in my place again on the floor of this Convention not to place in nomination a Pennsylvanian by birth, but, sir, to place in nomination for the second office

in the gift of the American people a gentleman springing from grand old Pennsylvania stock in the western portion of that noble old Commonwealth. In the star of the West, old Westmoreland, he found the root of the lineage that gave him birth. This gentleman is conversant with public affairs throughout his entire life; he has known government and its details; an honored statesman; a pure and upright citizen; a representative of the grossest wrong that ever was perpetrated upon the American people. I nominate as the candidate for Vice-President of the United States Thomas A. Hendricks, once already your Vice-President.

GOV. WALLER, of Connecticut: Mr. Chairman —

THE CHAIR: The gentleman from Connecticut.

GOV. WALLER: The Delegation from Connecticut desires me to ask the privilege of the Convention to second the nomination. The Delegation from Connecticut seconds the nomination of Thomas A. Hendricks, with the belief and hope, Mr. Chairman, that the Democratic party of this country will have wit enough, and power enough, in defiance of fraud, and in accordance with law, to place him in the chair of the Vice-Presidency.

MR. MENZIES, of Indiana: Mr. Chairman.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman from Indiana was recognized when the gentleman from Connecticut took his seat.

MR. MENZIES: Let the Convention be not mistaken. I speak in words of seriousness and earnestness. Thomas A. Hendricks is not and will not be a candidate for the Vice-Presidency. I am, sir, authorized by him to say further, as the Chairman of this Delegation, that he will not be a candidate for the office of Vice-President. I say, then, sir, let not this Convention do that which it may have to meet and do again.

MR. PATRICK WALSH, of Georgia: I would ask the gentleman from Indiana if he is authorized to say that Mr. Hendricks will not accept a unanimous nomination from the National Democratic Convention for the office of Vice-President of the United States.

MR. MENZIES: I will answer that gentleman on my left (Mr. Walsh, of Georgia,) by saying, in the language of Mr. Hendricks himself, that he is not and will not be a candidate for the Vice-Presidency.

Address of Hon. T. M. Waller, of Connecticut.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Connecticut surely has no desire to force on Indiana a candidate against its will. But, sir, this is not an Indiana Convention. This is a Convention of the country; and the Democrats, looking all over the country, have a right to take a fit man from any place in it. Connecticut, sir, would not have made at anybody's request a nomination of a man for any office, unless they had exercised a little Yankee cuteness as to whether the man would probably take it. If any man in this Convention says that he knows that Mr. Hendricks at this time is not patriotic enough to take the nomination tendered under these circumstances, I will withdraw his name with humiliation. He does not want this nomination; every man knows it. In 1876, sir, the statesman of New York represented the East and the statesman of Indiana represented the West on the Presidential ticket. In 1884, but for infirmity of health, not of purpose, the candidate of New York in 1876 would undoubtedly have been your candidate again. His name cannot be placed, and could not have been placed, upon your ticket; but Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana, thank God, is in good health. He again can serve the people if called to the front, and the ticket, with the statesman of New York upon it in 1884 representing the East, and Thomas A. Hendricks representing again the West, will be, in the opinion and belief of every Democrat who hears me, victorious in November.

MR. WALLACE, of Pennsylvania: It would be beneath the dignity of an elected Vice-President of the United States to be a candidate for the place a second time. Thomas A. Hendricks has been once chosen the Vice-President of the United States. He has been despoiled of his office. The Democracy of the Republic demand of him again his name as their candidate, and they will not take "No" for an answer. Sir, I move you that the rules be suspended and that this Convention nominate Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana as its candidate for Vice-President of the United States by acclamation.

THE CHAIR: The gentlemen will take their seats. Let us have order. The gentleman from Alabama is recognized. Let us have order before he proceeds.

MR. E. W. PETTUS, of Alabama: Mr. President, honorable names have been presented here, and I demand in the name of my State that they shall be voted on according to the rules.

MR. J. T. HARRIS, of Virginia: My friend from Alabama asked to proceed according to the rules. The motion made by the gentleman

from Pennsylvania suspends the rules and Virginia unites her voice to that of the Keystone State of the country; and we sustain the motion to suspend the rules, which the Chairman knows is not debatable.

THE CHAIR: The Chair will state that, as he understands and is well advised, the rule of the House of Representatives requires a two-thirds vote to suspend the rules. It will be difficult to determine a two-thirds vote without a call of the States unless there be unanimous consent.

MR. N. SEARLES, Of California: Mr. Chairman, I desire on behalf of the California Delegation to withdraw the name of Gen. William S. Rosecrans, and to second the nomination of the Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks.

MR. T. P. FENLON, of Kansas: Mr. Chairman, by direction of the Kansas Delegation, and in full accord with my ancient friend of Pennsylvania and my new one from California, I withdraw the name of George W. Glick of Kansas and second the nomination of Mr. Hendricks.

GOV. GRANT, of Colorado: Mr. Chairman, Colorado also wishes to withdraw the name of Joseph E. McDonald and second the nomination of Mr. Hendricks.

MR. CHAIRMAN: In behalf of the Delegation of the State of Texas I desire to second the nomination of Thomas A. Hendricks. When the gallant name of McDonald was presented, they had no idea that the name of Hendricks would be allowed, but, thank God, it is here. Sir, his name —

The calls to the speaker to take the platform drowned his voice. Not understanding what was wanted, he asked:

Am I in order, Mr. Chairman?

THE CHAIR: Yes, sir.

GOV. HUBBARD (continuing): His name will be a thrill of enthusiasm from the mountains to the sea, and from the East to the West. It will unite the discordant elements that have been fighting us —

The gentleman finally yielded to the demand that he take the platform, and concluded his speech there.

GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: I shall not detain you five minutes of time up here. In seconding the nomination which has just been made by the Old Keystone State, my State instructs me to say that all around, since that terrible Electoral-Commission robbery, Texas has been for wiping out with the ballot again the foul enormity. And when she cannot get the head of that great ticket, she wants to take all of it that is not incapacitated by physical infirmity back to that which is his own, the Vice-Presidency. Give us a living embodiment of the issue of that great crime.

In the second place, it will unite those elements of hostility that did crop out against the nomination of the gallant head of that ticket whom we have all unanimously nominated this great day.

In the third place, he will carry Indiana, that we need, with a majority such as he carried it once before, in 1876. We have nothing more to say. For God's sake give it to him. He deserves it. With one unanimous voice that shall ring out from the plains to the mountains and from sea to sea Texas seconds the nomination and moves it to be by acclamation.

MR. BACON, of Georgia: Mr. President, I ask the privilege of yielding the floor a moment to Mr. Winston, of Illinois, so that I am recognized when he shall have yielded the floor.

MR. F. S. WINSTON, of Illinois: Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the Convention, the State of Illinois profoundly appreciates the compliment bestowed upon it in nominating its distinguished citizen to the office of Vice-President of the United States, and in view of the good of the Democratic party all over the country desires to withdraw the name of Gen. John C. Black.

MR. BACON, of Georgia: Mr. President and gentlemen, I desire to say that the nomination of Gen. Black was made by me in behalf of this Delegation in the utmost sincerity, and with the intention of pressing his name in the vote; in spite of his declination we had intended to do so. In view, however, of his repeated requests that his name should be withdrawn, and in view of what seems to be the spontaneous outburst of this vast Convention at the name of Thomas A. Hendricks, I yield to the solicitations of the gentlemen of this Delegation and withdraw his name.

MR. SMITH M. WEED, of New York: Mr. President, while I believe

that every member in this body is in favor of the nomination of Thomas A. Hendricks, I ask that the roll may be called so that a record may be made, and that he may not be nominated with a hurrah, but that every man in this Convention cast his vote for that statesman of Indiana.

SENATOR WALLACE, of Pennsylvania: Mr. Chairman, in view of the objection to my motion from the gentleman from New York, I rise to withdraw my motion that the nomination of Mr. Hendricks be made by acclamation, and move that the nominations be now closed and that the roll be called.

THE CHAIR: Strictly speaking, perhaps, that motion would be out of order. By unanimous direction of the Convention the roll will be called. Unless there be objection the Chair will take it as the unanimous direction of the Convention.

The Clerk then commenced the call of the roll of States on the motion of Senator Wallace.

When Indiana was reached Mr. Menzies addressed the Chair.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman from Indiana.

MR. MENZIES: Mr. Chairman, the State of Indiana asks to be passed, as under the present circumstances it is not authorized to vote.

THE CHAIR: Indiana is passed.

The call proceeded.

At the end of the roll a Delegate asked the Clerk to call Indiana again. When that State was called Mr. Menzies arose and said:

MR. MENZIES: The State of Indiana asks to be excused.

THE CHAIR: Indiana is excused unless the Chair hears objection.

MR. WALTHALL, of Mississippi: The one vote cast for McDonald in Mississippi was cast by mistake, sir. The gentleman desires to change it.

MR. HARRINGTON, of Missouri: I move the State of Indiana be excused.

MR. MENZIES: I rise to an inquiry. Is Mr. McDonald's name before the Convention as a candidate for Vice-President?

THE CHAIR: His name is withdrawn and the State of Mississippi now asks leave to change her vote. Her entire eighteen votes are given for Hendricks.

MR. MENZIES: I understand, then, sir, there is but one name before the Convention.

THE CHAIR: That is all.

MR. MENZIES: Then the State of Indiana casts her thirty votes for Thomas A. Hendricks.

This, at 6.45 P. M, concluded the call of States, and then followed the scene of wild enthusiasm which is usual at the close of National political Conventions. The band struck up at first the "Star Spangled Banner," "Auld Lang Syne" was next played, and the members and galleries united in singing the words:

THE CHAIR: Let us finish our work in order. It has been conducted up to the point of nomination with as much order as any Convention of this kind. Let us finish like men. The gentleman from Missouri, Gen. Mansur, has the floor.

GEN. MANSUR: What I am about to do may not meet with the approval of the Indiana Delegation; but I will say that, with the knowledge and as I believe with the assent of its Chairman, I move you, sir, that this Convention raise a Committee of one gentleman from each State and Territory herein represented, to call upon the distinguished candidate that we have this hour nominated for Vice-President and invite him to come before us.

GEN. BRAGG, of Wisconsin: I rise to a point of order. A Committee for the notification of candidates has already been provided for.

THE CHAIR: The point of order is well taken. The Chair was about to make the same point.

GEN. MANSUR: I will withdraw it, because there seems to be some opposition among our Indiana friends.

THE CHAIR: The motion is withdrawn, if there is no objection. The vote has not formally been announced.

MR. KINNEY, of Tennessee: I believe a Committee has already been appointed —

THE CHAIR: Will the gentleman wait until the formal announcement of the vote?

MR. T. L. JONES, of Kentucky: Is there a motion before the House?

THE CHAIR: There is not. But the announcement of the vote is in order. The announcement of the vote is: Total votes cast, 816, of which Thomas A. Hendricks has received every one (four were absent from Illinois) and is declared the unanimous nominee of this party for the Vice-Presidency of the United States.

The Chair has a request to make of the Convention. He was ordered to appoint a Committee to send certain resolutions to the last Democratic President and the last and next to be Democratic Vice-President. The Chair asks leave of the Convention, not having had time yet to consider that, to have the liberty to put the names in afterward. The Chair hearing no objection, leave is granted. ^[18]

Mr. Smalley, of Vermont, offered the following resolution, which was read by the Secretary:

"Resolved, That the National Committee are hereby empowered and directed to fix the time and place for holding the next National Convention, and that the basis of representation therein be the same as fixed by this Convention."

The resolution was adopted.

THE SECRETARY: The gentleman from New York, Mr. E. K. Apgar, offers the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the thanks of this ConventiOn be tendered to the Hon. Richard B. Hubbard of Texas, its Temporary Chairman, and to the Hon. William F. Vilas, its Permanent Chairman, for the skill and fairness which they have brought to the discharge of their

duties and for the admirable conduct of the business of the Convention, so largely due to their efforts."

THE SECRETARY: The question is upon the adoption of the resolution —

A DELEGATE FROM KANSAS: I want to add an amendment.

THE SECRETARY: The gentleman from Kansas proposes an amendment.

THE DELEGATE FROM KANSAS: That the Secretary and Reading Clerk be included in the vote of compliment.

THE SECRETARY: Resolved, That the Secretary and Reading Clerk be included in the resolution.

MR. MCGILVRAY, of Colorado: Another amendment.

THE SECRETARY: What is the amendment?

MR. MCGILVRAY: And other officers of the Convention.

THE SECRETARY; And other officers of this Convention.

The amendment was then agreed to.

The resolution as amended was then adopted.

MR. JOHN D. HARRIS, of Virginia: I desire to offer this resolution.

THE SECRETARY; Mr. John D. Harris, of Virginia, offers the following.

"Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be and they are hereby tendered to the reportorial corps and press of the country for their fair and accurate reports of the proceedings of this Convention."

This resolution was adopted.

THE CHAIR: Now the Chair asks to make the only motion he has had the opportunity to make. The Chair asks to make a special motion of thanks on his own behalf to the Sergeant-at-Arms, Richard J. Bright, of Indiana, for the magnificent aid he has given both to the Chairman and to this Convention in his services for it. All in favor of it join the Chair in saying aye. It is unanimously carried.

MR. KINNEY, of West Virginia: I move that the thanks of this Convention be extended to the Hon. Carter H. Harrison, of Chicago, and to his Chief of Police for the efficient aid they have given this Convention.

MR. WALSH, of Georgia: In behalf of the Delegates of the

National Democratic Convention I move that the thanks of the Delegates here assembled be returned to the citizens of Chicago for their generous hospitality to the National Convention.

"Resolved, That the thanks of the National Democratic Convention be also tendered to the citizens of Chicago for the hospitality which they have so generously extended to the members of the Convention, to the National Democratic Committee and others in attendance as well as for the perfection of the arrangements made by them for the convenience of the Convention."

The resolution was adopted.

MR. P. W. MCKINNEY, of Virginia: I move that we do now adjourn.

THE CHAIR: It is moved that this Convention do now adjourn sine die.

The motion was adopted, and the Convention then adjourned sine die.

The following appendix contains the organization of the National Democratic Committee of 1884, and the report of the proceedings of the Committee on Notification, as furnished by Hon. Nicholas M. Bell, Secretary of that Committee, with the letters of acceptance of the candidates.

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