delegates-at-large from Illinois. Conger replied, that petitions against the right of the four delegates-at-large had been presented to the Convention and referred to the committee, and that it was therefore necessary for the committee to notice the subject. A Kansas delegate objected to including his state in the list of undisputed questions. Cessna amended his motion by allowing separate action on the Kansas case. Sharpe (New York) moved to amend Cessna's original motion by striking from the majority report so much of it, as related to the Illinois delegates-atlarge. Conger, referring to Logan, said, that he made no apology to that gentleman, or to the State of Illinois, or to this great body of people, for the moral courage of this committee, which enabled it to say to the world, that the gentleman was entitled to his seat. Cessna's amendment was then adopted without dissent. The question was then on Sharpe's amendment. Haywood (California) pointed out, that, if it should prevail, the seats of the Illinois delegates would be contested, while the committee proposed to put their title beyond question or dispute in history. It was modified, so as to strike from the majority report as much of it, as implied that there was any contest regarding the Illinois delegation-at-large, and adopted. Cessna's original motion was then adopted; and the Convention adjourned until seven P. M.

A BRILLIANT SCENE.

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pres

The Convention after re-assembling continued in session for several hours, during which the debates were confined exclusively to the contested cases, as reported by the majority of the Committee on Credentials. The applause was remarkable in its singular spontaneity and prolongation, when Blaine and Grant were mentioned by the speakers. The brilliancy of the scene during this session was remarkable. The unusual ence of ladies in bright colors, the thousands of gas-jets, the flowers, flags, and banners, and the portraits, surrounded by the National bunting, made a picture never to be forgotten by those, who witnessed it. In the contested cases, that of Alabama was first taken up. The question was on the substitution of the minority report for the majority. Boutwell (Massachusetts) offered the following:

Resolved, That all the cases of contested seats be decided by adopting the usage of each State, and that in every State, where the uniform usage has been to elect delegates to the National Republican Convention by the State Convention, that usage shall be deemed binding, and the same shall be true in respect of delegates, sent by Districts Conventions, where that has been the usage.

Conger rose to the point of order, that the resolution was not germane to the pending question; and the chair sustained the point. The question was put and decided viva voce in the negative. A division was demanded, and the re

sult was, yeas 306, nays 449. This announcement, which settled the question of the power of a State Convention to compel a delegate to vote as it directs, was received with loud applause. The report of the majority was then adopted.

The case of Illinois was then taken up. Logan said, that he was informed, that the California delegates were not awarded their credentials, until they had pledged themselves to support the candidate, for whom the State Convention instructed

them to vote. Haymond (California) replied: "California selected her delegates to this convention by the vote of each district represented here. Their appointment was confirmed by the State Convention; and that there should be no mistake about it, the State Convention had then, with perfect unanimity, instructed the delegates to vote first, last and all the time, for the distinguished Senator from Maine." His allusion to the "Senator from Maine," caused such a scene of excitement, as has rarely been witnessed in a political convention within the United States. Threefourths of the immense throng in the galleries and on the floor outside of the space allotted to delegates, and fully one-half of the delegates themselves, sprang to their feet, cheering, shouting, waving hats, handkerchiefs and umbrellas for several minutes, before any attempt at restoring order could be made. Subsequently, Conger continued the debate in favor of the majority report,

ENTHUSIASM RISING.

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which, he said, established in that Convention the rule, that had prevailed in Illinois from the birth of the Republican party down to the present time, the rule of District representation. Raum (Illinois) replied for the sitting delegates. Eliott Anthony spoke for the opposition, and was succeeded by Storrs (Illinois), the principal effect of whose speech was to cause wild bursts of applause for Blaine and Grant. The sentence, "Nominate James G. Blaine if you will," was the signal for another grand outburst of applause, which was renewed and intensified, when he finished the sentence thus: "And then those, who now shout in the galleries, shall by-and-by be reposing under the influence of the summer sun; but the followers of the grand old silent soldier will still be found, wide awake and watching by their camp-fires, and carrying the banners of the sluggards."

The scene, which followed, was one of wild enthusiasm; the uproar dying away, then breaking out again, many times. For half an hour this continued, before the chair made any effort to control the members. The Illinois cases were then settled in accordance with the majority report; and, worn out with excitement, the Convention adjourned to the following morning.

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CHAPTER XXX.

T

THE THUNDERS OF ORATORY,

HE weather changed its mood on the morning of the fourth day of the great battle; and those, who went to Exposition Hall had to face inclemency. Within the Hall, however, there was but little change. A distinguished editor thus described the closing scenes of the struggle over contested seats:

"President Hoar did not call the Convention to order until a quarter before twelve. The Kansas contest was the first business, and it was an embarrassing issue to both sides. The BlaineSherman men were compelled to vote out four of their men and to give their seats to Grant men, to justify their action in the Illinois case; and the Grant men had to vote against the admission of their own friends to maintain their consistency. The Blaine-Sherman men preserved their intention and voted out their own men; but some of the fiercest Grant men stood obstinately to their guns, and voted against the addition of four to their number. Logan rose, and in dramatic style cast the votes of his Illinois followers against his friends. The overwhelming vote of 476 to 184 showed, however, that separate District represen

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