OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT. HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE, At a session of the National Executive Committee, this day held, it was "Resolved, That Messrs. Ely, Burnham and Bartlett, Official Reporters "of the Courts of Chicago, be hereby appointed the Official Reporters of the "proceedings of the National Union Republican Convention, to be held at "the City of Chicago on Wednesday, the 20th day of May, at 12 M., for the "purpose of nominating candidates for the offices of President and Vice"President of the United States." MARCUS L. WARD, OF NEW JERSEY, Chairman. JNO. D. DEFREES, OF INDIANA, Secretary. UNI JK2353 1868-80 NATIONAL UNION REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. WEDNESDAY, May 20, 1868. The National Union Republican Convention, to nominate candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, assembled in Crosby's Opera House, Chicago, Illinois, at 12 M., in response to the following call: NATIONAL UNION REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. The undersigned, constituting the National Committee designated by the Convention held at Baltimore on the 7th of June, 1864, do appoint that a Convention of the Union Republican party be held at the City of Chicago, on Wednesday, the 20th day of May next, at 12 o'clock M., for the purpose of nominating candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States. Each State in the United States is authorized to be represented in said Convention by a number of delegates equal to twice the number of Senators and Representatives to which each State is entitled in the National Congress. We invite the co-operation of all citizens who rejoice that our great civil war has happily terminated in the discomfiture of rebellion; who would hold fast the unity and integrity of the Republic, and maintain its paramount right to defend to the utmost its existence, whether imperiled by a secret conspiracy or armed force; of an economical administration of the public expenditures; of the complete extirpation of the principles and policy of slavery, and of the speedy re-organization of those States whose governments were destroyed by the rebellion, and the permanent restoration to their proper practical relations with the United States, in accordance with the true principles of a republican government. MARCUS L. WARD, of New Jersey, JNO. D. DEFREES, of Indiana, Secretary. J. B. CLARK, New Hampshire. S. A. PURVIANCE, Pennsylvania. D. B. STUBBS, Iowa. H. C. HOFFMAN, Maryland. THOS. G. TURNER, Rhode Island. Chairman. S. F. HERSEY, Maine. H. H. STARKWEATHER, Connecticut. D. R. GOODLOE, North Carolina. J. P. CHAFFEE, Colorado. CONVENTION CALLED TO ORDER. Gov. MARCUS L. WARD, of New Jersey, Chairman of the National Executive Committee, called the Convention to order at the prescribed hour, and spoke as follows: DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE UNION REPUBLICAN PARTY-You have assembled at the call of the National Convention to nominate its standard-bearer for the ensuing campaign; to declare your unswerving attachment to union and liberty; and to pledge that you will take no step backward in the work of reconstructing the rebel States and re-establishing the Union. [Applause.] You are here to bear witness that the war, so gallantly and so gloriously waged for the life of the nation, was not a failure. You are here to point to a Republic boundless in extent and resources, guarded and protected by one common flag, and upheld by a patriotic and loyal people. [Applause.] An emancipated race has been lifted from the debasement of slavery, and, to-day, with the Union men of the South, re-organizes, in the name of liberty, the Governments and institutions of the rebellious States. The history of the Republican party is a record of the true progress of the nation. It has successively met and conquered all those hostile parties represented by the effete ideas and perishing institutions of the past, and it must now determine to vindicate anew its measures and its policy, by the wisdom and courage which plan, and the determination and labor which organize, victory. In this spirit you are here assembled to perform the responsible duties assigned you, and I doubt not your action will meet the approval of the vast constituency you represent. The nation understands that neither armed treason nor political treachery can arrest the triumph of our cause and the success of our candidates. [Great applause, and display of national flags.] If, as indicated by the unanimity of feeling which prevails, you shall designate as our leader the great captain of the age [great applause], whose brilliant achievements in the field have been equaled by his wisdom in the Cabinet [applause], the nation will greet it as the precursor of victory to our cause and of peace to the Republic. [Loud applause.] Bishop Simpson will offer prayer. PRAYER. MATTHEW SIMPSON, D. D., then offered the following prayer: Oh, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Thou art the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and Thy hands have formed the heavens. We praise The for all Thy mercies Thou hast conferred upon us as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. While we deplore our manifold sins, we bless Thee for life and for reason, for a glorious revelation, the gift of Thy Son, our Saviour, and for the hope of a blissful immortality. As a nation, we praise Thee for the goodly heritage which Thou hast given us-so vast in extent, so immense in its resources. We praise Thee for the deeds to which Thou didst inspire our fathers, and the precious memories which they have left to us. We thank Thee for the institutions with which our land has been blessed-for our civil and religious liberties. We thank Thee for the right to meet and deliberate; we bless Thee for the freedom which breathes through all classes of society, and especially we praise Thee, Oh, our Father and our God, that in the midst of all our trials Thou hast ever been with our nation. Though we have been chastised because of our sins, and we would humble us in Thy presence because of our sins, yet we bless Thee that, whilst Thou hast chastised, Thou hast also poured blessings upon us. While we remember that multiplied thousands have recently fallen in the fierce struggles which have been in our land, we bless Thee that the storm-cloud has passed away; that the voice of battle has been hushed; that peace has been restored to our borders again; and, notwithstanding all our trials, we bless Thy holy name, that Thou hast made us, as we believe, stronger and firmer than ever before. As the tree is strengthened by the storms of winter, and prepared for the verdure of coming spring and summer, so we trust Thou hast prepared our nation, by the trials through which we have passed, for the glorious future into which we are about to enter. We ask Thee that Thy blessing still be with us, as a nation. Bless, we pray Thee, all our rulers. May Thy benediction rest upon the President of the United States, and upon all associated with him in authority, upon the Senate and House of Representatives, upon the officers of our army and navy, and upon the Governors and Legislators of our various Commonwealths, and upon all those who are in authority in all the departments of our Government. Be in them a spirit of wisdom. Be in them a spirit of grace-May they rule with a view to the prosperity of the nation and an eye to Thy glory. And as it is in Thy hand alone to raise up and to perpetuate kingdoms, we pray that this, our nation, may be ever precious in Thy sight. Our Father and our God, we acknowledge that we are ever in Thy hand; that all plans without Thee are futile, and all arrangements without Thee are vain. And now, upon this Assembly, convened from all parts of the Union, may Thy special blessing rest. Have them in Thy holy keeping. May the spirit of harmony and wisdom prevail in their councils, and may such results be reached as Thou shalt approve, and as shall lead to the prosperity and the perpetuity and the glory of our beloved land. Almighty God, we beseech Thee so to direct all events that may happen, that the greatest possible good may be worked out. We do thank Thee that Thou rulest in all nations and in all agencies, and in all perils, and though there may be night for a season the light cometh in the morning; though there may be the storms of winter, there shall succeed the sweetness of the breath of spring; though there may sometimes be clouds which in our view seem dark, and lowering, and gloomy, it is in Thy hand to cause all to pass away as the mists of the morning and the clear light again to shine. God of our fathers, be with us, their sons, as Thou wast with them. May Thy benediction be upon all parts of the country here represented; and when these citizens shall return to their homes, may they find every interest in peace and in prosperity. We thank Thee that here all parts of our nation are represented. We thank Thee that the North meets with the South, and the East meets with the West. We thank Thee that citizens of all classes and pursuits are here convened. We bless Thee that freedom has diffused its healthful influences over the land, and that the States so lately in rebellion are being successfully reconstructed in peace and prosperity. Hasten the work so gloriously commenced; may there be nothing that shall mar its progress. And, Oh, hasten the moment when all parts of our land shall be firmly and intimately, and fraternally, and perpetually bound together in one common bond of union, and this dear land of ours shall be, as we believe Thou hast designed it to be, a light to all the nations of the earth that shall throw its rays across the Atlantic to Europe, and across the Pacific to Asia, until the dark places of Africa shall have been made glad and the islands of the sea take up the song of praise, and a human brotherhood shall be formed vast as the globe on which we well, and sentiments of love, and duty, and adoration shall inspire our common humanity, and prepare it for the glorious assemblage that shall one day convene before the throne of God. Hear us while we would unite in praying, as Thou hast taught us, saying: Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. ELECTION OF TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN. CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE [MR. WARD, of New Jersey,]By direction of the National Committee, I nominate Carl Schurz, of Missouri, as temporary chairman of this Convention. [Repeated cheers.] As many of you as favor the adoption of this nomination will say "aye." The nomination unanimously prevailed. CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE-I will designate Mr. Tremain, of New York, and Mr. Thompson, of Indiana, to wait upon General Schurz and conduct that gentleman to the chair. On being conducted to the chair, Mr. Schurz was received with great enthusiasm, and was presented to the Convention by the Chairman of the National Committee. ADDRESS BY GEN. SCHURZ. MR. SCHURZ, of Missouri-Gentlemen of the Convention-It is difficult for me to express how highly I appreciate the honor you have conferred upon me by this nomination. You will permit me to offer you my sincerest thanks. This is the fourth National Convention of the Republican party. The short career of this party has been marked by events to which coming generations will point with pride, admiration and gratitude. The Republican party was born a giant. [Applause.] In its very infancy it grappled with the prejudice of race, which, until then, seemed to be omnipotent with the masses of the American people. Our second onset broke through it, and |