Volume 18 , Issue 29

National Republican Convention of 1872 Nominates Gen. Grant Unanimously

Looking back at Presidential Conventions of the 19th century, we find this mention of the National Republican Convention, on the second day, nominated Gen. Grant unanimously, with Henry Wilson for Vice President. This news item can be found on page 2, of the Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, dated 6 June 1872, Thursday. This was also the year that Victoria Claflin Woodhull was the first women nominated for president on the "Equal Rights Party," with Frederick Douglas as her Vice President.

Found on Newspapers.com

As to the National Republican Convention of 1872, and Pres. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the day opened clear and beautiful and the streets were unusually crowded. The session commenced at then o'clock, but the discussion of the resolutions would delay nominations until the afternoon. The friends of Henry Wilson were certain of his nomination as Vice president. Governor Hawley's withdrawal and the strong support of Pennsylvania having greatly encouraged them. On a platform, the committee sat nearly all night. It was believed there was a little difference on the tariff question. Wendell Phillips desired a plank inserted promising protection for capital and the fairest opportunities for labor, its ally.

Susan B. Anthony and other female champions were laboring hard to get a recognition of woman suffrage in the platform/ and the manufacturing interest were working hard for a protection plank. The withdrawal of ex-Gov. Pierrpont, of West Virginia, from his delegation on account of avowed hostility to Grant, and disappointment in finding that he would be nominated, created some talk but little excitement. Before the delegate left home he had expressed himself against Grant and for Greeley.

The delegates from eh Pacific States had a reunion the night before, attended by Senator Nye and others of note. Colonel Forney gave a dinner to the newspaper correspondents, and the Republican invisibles of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania opened the campaign with a grand rally. There were speeches by Governor Fairchild, of Wisconsin, and others.

The cannon would be fired when the nomination of President was announced, and the people were cautioned to have their windows raised to prevent the breaking of glass.

George Francis Train made himself conspicuous at the Continental constantly asserting that he would be the next president. The Virginia delegation, consisted of eleven white and eleven colored, divided the whites for Wilson, the colored for Colfax. Indiana was solid for Colfax. Massachusetts was solid for wilson. Ohio stood 40 strong for Wilson and 6 for Colfax. Kentucky and Iowa would go for Harian on the first ballot, but would change to Wilson. A National Convention of Irish Republicans would be held in Philadelphia on July 4th.

The night before, in the committee on resolutions, Col. Swann, of West Virginia, stated that he had been in the confederate service, and made a speech stating that he thought the time had now arrived when the government could afford to be magnanimous, and a plank should be inserted in the platform giving pensions to the widows and orphans of the confederate soldiers who fell in the war.

All the states were fully represented. Dakotah was allowed to cast two votes. The Utah delegates elected at Corrine were admitted. Emotion to admit both delegations from that territory as one set was ruled out on account of being Mormons.

Governor Parsons, of Alabama, offered a resolution asserting that "We ever desire the peace and welfare of all nations as the greatest earthly boons, and the cultivation of friendly relations with them on the principles of right, and we are willing to make all proper concessions to our cousins of Great Britain, who would find the people of the Untied States as firmly untied in the maintenance of our rights then as in 1776 and 1812, and would uphold the arm of the National government in asserting them."

Resolutions presented by the Union League were received, announcing adherence to the principles of the Republican party;, and that they found no principle in a so-called third party worthy of admiration and support. That all citizens, regardless of color, were entitled to the protection of the government. Congress urged to pass the Civil Rights bill, and should not adjourn until that was done. The national debt should be steadily reduced. The administration of Grant approved by the people. On motion the resolutions were entered on terminates of the convention.

Mr. Straubach, of Alabama, a German, proceeds to the platform. He said he addressed the convention as a naturalized citizen. None of the twenty delegates from Alabama were office holders. He spoke of the Ku Klux outrages in his county, giving illustrations. One man was burned for marrying a black woman. He considered it a matter of taste. He wished Grant to be nominated. Grant was the only man who had strength to keep down the Ku Klux. He spoke at length, having had his time extended. The audience got restless, and time was called several times. The gentleman was finally applauded off the platform, and the band played.

After everyone some, a motion was made to suspend the rules and proceed to ballot for president, and a vote was taken which resulted in great confusion. The chairman declared the motion lost. The following was the speech of Hon. Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, in nominating President Grant:

"Mr. Chairman, in the name of the Republican party of the Untied States, in the name of liberty and of loyalty, of Justice and law, in the interests of economy, good government, peace and the equal rights of all men, remembering with profound gratitude his glorious achievements on the field and his noble statesmanship as the chief magistrate of this nation, I nominate for president of the Untied States, for the second term, Ulysses S. Grant."
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