The Great Convention

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Excerpt from The Great Convention: Description of the Convention of the People of Ohio, Held at Columbus, on the 21st and 22d February, 1840The proceedings of the Convention, on the important objects which formed the reasons of its convocation, will be read in another part of this sheet. To lay these before the reader has been an easy task and a pleasant. But how shall we describe the Convention itself? How portray the features of its moral countenance - the lineaments which imparted to him who looked upon the scene and its incidents, the tone, the temper and character of the whole? How transfer to paper the spirit, the pathos, the sentiment that moved upon the hearts of the multitude of patriot men assembled here on Saturday? It is a hopeless effort. Equally powerless is language to convey to the mind the full and perfect effect and bearing of the occasion and its developments, as is the pencil to delineate to the eye the spectacle of Niagara in its sublimity and grandeur. The reader will not discredit what we may say, nor yet will our narrative communicate to his mind the faith and the impression which resulted to one who "saw with his eye, and heard with his ear, and understood with his heart" the events of this imposing and unprecedented demonstration. One reads the speech of an eloquent orator - he embraces the thoughts - he comprehends the written words - and considerately speculates on their significance, but, how short does he come of the impression which was made on him who looked into the eye and listened to the voice - and imbibed the spirit of the speaker as he stood before him! - So, we can report to our readers the isolated or connected facts of this Convention - we can give them the outlines of a picture which they will examine and apprehend as far as it goes - but to fill it up - to present it in its moral proportions and give it its moral influence - is work for a limner of far higher powers than we. The mere external form, indeed, and physical constitution of this great congregation of freemen may be described, but the soul that stirred within it, and the energies that animated and moved it, will never be known and acknowledged save by him who was of it - who mingled in its action and partook of its living effusions of patriotism. These, in their varied expositions, as they came from the thoughtful countenance - the expressive eye - the impassioned speech - told of convictions, and fears, and hopes, and resolves, which the pen is impotent to depict, and which they alone can adequately reveal.We wish we could exhibit this vast assemblage to the eye of the distant reader, as we saw it, and especially, that we could enable him to appreciate it, in respect of its purposes, its aims and its determinations, as we appreciated it. He would, if like ourself he has felt alarmed for the interests and the welfare of his country, experience the satisfaction which we have felt. He would know that the people, the real people, are awake: and would, therefore, be encouraged in his hopes for their freedom and prosperity. He would see the indications of a spirit and a feeling pervading the universal mind, of a species and temper differing from aught that he has seen before since the Revolutionary Era. He would be convinced that, notwithstanding corruption in high places and official impurity in every grade of place, the heart of the country is sound as the mind of the country is aroused.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com