At least sixty of them, till then unknown beyond their districts, were sent to Congress.

Many became governors of their States, and in other ways received marks of popular favor.

It was essentially a convention of the free States--undisguisedly sectional in the political nomenclature of the day.

The invitation was general, but, in the larger portion of the South, no one could be found who would risk his life by attending as a delegate.

Nevertheless, there were delegates present from the five slave States which bordered on the free States, besides a partial and irregular representation from Texas.
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.
The anti-slavery character of the assemblage was typified by the selection of David Wilmot for temporary chairman, and its conservative side by the choice of an old Webster Whig, in the person of George Ashmun of Massachusetts, for permanent president.