The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-06-03
SPEECH OF MR.. HOLT BEFORE THE
NATIONAL CONVENTION AT
BALTIMORE. 4e

Mr.. Mason of Va said he was instructed hy
the virginia delegation 10 to the Convention
that the Delegates from Virginia did not consider
the person sclected'as candidate for Vice Presi.
dent, oncwho, they could be assured would suprors
nose doctrines which were maintained by Virginia.
and that they could not therefore recommend his
support to their constiluents,-Ihe he Hon. gentleman
then proceeded to make some remarks deploring
the necessity ofthis statement explaining the reason
ot 1t aud requesting the favorable construction Of
The convention.
Mr.. HOLT of Kentucky, then rose and addressed
lhe Convention as fo.lows:---Alr. President. 1ho
gentleman who has Just taken his seat, has announ-
ced, us The organ OF The Virginia Del CATION, that
hey c"nnot nor their constituents acouiesce in
the nomination Jest made by this convertion, C R.
M. johnson Tor the Vice Presidency, and he ha.
placed that secession from the popular will here er
pressed, upon the gcound that this distinguished
citizen of the West, does uot support the republican
faith as understood by yifeiuia Sir, ] have heard
hls declaration with equal surprise and regret.--I
know not what constitutes repnbiicanism in the es.
tilnntiou OF Virginia, and The gentleman has not
thought proper TO inform us. But / do know scine-
thing OF The history aud character uf the illsiriOs.
patriot and hero, whose devotion to Democratic
principles has been so Unexpectedly and wantonly
assaed. Who is he If, Mr. President YOU could
at Tins moment transport yourself ito the far West"
you would find upon one of her green and SUNNY
Il personage whose plain and simple garb whose
frank aud cordial and unosten,atious bearing would
tell you that he had sprung from the people-,Sat
he still one of them aud that his heart in all its
recoectlons, It's hopes aud its sympathies, was ben.
ded with the fortunes of the toiling million. Bnt,
sir, his SCARED and shattered ane and Iimping gait
would tell, you, too, that the story of his life was
not confined to a mere recital of household hospit-
alities neighborhood charities. That story is no
legend of obscure or doubtful autheptcity--t fingers
not alone in the kindly bosoms of friends bur every
tongue in the republic give il utteranee, aud the
brightest pages your country history, have caught
ustre FROM its glowing record When the nation
was ugonzing and bleeding at every pore, when
war had desolaed with fire and sword your northern
frontier, and the best blood in the land had been
vainly split upon its plains, he left the warm halls Of
Congress for the bleak winds of ihs Canadas; and
Mfa "aa aBoa 10 Inn ne evy 'f @
dashed with his gallant volunteers to the of
bosities resolved TO perish retrieve the national
honor. With daring impeuosiy, he pursued and
overlook The my--threw himself, like "a ilun-
derbolt of war into the III ckos, ofthe fglt-found
hand to haud and eye TO eye with the Briton and
i his savage myrmidons-pourcd out his blood like
watcr--,riumphed and returned loaded with die
richest trophies of the campaign. Sir, HIS deeds
rely for recollection or blazonry upon musty re-
cords nor yet upon caucus or convention ad-
/
victorious baIe-they have written upon the hacked
and broken armor of this country's invaders. His
life has been of unntering, rwving devotion
to freedom and to the people. The people love
| hin, because he first loved them His popularity
rests upon 30 calculation of political chances. il
is not seated IN the arithmetic, but in the deep and
ardent affections of his country.
! Il is not intriguers, prcsidenmahcrs, nor the
sarched srutilng, branless arsocrats Of your villa
pcs tat rally around him. No Ii is the enlightened,
! liberal, lahorIng people whom he has served. IL
! is the meclancs--thc bold and hardy ycomanry,
who are their couniry's pride in peace lis bulwarks
| ~ war--mcn of the poughsl,are and the pruning
knife who amAthe late 8 panic which sprad dis
may and consternaon from end of the Union
to the other stood 6rm the seated hils,-s plnu-
tine ,hcr crops and haing the storm and the calm
rs cuunlly commissioned to bless them Men, sir
who were dependent for no banking facilities, who
drew upon no bearlless corporation, but upon the
God that made them, and they were answered in tie
sunshine aud The shower, Their fiocks spored in
beauty and in gladncss through their smiling nelds-
their haryests were rpened their grauaries filled
To these they looked for nurture,o protection, toI
the brooding Wings of the Almighty; and undefl
their shadow and amid the household idols that besscdI
their domestic hear,lis IN the pride and unsUllcsI
nobility of their nature. they vowed eternal hosil,|
iiv to- every kind Of tyranny that can Cypress thc
mind of man. Under the influence fthis high andI
holy resolve, the Bank win all ITS VAIN oil ihtrigues
and proiligacies, has gone to the wall, and peal
of popular triumph has been shouted at the polls
which will ring, trus with sckening agony in the
ears of proud usurpation for an age to come
i These arc the men, Mr., President, that have de-
manded and will sustain the nomination OF tht
DISTINGUISHED parsonage to whose character anc
patriotic daring, have just referred. His fame
ike that of our venerable Chief Magistrate, spread
every wherc--nlke in the wilderness and in the cHy
fn penetrating Into the far valleys, climbing to the
hill tops, and reaching in its kindling, anlma'lns
influences, every og-cabn beyond The mounta'ns
His brilliant and successful struggles against the foul
adul,erous union of church and state. have conse
craied his name to Immortality. The emacipate(