Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-09-28
Speech of Hon. Rufus Choate,
AT THE WING STATE CONVENTION

Reported for the Atlas by Henry Parkhurst
cannot suppose, Mr. President, notwhstand-
ing the great and overwhelming kindness of this
call, that it can really be the wish of the Con.
vention to hear from me, at least anything in the
nature of speech. Considering, certainly, how
little we have left, how much important business
remains for the Convention to do, and consider
ing most of all, how anxious you must all nat
uraly be to listen, rather than to me- TO those pub.
lie agents Of ours who honor US with their pres
ence to day, and who can speak so instructively
upon the great subjects of the hour; I at least
do not feel Mt liberty to dotain you at ALL Else
where, and at other moments, on other fields and
other days, may try to scatter the seeds OF u
few thoughts {; but not now, and not here
At the same time, Mr.. President, that respect.
fully decline to make n speech, admit very
strong desire to present myself for few mo.
ments to this Convention, (applause) in the char
actor of n witness, and not of an advocate. Sir,
| had the honor, by the favor of u portion of our
common constituency, to be a member of that
Philadelphia Convention; personally, perhaps,
and temporarily, panied and disappointed mem
Der aud yet rejoice at an opportunity, here
to day, testify and to declare upon my veraci-
ty, and my honor, that according to my best
knowledge, and to my utmost knowledge and be.
lief. no nomination was ever more fairly made,
Applause \ no nomination was ever made more
exactly in accordance with the usages of the
representatives of great parties like this in SINH
lar Conventions assembled.
No, fellow citizens, he that seeks pretext for
abandoning his friends, his flag, ard his nomn-
alton, must find another reason than the mode in
which that nomination was made. There is no
doubt at ALL that every gentleman who went in
10 that body, came there in the first place with
preference of his own. There is no doubt
that every one indicated his first preference by
his frsl vote. Some of us adhered to that first
vote ; and some of US again, upon more refcc.
ton, and more consideration, upon wider view,
exactly as was expected, and exactly as was in
tended when we we're sent there, exactly as q
convention of wise, honest and honorable men
is intended to do, changed that vote, and rallied
upon the nomination.
Here is the result before you 10 day. A fair
err nomination, in ell respects, sir or nomina-
ton more exactly IN accordance with the usages
of the party and the customs of the land, has
never yet been exenpfied since the organiz1-
ton of This government Sir, the truth of this
matter is that they who criticise the proceedings
Of that Convention, forget one great thing, that
never should be forgotten; and that is, that the
Philadelphia Convention, was, at last, essentially
ra,ifying convention; and that was all, sir
The people nominated Gen. Taylor long before
the sitting of the Phi adelphia Convention.
The people were beforehand with the politicians
in that great nomination. (ApplousaN And the
people are stronger than the politicians. IRE
newed cheering.) The summer soldiers and
sunshine patriots should remember that.
And, sir, it is not quite justice to The popular
judgment Of this country to say that long sue
cesson of triunphs. from Pala Alto to Resoca
de la Palma and Buena Vista, were the reasons
of his nomination. Those rlorics attracted The
nrhl;c attention n Con Tsylor ITnJonbtodly
that attention led to inonirv. and whnt wos tho
resnlt of thar inouirv > JTbot no had hoo, oil
his life lonr Whir in his ronorol onip;ons and
in his nrivo,o and social connec,;ops. no had
been nj his lifc lone rivipr HE you,h HE man.
hood and his apnro9ching AFRO n his countrv
serv;nr far veors in tho ca,nn ,nodostly Va, con'
snicuonsv y,ncorruntible MS Fobius ar i,incinnn-
tns n man Of strong. deem, sound common sense.
with , clear head and n large heart and sir
The nre,t heart IF he nconie ,ns,nctivciv and
mngnetinsIIv cleoved TO him nnon tbat,d, scoverv
The FREQ press overvwbnrc tool, him nm CON.
ven,ons in the Free states ovorvwbore bronrbt
him forward. Public sentiment bernn TO rallv
in his behalf. and 7 onnenl m every man bore
nrason, if tho members IF tho pL;Iad,lnh;a Con.
vention were not surrounded. Generated bnthed
in n nuhlic opinion which came we know not
whence, which we conld NOT rosst which M
man in the Convention no party and no State
could resist Witness Vermont md Mime to-
day. Immense checrnr)
Yes sir it vas nomination bv the peopIe.
and it only emains now to be seen. whether the
people of America are equal to that great func
ton for which republican people have ever
been supposed to be qualilied-to designate their
own Chief Magistrate: and whether thew are
able, after they have sicnitied their will, to have
it carried into effect.
Let me say, then, Mr.. President, in the next
place, still coninng myself to the PHILADELPHIA
Convention, one word more of its general char
acter, in reply to another observation in regard
to it, They say we did not put forth platform
of our doctrines we did not put forth a Wing
creed. That is an objection here, and there.
and everyW here urged against the action of that
Convention; and, Mr.. President, and gentlemen
the Wings of Massachusetts. ask
you if it would not have been supremey and su.
periluousy foolish for us to have taken time to
have laid down platform? Why Mr.. Presi-
dent, the grand outline of the platform and creed
Of the Wings, was as well known that day we
assembled in Philadelphia, as the Allegheny
or the Mississippi river, or as the Lake
Superior, to the people of this country
Interrupted by call to go to the Common,
as there were thousands outside who could not
get in. AS Mr. Choate was in such feeble health
that he could not address an audience in the
open air, the Convention remained in the hall.
and Mr. Choate procecdcd:l
| was hnvin0 tho honor to eav NJ D,os;Jo,.