Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-06-01
MR.. STEVENSON'S ADDRESS.

! ~
The following is the address Of the
Hon. Hndrew &euenson, on taking the
chair as President Of the Democratic
Convention.
Gentlemen In accepting the Office
of presiding over the deliberations Of
this convention, | yield myself cheer
fully to your wlsh S; and ! beg you to
accept my grateful acknowledgements
for this distinguished mark Of your con-
fidence and favor; and especially .or the
kind and hatterlng manner III which it
has been done. / lake this chair with
out any pledges. All that can prom
Use will be an homes, effort tojuslhy the
choice which you have made upon this
occasion; but to make this effort sue
cesstul, must receive the cordial and
Kind cooperation Of every member OF
this body.
congratulate you, gentlemen, upon
the numbers and character OF this as
senbly; and rejoice, after the separa-
ton OF many years, to see so many OF
my cid political associates and friends
in the enjoyment of fine health and spir-
lis, and again in the arena, prepared to
do service, to the country. Applause.
The occasion which convenes the rep
resentatives of the Democracy of the
country, brings with it its own lmpor-
lance. We are here assembled to per-
form high and responsible du,y-one
deeply interesting not only 10 the friends
Of democratic principles, but 10 our
country and ourselves. We are upon
the eve of a grea, conflict between the
two contendlng political parties Of this
country; and ii may be contest, nor
for ourselves alone, but for future ages.
i[Applause.] The destiny of our coun-
j,ry-its peace, prosperity, and happi-
ness--may depend upon the approach
ing presidential election. Great APP
plause. Can there be any one who
but believes that this election ought,
and Was wisely designed by the Con-
s,i,ution, to rest alone in the people Of
America To secure the election, and
to guard against the evil of one by the
House Of Representatives, land the prob
ability ola minority President, conven-
tions have been looked to as the only
practicable mode of securing these bles-
sings to us and our posterity. Is there
any one who can believe that this duty
can be discharged properly except by
compromise and by .concession-by
mutual and united counsels7 Assem-
bled from every par: of this great con
( federacy, we come to discharge this
high and solemn duty to ourselves, our
country, and, | might say, our God.
Need then undertake to impress upon
! you the Importance and the responsible
lily of this duty, or to admonish you Of
the manner in which it ought TO be dis
charged | will, however, undertake
Il will venture to say one thing-that
we come here on the part ofthose whom
we represent to justify no private
friendship; no State pride; to indulge
in no personal or political an':pa'hles.
We come as brethren belonging TO the
same party in the country, to inter-
change freely our opinions and senti-
ments upon this important occasion; to
express the wishes and sentiments Of
those whom we represent, andto unite
in the great act ofselecting the indlyid-
ual most worthy to FL! the Executive
char. [Applaase.] We come to Sc
lect the man, above all others, who can
combine the greatest degree of strength
with the whole democracy Of The u
MON. We come toselect hat individ.
ual who understands best the principles
and the nature of our government and
free institutions, and who will admin
ister them in the true spirit Of the con-
lstitution, In accordance with those
broad cardinal democratic principles,
upon which alone the safety Of the de-
.mocracy and the prosperity Of the
country can repose. [Applause.]
/ Yes, gentlemen, invoke you by
every thing that can be dearto free
men, 10 maintain peace and harmony
united and harmonious counsels.
Let not your deliberations be threaten
ed, nor your councils divided. But let
the spirit of peace, harmony, and broth
erly affection shed its holy and blessed
influence around US: Animated by a
liberal and enlightened zeal, let US Sc,
an example TO our opponents, and
|piove ourselves worthy of our CAUSE,
our party, and ourselves. {Appiause.)
Gentlemen, The people of the country
expect this Of you; the peace and the
Happiness Of your country demand ii al
|iyour hands. fApplause.) We hare
but one object in vlew--,be good of a
common country; that country which
stands as mighty land mark on the