Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-03-26
5perfbra.
Speeches delivered before the Demo
cratic State Convention.
1l2RcH 4th, 1856.
GEORGE w. BREWER.

GEORGE w. BREWER.
Mr. President and gentlemen of the Con-
vention do not know that can say any
thing to add to the proceedings that would
brighten the prospects that now smile over
the party, or that would inspire in the bosoms
of that party more devotion to the principles
heretofore advocated by them, or around
which they now cluster with the resolution to
bear them aloft in triumph as in days gone
by, or to fall proudly with them on the field
of battle Sir, ennsylyania, before to-day,
has been the great battle field upon which
the battle of the Constitution of the country
has been fought. She has been the ground
upon which that Constitution has been vindi-
Gated, and upon which its purity and its wis
dom have been proclaimed and maintained by
her Democracy. In the approaching canvass,
it is not, Mr.. Chairman, simply contest of
aninor principles or measures, but that great
palladium of the country, the great ark of the
Union have been assailed, and it becomes the
proud duty of the Democracy of Pennsylva-
mia once more to rally around it and preserve
II from the hands of the assailant and the
dagger of the assassin. Applause No
man can have witnessed the deliberations, of
this body without pleasure and without pride !;
no one can have marked the spirit that has
animated It's members, or the results that
have crowned their deliberations, without
feelings of exultation but, sir, that sentiment
of qualification broadens, expands and swells
into a far nobler emotion when be looks over
Pennsylvania, the great keystone of the
Federal arch, and reflect that We after all
are mere handful of men, representing the
masses of Pennsylvania in the advocacy of
Mr. Buchanan and his measures.
I have been glad, sir, that it has been my
pleasure to listen to the dispatch that has been
read from New Jersey. 1t is indeed crafty
ing to see the States of this Union wheel into
line Sir, the battle to be fought next fall IS
not the battle of Pennsylvania it is the battle
of the Union, and the people of the Union
will form the army. with Mr.. Buchanan to
lead them to victory, and after victory is
achieved, with craftsmanship to guide the
scounsels of the nation, will be triumphant for
free institutions the world over. Applause.
The Know Nothings has been called the
Dark Lantern party; but think this term is
no longer appropriate They are no longer
the Dark Lantern party. Their lamp has
been extInguished, and their lantern has been
broken
Their numbers have fed
Their lanterns are dead,
And all but Sambo departed.
No, sir, we have nothing to fear from that
party. The great principles brought here
from the old world by our forefathers, who
were driven by tyranny to waste into an
Eden of joy and loveliness. Our forefathers,
driven here by > amy and intolerance, bleed
ing with many stripes, have planted those
stripes in glory upon our starry flag, and have
turned the dungeon to which they were ban
ished into temple where religion can find
cb ! a. fo4,- g
a common asylum. Applause.
Mr.. Chairman, while we are cheered by
the prospects for our party, which are as
bright as the sun which now Eliminates the
heavens, we should not forget that we have a
high and important duty to discharge to our
selves and our posterity. In our keeping,
sir, is that integrity-the most priceless in
heritance ever bequeathed to any people in
the world and it depends upon the union,
harmony, and vigor with which the Democ-
'racy of Pennsylvania shall move in a solid
column in the coming campaign, whether we
viii transmit this heritage to our posterity-
Its glory unsullied and It's honor unblotted
Let US be united, then. Feeling the import
'ance of this contest, let us be animated by
%patrlotism worthy of Pennsylvanians, worthy
OF the Union, and worthy of the man who is
70 leao our troops to victory. 1t becomes now
ne outy Vi ienhsylvanla, through her people
anu through the delegates that have been
seiec'eo 10 represent her at Cincinnati, to use
all means, TO exert every energy of the bodv
and faculty of the mind, to secure the nom;-
nation of Mr.. Buchanan-hm, who, in davs
gone by, has been the tower of strength
him whose geaius has thrown around his
country the halo of its brightest glory-him
whose history is the triumphs of the country
whose Integrity. whose elevated purpose,
whose unswerying patriotism are co-extensve
with the interests Of this great, mighty and
growing Republic. Great applause. Let
him be placed at the head of the Democratic
army-let him be made the bearer of that
glorious standard that has been carried trium-
iphantly by the Democracy through so many
dark days; let him whose plume has always
waved Ia the thickest of the battle and whose
Foiee has cheesed when the hour was darkest
--ses him be our leader, and it needs no