Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-03-21
sThe Saw.Log Mans" Speech

At THE PIrTsBURd REPUBLICAN, CONVENTION
At the Republican meeting. Julian Of
Ind, and ReemeIin Of .. (the latter late
from Germany) bore down quite severely
upon "SAM."
When Mr.. Julian took his seat, large,
we'll dressed person, with a long nose and
genuine Yankee countcnance, mounted the
stand, and su episode followed, unparalleled
in fun. He was excited, and bound to
make a speech but bis appearance and
gesticulation we're SO original that the
audience was convulsed with laughter. He
was introduced as "Hou. David Ripley, Of
New jersey, the Saw Log man."
When order was somewhat restored, Mr..
Ripley said he did not intend to speak to
this ere convention; be had been called
out two or three times, but wasn't goiu'
20 spenchifv. because be hadn't edication
enough. But when be heard the abuse Of
Know Nothings, he was bound to speak
eous, and he would speak eout. daughter
long and loud) Itell you, Mr.. President,
if it hadn't been for Know Nothingism,
you wouldn't had this ere Convention
tCries of "Iouder." A. Ripley was spea-
king at the top of bis voice all the time,
this call caused big burst Of laughter
I didn't come here to make speech, but |
guess I have little gumption. Meow I'll
tell yeou what we want TO do. It's all in
q nutshell. Sorhat We can get our Repu-
blican President elected, everybody, even
that gray.headed colored man there, will
be willing to take BY the hand Know
Nothings, Know Something's, or Know
Anythings! Qaughter)
As I said to Horace Greeley once, when
he was talkin' about these Know Moth.
ings-and he abused 'em putty awful, TOO
says I, "Friend Horace, have they done
any gcod!"
"Why, yes" says Horace.
swell, theu," says l, "tOuch 'em light
(more convulsions); but" says I, "Hor-
ace, if they do anything bad'-
i Voice: "Stick it to 'em!"'
Ripley: Yes, that's it !...Gentlemen, l
had the good fortune to be born in old
Connecticut, (laughtcr); amt she State?
But wanted to say something about the
Dutchman (ReemeliD) that talked down on
the Know Nothings so hard this after
noon. was good deal in his sitewation,
once. Meow, daughter at the deliberate
and emphatic "neow") here's brother Hall
of New York, he says, Give us your plat
form. Meow III give you my platform.
1t was made thirty years ago. My platform
1 would fight for till l hadn't anything to
fight with. My platform-thirty years
old, mind you-is, Hatred to Rum, Slavery
and the Devil! prolonged merriment.)
I have always stuck to that platform. It's
. good platform to swear by. When l
made it, 1 was working for fifty cents 4
day, but give something to them causes,
and when couldn't give cash l give work.
(spplause) / am a worker, | tell yeou. l
come here IS worker. l amt edicated,
nor got much larnin' but I generally know
what's what. I wouldn't have said any
thing. if my friend from Indiana hadn't
pitched into the K. Ms Meow, then, it
amt right to talk about folks that amt
here. They are of in Philadelphia, and
.plittin' up there, they say. Istand up to
defend Know Nothingism.
Gentlemen, moved once to New York,
and then 1 got down into the Jarsies. l
don't like to tell that, either, for man
once advertised for . hostler, and said he
didn't want man that had been to State
Prison, or the New Jarsey Legislature
tremendous laughter.) Meow, through
accident, got into the Jarsey Legislature,
(renewed lsaghter,) not because l wanted,
or because anybody thought I could get
there out I said to the people, says l, if
you ever want . man to run on ticket
when be is certain to be beaten, want to
be that man /! Oaughter.)
"Saw Log" then went on to tell how
such . state Of things came about, and the
folks asked him, "Well, Ripley, will you
live up to your word?"
"Yes, gentlemen, I will that" says I.
Friends, T jest wen. at 'em, and beat
Wings, Democrats, Rum, Slavery, the Pope,
and the Devil. Gmmense laughter.) But
tried to git clear, and offered 'em $lO0
bill to let mo of, but twas no 60. You've
heerd of the Camden & Amboy, I spose?
Wal, when I got down to Trenton, their
bill was up before the House. They had
three rooms with brandy and oysters and
sich like, and every member of the Legis-
lature was invited in, but David Ripley,
tho Saw Log man!
Mr.Ripley went on to relate the story of
Camden l. Amboy legislation. They abused
him pretty badly. One Of them charged
Vo,Ia> opl M