Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-05-29
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REMARKS OF EDWARD w. BELT, esq,
OF PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY.
In the Democratic State Contention, at Baltimore,
.4priI 3Oth, 1856.
Mr.. BELT having been called for address
ed the Convention as follows: 3
Mr.. President, and Gentlemen of the
Convention Il am deeply sensible of the
honor which is done me in calling me to my
feet, when there are present so many gen
tlemen more entitled to such a mark of your
consideration, as well by reason of their
greater ability to crafty you, as of their
age and long public services in the cause of
Democratic Republicanism. And although
I cannot well resist the call which has been
so persistently made upon me, beg you to
believe that it is with the EXTREMIST diff
dence that, even as a polite acknowledge
ment of your kindness, [ venture to say a
word in this Convention I have the hon
or to be only an humble spectator here, and
you viii, am sure, readily apprehended
my embarrassment in finding myself brought
forward so prominently in the midst of dis
tinguished gentlemen, who have grown grey
in the cause which l have but just espoused
an embarrassment which springs, not from
any unwillingness boldly to avow the prin-
ciples upon which [ stand, but from the
fear, lest from my peculiar position here, |
should make expressions or illusions impro-
per to be made in this presence. | feel, how
ever, that I may take some courage to say
what [ propose saying, after the eloquent
remark of the distintinguished gentleman
from Frederick, (Ex-Gov. Lowe,O who in
heartfelt language, has made such noble
allusion to the position and principles,
which, together with many gentlemen here,
recently had the honor to hold.
Mr.. President, am willing, ready, and
proud, under existing circumstances, to ac-
knowledge myself a Democrat, Applause,
and it only increases my satisfaction with
this avowal, to be able to add that [ am
Democrat by choice, by conviction, in obe-
dience to the clear direction of my judg
ment and conscience, and in conformity
with my desire to stand up to the South and
the country in this crisis, as every patriotic
man ought to do. Loud Applause.
[ was bred and born Henry Clay Wing.
Whig principles were innate with me, and
Wing opinions [ began to receive with my
earliest education. Every association of my
youth, every influence with which | was
brought in contact, contributed to fix me in
that political position, and to necessitate me
to believe, that next to Providential I'M juno
tions, the dogmas of Mr. Clay were neces-
sary qualifications for all patriots and honest
men. These influences made a great i'm
preston on my mind, Mr.. President, as
they did on the minds of many others now
around me; and it not only reconciles me to
my present position, but makes me proud of
it, and, confident of its rectitude, to find
that may freely make such an acknoHledg-
ment here, and that it will not only be toll
Grated but welcomed and respected by all
good Democrats. feel that | do no UNI
bragg to the feelings Of any right-minded
Democrat, when [ make reference to the
services of any great right-minded Whig.
Applause. 1t is refreshing for the De-
mocracy, in these evil days, to remember
that they were once opposed by manly,
chivalric, honorable and unconcealed party.
whose purposes were on their tongues, and
whose principles on their forehead [Ap-I
plause. And it is agreeable also, to recall
the memories of those eminent men who,
in opposing Democracy as it then was, did
not depart one inch from the strict line of
honor and patriotism who did not believe
that, in order to be good anti-D Democrats, it
was necessary to become midnight conspi-
rators. Applause. The memory of such
a man in these times, is like the voice of a
prophet speaking from better age; and
any allusion to such one to-day, is an al
lusion fit to be made, and that will be emf
nently welcome. Sir, the towers that are
highest, are those whose SUBMITS catch the
last illumination of the setting sun; and it
may well be said, that when the light of
National gratitude shall go down upon the
memories of the great and pure men of A
merica, its last rays will linger around the
invaluable legacy that is left to this people
in the splendid name Of Henry Clay, of
Kentucky. [Great Applause am thank
full for the evident approval with which this
sentiment is received, and I submit whether
it is not matter for unusual rejoicing among
I'll good men and true in this State of Ma