Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-07-10
SPEECH OF
MILLER PENNINGTON. ESQ.
At the Republican Convention held
at st. Clairsville, June Goth.

: political history of our country has the ssu
of Liberty and Slavery been so fairly mad
as now. Which shall be the controlling
element in our national character and legis
lation-on which side shall the inf1uenc
and patronage of our General Government
be exerted is with the voters of 1856 at th,
ballot-box to determine. Whether we our
selves shall be free and enjoy the rights o
Freemen; whether the Constitution of the
United States shall be maintained and the
Union of the States endure; whether the
self-evident truths of the Declaration of In
dependence, constituting the pillars upor
which rests the sublime victories anc
achievements of our Republican Fathers
shall be torn from their base and over.
thrown; whether labor shall be rewarded
and white labor protected against its deadly
enemy, slavery; whether the Government
shall be administered after the manner OF
those who framed it and put iE successful
and prosperous operation every department,
is for you and and every American citizen
to decide by our ballot-that peaceful and
powerful weapon to vindicate the Peoples
rights and Nations justice.
We stand to-day on the same platform
where stood the Patriots of l776 and the
Statesmen of 1887, and down for a period
of fifty years contending for the triumph of
the same great cause. We have no new
light, but come to remove the distractions,
so that the old light from the lamp of WASH
INGToN will again shine upon US. The
wheels OF Government have all been black
ened over with Slavery, and weakened with
the burthens Of Corruption. The Repub-
lican party is the only truly NATIONAL ONE,
that bears the "stars and stripes" of the
Republic upon its banner, and is loyal to
the Constitution and the Union. For he
that is false to Liberty is false to the Con-
stitution. He that is not pledged against
the extension of Slavery Is disloya to the
Union. And le that would add another
Slave State to this Confederacy cannot be
trusted to carry the fag of his country. We
have chosen leader and placed the banner
in his hands; we have inscribed upon that
banner our principles: The Declaration of
independence - The Constitution - The
Rights of the States, and the Preservation
Of the Union-Opposition to the Further
Extension of Slavery-Kansas with her
Free Constitutional Railroad to the Pacific
Improvement of Rivers and Harbors, and
Opposition to the Measures and Policy of
the present Democratic Party.
With these principles, and our banner in
the hands of such a man as JOHN c. FIRE.
MONT we "know we are right" and "ahead''
we will go, until we drive from place and
power the last remnant of the existing trem-
bling dynasty. We intend to naugurate
new era that will rejoice the friends of Free
Government and Civil Liberty throughout
the world. Ever mindful of our obligations
to the Constitution, we will admin ster the
Government so as TO afford equal protection
and equal privileges to every part and inter-
est of our whole country. The sssEcTIoN-
ALIsM" that has ruled for the last twenty
years, shall give way to broad "NATloNAL-
IsM'' and its twin sister "PATRIoTIsM.
We will sustain and vindicate Free Speech
and Free Press, and bring to condign pun
all who attempt to interfere with
the liberties of either. We intend that our
Government shall be one of Law and Order,
and protect the Life, Liberty, and the Pros
perty of its citizens, of whatever home or
kindred In short, we intend to bring the
Government back to the old fashioned ways
of National prosperity, and go by the old
landmarks planted in the blood of the Rev
oluton.
The construction of the Constitution for
fifty years of its history is our construction.
With that construction we can successfully
carry out every principle and measure de- {
ciared in our platform.
THE CONVENTION, ITS MEN AND CANDIDATES
AS you honored me with sea: in
the National Convention as one of its Dele
gates, it is my first duty to report to you
what you have doubtless all ready its pro-
ceedings.
Every Free State was fully represented,
with Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland Della
ware. Old Liberty men, Clay and Webster
Wings. Free Soilers. Jackson Democrats,
and those who had contributed largely to the
election of Franklin Pierce, were present .
upon that memoI able occasion, with willing =
hands and hearts to let the ''deaS past bury I
its Dead" and pledge to each other TO stand
by this cause and fight this battle of Liberty l
through. Men venerable for their wisdom
and their years--men who have been high :
in office, and never abused their trust--men
Of exalted worth and purity of character
men who have for long years stood as SEN ,
tinels upon the watch tower, warning US !
against the aggression of Slavery; were
present and gave encouragement and un- i
qualified approval to the doings of the Con. i
yention. The uppermost sentiment in every
mans heart and mind was, everything for the
cause; who can be our most successful
standard bearer! where is the man for the \
crisis! Such men always live in every age c
Of the world, and in the times of every Rev
olution.
JOHN MCLEAN, the enlightened Jurist, the /, ,
pure Patriot, the MADISON Democrat, who l
stood opposed to the Federalism of James !
Buchanan, and who stands pledged through !
out his long and useful life to this cause,
had many warm, earnest and devoted friends
in the Convention; men who did not feel
quite willing to yield up his claims to the q
consideration of others. But it was appar-
ent for some days before the setting of the |
Convention that another name was to be G
more prominent, and the overwhelming vote :
and the great unanimity with which it was $
received, proves that JOHN c. Fremont
is the man Tor the crisis; the man in whose ,
hands our cause is not only safe, but who will $
lead it honorably and triumphant'y TO vic u
tory. A man who has periled life to find
route to the great Pacific coast for f,
,L, h,paGt of civilizntiOn-w who has yritten 7