The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-06-28
Presidents Address.


General Ward of Georgia, on taking his
seat as President of the National Democratic
Convention addressed it as follows:
Gentlemen of the convention, The summons
to preside over your deliberations is as uncN
pcctcd as it is grateful to me. The distin.
gushcd gentleman who yesterday presided, the
connecting link between the past and thcprcs'
cnt, carried us back to That period in our hi.
tory when the Democratic party assembled to
rive into the hands Of its tavoritc son. its stan.
dard to 20 ior,l, to battle against II noble and
II gallant party. That party, with :hc issues
which then divided Us, have passed away.
Many of its leaders, one by one, have stolen
away 10 their silent Testing place, filled with
years and with honors, mourned by political
friends and political fots.
80 sleep the brave. aud sink to rest
With all their countries houprs bcst.
" hcn Spring. with icwy fingers cold,
Returns TO deck their baowcd mold,
She there shall find Il swcrter sod
Than Fancy's fee, have ever trod.
There Honor comes, pilgrim gray.
TO deck the mould that wraps their clay;
Aud Freedom for while repair
To dwell weeping hermit thcr'
Many Of that noble party who still snr'ivc
nrc with lis to-day. They are with u. IN our
deliberations, and they are prepared to g" forth
with us to do battle in behalf of the G. 5nStitu.
ton and the Union. Why, why, then. gentle
men of the convention, with this PARTY passed
away, and these issues settled, why ave ~
cnvironcd with difficulties and surrounded With
dangers before unknown Dw 'na is con
vuscd with factions Yhc one, rcgrcamt Ia
the Constitutions would build wal, around
our country, aud give home to he exile wl"
seeks these shores, only on corlti"n that lrc
renounce all the privileges which are dear to
frcemen; party Which. in the pride of power,
assumes to dictate to the consricnceS of men
and which woyH extend the right Of suffrage
only 10 these who bow before the same altar
with themselves; n party which will allow no
y,au 30 be fit TO serve the country, unless he
offer his prayers to the throne of grace in the
same form they may prescribe.
The other }aetion--morc dangerous only be
cause il is more numerous--has liberty cmbla.
zoned on its banners and deadly treason tester.
ing in its heart. 1t is engaged in an UDholy
crusade against tie Constitution which has ST.
long maintained its hold on the affections os
the people, in the fond hope that they may in
yolve in one common run all the glorious rccol-
lcctions of the past, and all our proud anticpa-
lions of the future. insignificant and con
emptiblc in itself, it is formidable only for its
tendency to unite with all other factions in
their opposition to n party which makes no
concessions, courts no alliances, asks no alilia-
tons.
From the shores Of the Pacific, from the
mountains Of the North, from the plains of the
South, from the valleys of the West, delegates
have come up to-day to present Il platform and
to select sandard-bcarcr in the great contest
against these factions. Let us then go forth
as Il band of brothers, hand in hand, to the
altar of orr country, and lay upon that altar
willing sacrifice our personal ASPIRATIONS our
sectional prejndiccs, and above and beyond all,
ourprvate friendship. Let our thoughts be
chastened by higher and purer sentiment
the love OF our country Let desire to ad-
vance our personal wishes be lost in the great
er duty of protecting the Constitution of our
country from the assaults Of its enemies
With an abiding confidence that the kind
ness which has summoned me to this place,
will bear with me in the performance Of its
duties; that that kindness will pardon the cr-
rors | must commit, and forgive what may
appear to them to be erroneous, and may real
ly be SO, | enter on the discharge Of that trust
to which you have summoned me.