Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-07-23
ADDRESS.
Fellop Citisens:-

we proceed WIN pleas
ure to the discharge of the duty assigned
us, believing that the sober, good sense of
the people everywhere will approve of the
action of the Convention, both as regards
the platform adopted with entire unanimi-
ty, and the candidate presented, with a like
unanimity, for the suffrage of the public.
1t is a matter of common notoriety that
there we're some five or six candidates in
the field, all Of them self.nominated, and
each of them urging his claims to an cleo
ton with great zeal and perseverance; and
it is equally well known that no one of
these candidates enjoyed that degree of
public confidence (although some of them
are highly estimable men that would com.
mand any thing like a majority vote. In
this state of things men in all parts of the
Territory began to agitate the subject of a
Convention. 1t was hoped that by a con.
cert of action, n possible, or even probable
contingency, by which the election of a
candidate obnoxious to a majority of the
people, might be arrested. Some of the
candidates with the most p~raiseworthy
magnanimity offered 10 submit their claims
to the decision of II Territorial Convention.
Others refused in that way to submit to
the popular will, but on the other hand
nsed every effort in their power 10 oppose
the calling of a Convention, and to defeat
its objects after it had been called. They
succeeded so far as to prevent the sending
of delegates from several counties by va
rious pretenres and misrepresentation as
to the objects for which the Convention
was called. Nevertheless the delegates
assembled, not one of them being instruct.
ed or pledged to any particular measure,
but being left entirely untrammelled, TO
exercise their best judgment for the good
of the whole Territory. They came, inn
PEELED by no sectional feeling or personal
preference, bu, with the higher incentive
TO promote the interests of Nebraska and
all Nebraska; and when assembled they
adopted a series Of resolutions constituting
n platform as broad as our own beautiful
Territory. That platform is distinctly and
u~nequivocally Territorial and not sectional.
1t recognizes the equality of the people,
and the equal rights of each and every To-
cality. II makes no distinction among
men or among localities. And let us ask
fellow-ci,izens, what more would you have!
VIVA, less would you have' Are not the
people all equal, and entitled to enjoy the
same right and privilegesl Are not the
people sovereign in this Territory Who
is, if they are not! Whose rights are to
be respected if moi theirsl Who is to rule,
if not the people' The Convention plant
ed itself upon the broad ground of the
equality Of the people, and on this ground
We would stand or fall. We d~enounce
~sectionalism, and despise favoriteism, and
we ask again what more, what less, you
would have' II you approve the platform
will you not rally to the support of the
candidate who stands upon the platform
and who will carry out the doctrines of
which it is c~OmpOsed' Can you Oh the con-
trary support a self. nominated sectional
candidates We anticipate the answer
which your good sense, your patriotism,
and territorial pride NUS, dictate, and for