Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-08
SPEECH OF HON JOHN c. KuNKEL,

SPEECH OF HON JOHN C. KUNKEL.
The Americans of Dauphin county held
meeting in Harrisburg on the evening OF the
2Sth March, to ratfy the nominations of the
American Republican State Convention, at
which Hon. John G. Kunkel made 4 speech,
the substance OF which is given in the Telegraph,
follows -
Mr.. Kunkel said he did not come here to sub
nit to the nomination OF David Wilmot for
Governor, but he came to hail it-not to acqui-
esce in it as a necessity, but to rejoice at it
not to say to his fellow citizens that as we had
sent delegates to the nominating Convention
We were bound by the nomination there made,
but to say that in his judgement il was the
very best that could have been made, and in
every way fit to be made. David Wilmot was
the foremost man of his age, and of the age
Where in the history of Pennsylvania can
such spectacle be presented as the 18th Con-
grcssional district presents Six or eight
years ago that district gave SIX or eight thou
sand Democratic majority it now gives the
same majority the other way-a change in
single Congressional district of some fifteen
attributable to David Wilmot himself? Must
not the man who can thus WELD the popular
sentiment among his friends and neghbors be
true, sincere, faithful, able man How faith
fully has David Wilmot, ever since he introdu-
ced into Congress his proriso, extending the
Jcffersonian ordinance to the Territories
quired from Mexico, adhered to the noble
stand then taken? Others fell by the waysde,
and have had their rewards in places of honor
and trust fiom the Democratic party. But Of
fee and emolumcnt had no charms to win Da-
vid Wilmot from his principle. The highest
honors and rewards were within his reach, if
he had consented to abandon his fealfy toFree-
dom at the bidding of his party. But lie no.
bly, spurned them all, for right and truth and
justice, and in the hour of trial WAS
Faithful found among the faithles,
And faithful only he
Take him, as the record of his life shows
him, and he presents ga combination and
form indeed
"Where every god hath set his seal
To give the world assurance of man" Z"
Mr.. Kunkel said it was urged amongst A
mericans who had been Wings, against Mr.
Wilmot, that he had until recently been DEM
ocrat. 1t was true. But, said Nj. X, when
became an American l ceased to be n Whig
and ceased to inquire as to the antecedents of
any candidate offered for my support. So
would every true American.
But Mr.. Wilmot had been hostile to protec-
tion, and this was made great bug bear among
old Wings. 1t was true that Mr.. Wilmot had
differed from the Whig party on this question,
though he always conceded that the iron inter
est, as national interest, should receive the
fostering care of the government. But what
ever may have been the views of the 10Th Con-
gressional district in the past on that subject,
Mr.. n, knew that in the last Congress the rep
resentative of that district voted uniformly
with the friends Of protection.
But it was said again, Mr.. Wilmot was not
an American. Mr.. X. would not stand up and
urge the claims of David Wimot upon his A
mercan brethren if he did not think and kno,c
Mr.. Wilmot to be the advocate of their views
When the present Executive was nominated
by the American party, and was the candidate
of that party alone, David Wilmos and his dis.
trict gave him their tull, hearty and cordial
support, running up an unprecedented majori-
ty for him. However, the Convention which
nominated Mr.. Wilmot adopted platform of
principles, and Mr.. Wimot takes the nomina
tion as the representative of those principles.
Among the resolutions adopted is the follow
ing:
Resoired, That it is fraud upon our laws,
and traught with danger to our institutions, to
admit to a full participation ir their benefits,
any man who acknowledges foreign suprema-
cy, which he cannot conscientio usly and with
out mental reservation, abjure and forever re-
nounce whether that supremacy be civil or
spiritual.
That, said Mr.. X, is enough for me as an
American. 1t embraces the vital principle of
Americanism. Could such resolution be
passed IN Democratic convention7 The
voice OF its adoption would not die upon the
air before the right wing Of the Democratic