The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-03-15
POLITICAL.
Speech Of Hon. James Pollock
AT THE
STATE CONVENTIONAL HARRISBURG.

NENTLEMEN, MEMBERS OF THIS CON-
vENTIoN Il thank you for the honor in
calling me to preside over your delibera-
tions. My only pledge is, l will endeavor
to discharge the duties of the position
with impartiality and fearlessness. We
have assembled upon day of glorious
memory-a day hallowed as the natal day
of him whose name is synonym of honor,
truth, and greatness; Applause j jus
tice, liberty, and right. In honoring his
memory, let US initiate his virtues, prac-
tice his precepts, and act out those noble
principles of truth and patriotism that
have made his name mperishable--his
name immortal. Prolonged applause.
Thus Influenced, We will be prepared to
enter upon the discharge of the duties of
this Convention in Il manner worthy Of
our cause and Of our Commonwealth. We
are, and are proud to be called, citizens of
Pennsylvania, 'but we cannot, will not,
forget that, in right of our American ma
tionality, We claim the higher and nobler
title Of American citizens. Applause.
Pennsylvania, true to every constitutional
and confederate duty, has ever been as
willing to recognize and maintain the
rights of her sister States as to defend
her own. True to all, she tolerates no
sentiment Of disunion. [Applause.l No
traitor dares in her Legislative halls, or
in her political conventions, even in
whisper to speak that odious, that damning
word. Other States may boast their trea-
son, and their traitors may send their
emissaries from capitol to capitol, charged
with the dire mission of hate and discoTd,
may attempt to sever and destroy the
home of the patriot-the worlds last hope
for freedom and human rights. Penn
sylvania, true to all, frowns down the
treason, and clings with al the fervor Of
her first love to the Union as it is. I'm
mense sensation and prolonged applause.] ]
We are here to-day, gentlemen, friends OF
the Union and of the States, [applause,l
advocates of law and order, pledged to
fulfil every legal obligation, every consti-
tutional requirement., and pledged to re-
sist every attempt-cOme from what quar-
ter it may-to prevent the due execution
of law or constitution, State or national.
T TApplause.1 We have no sympathy with
fanaticism, political or social, whether it
be in the form Of Northern Abolitionism
or Southern slavery propagandism we
have no sympathy with fanatics, whether
they be John Brown and his confederate
traitors in the prisons of Charlestown,
Virginia, or the plotters of disunion in the
legislative halls Of Charleston, South Car
olina. [Several voices-"Hurrah hur-
rah % Cheers and overwhelming APP
plause.1 We hold the rights Of the States
to be sovereign and sacred ; their institu-
tions are their own, political and local -
We claim no right to interfere with them
directly or indirectly. What we claim to
ourselves we yield to them, we yield to
all-freedom of speech and of the press,
and the right as free men to think, to
speak, and to act. If that be treason, let
the adherents of the present National Ad-
ministration make the most of it. Voices
-"Good good !' Profound sensation,
and increased applause Recognizing
freedom as inherent in our platform, our
principles have been misrepresented, our
integrity has been impugnea, our veraeiry