The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-05-22
MR. cUsHING's SPEECH.

The following is the speech in full of Gen.
Cushing delivered to the delegates of the National
Democratic Convention, on its adjournment
"Gentlemen of the Convention: Allow me, be.
fore putting the question of adjournment, to ad-
dress to you parting word. desire, first, to say,
and in saying it to bear testimony to your con-
stituents and to the people of the whole United
States that considering the vastness Of the
bly,, the impartial interests involved in its debera-
tions aud the emotions thus naturally awakened
in your bosoms-considering all this, [ say, your
sessions have been distinguished by order, by free
dom from personalities, by decorum, and by the
observance of parliamentary law In competition
for the floor, in the zeal of gentlemen to promote
their respective opinions by motions objections
to motions, in the lasstude of the protracted sit
tings, occasions have occurred Of apparent, but
only apparent, confusion.
But there has been no real confusion No de-
Gberate violation of order AIN better able to
speak than any other person-to speak knowingly
on this point and to speak impartally; and | say
it with pride and pleasure as thing especially
proper for me to say from the chair. [ desire
further to say for and in behalf of myself, that
also know, by knowledge of my own heart and
conscience, that in the midst of circumstances
always arduous, and, in some respects, of peculiar
embarrassment, it has been my steady purpose and
constant endeavOr to discharge impartially the
duties of the chair. If in the execution of these
duties, it shall have happened to to address any
gentleman abruptly, or not to have duly recognized
him, l beg pardon of him and the convention
Finally, permit me to remind you, gentlemen Of
the Convention, that not merely the fortunes of
the great constitutional party, which you repre-
SENT but the fortunes of the Constitution ALSO are
at stake on the acts of this convention.
During period now of eighty four. years, we,
the States of this Union have been associated to-
gether in one form another for the objects of
domestic order and ign security We have
traversed, side by side in the of the Revo-
luton and other later wars, through peace and
war, through sunshine and storm. We have held
our way manfully on until We have to the
great republic. Shall we cease to be such? |
will not believe it! [ will not believe that the
noble work of our fathers is to be shattered into
fragments. This great republic to be but name!
A history of mi ghty people existing but
monumental ruin by the side of the pathway of
time!
| fondly trust that we shall continue to march
on forever, the hope Of nations well in the Old
World as in the New, like the bri ght orbs of the
frmanent which roll on without rest, because bound
FOR eternity-without haste, because predestned
for eternity-so may it be with the glorious
federation Of States pray you, therefore, gen.
tlemen, on your return to your constituents and to
the bosoms of your families, to take with you as
your guiding thought the sentiment of the Con
stituton and Union. With this, I cordially bid
you adieu until the period of our reassembling."