Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-17
SPEECH OF GUSrAvUs A. HENRY
OF TENNESSEE

In The National Constitutional onion Connection,
Aoy 10a, 1869.
Mr.. Henry. of Tennessee, came forward TO
add css he Convention:
Gentlemen of the C5nUe7tion:-This great body
having bestowed the compliment Of a nomi
nation upon our distinguished fellow citizen
Of Tennessee. il becomes a imperative duty,
as il Is u pleasure. FIR me. one of the citizens
of Tennessee. to return 10 this Convention
the profound thanks of that State for your
libeIaliIy and your generous support. We
thank you for the nomination conferred upon
John Bell upon the present occasion We
presented his name 10 the Union party of
the country, believing that he was sound,
constitutional and able. and that the country
could not, under any circumstances do bet
ter than TO elect him 10 the Presidential
chair. (Applause.)
/ huve watched the political career OF
John Bell since | WAS a boy. and not one
word has ever fallen from the lips of that dis
tinguisbrd man that did not look 10 the
glory and the honor and the character OF the
whole country. Take up the volume OF his
speeches and you will find that TO sectional
sentiments soil the SHEETS upon which those
speeches are printed. If you look TO his
views upOn the doctrine OF internal improve
ments, yoI will fiud that h. has always been
ready 10 advance the honor aud glory of the
country. without dimiDutOn either at the
North or the South, the East or the West
hi 'lif., has been devoted to the common veal
AID he common good of all America. You
have the guaranty in bis past history that
the administration Of John Bell, should he be
elected. will he pure, constitutional, economl-
cal. and patriotic.
They sometimes say Of John Bell that he is
slow and cautious [Applausr.1 That ven
Grated man who led our armies 10 victory IN
a. u ,t.,+- al
ways cautious. [Applause.l Caution, let
the tell yon. is the mother everywhere OF
freedom. Trust not him who is rash: but he
who is cautious has the helm of rraSon upon
his conduct, and will never err. Such man
is John Bell. ask you if lac is not fit rep
resentaiive for the party that have assem-
! El,U here? We are not Wings: we are not
| Democrats; we are not Americans or Oppo-
siiiUn men; but we are L Mon men, APP
pltuse.J A. for myself, l could have been
brought into this canvas under no other ban
ner. For as God Is my judge, / know no
| distinction between the people of Massacbu-
sets and Maine, and those of Tennessee and
Louisiana. [Applause.l L hold them as
brothers all; brothers everywhere. My only
| devotion l. to the union OF the States.
/ trust ! may bc pardoncd for talking a
| liitle hit about tire Union ferries of ''go on"
.'go Ou,' and applausel on account of the
! Revolutionary blood that flows in my veins.
"a voice here called Out-''iIe is d grand
! sou of Patrick Henry The Convention
| Immediately arose in their places and gave
! three cheers
| cannot fight under any banner upOn the
| earth than that which looks to the glory.
! and honor, and perpetuiiy of our glorious
| country "a one whole country. IAppiause
! | ought TO be excused, / say. for dwelling a
| little bit upon the union of these States.
! The revolutionary bl"od that beats aud
thr0bs in my veins would prevent me from
| hearing al,it any other banner. There is u
! cry that comes To me from The battle fields
If the Revolution. Ii cOmesl it Is ringing
in my ears! it is in the air that is around mel
it comes from the bloody field of GuilfOrd!
GApplause.l II is the cry OF my fathers
BlU,d that appeals TO me fIOm the ground;
the blood that Was shed upon the field oil
Guilford- to he true TO the Union. Zap
plause1 | intend to Obey that voice, and to
| respond to that sentiment.
SanIl we sit calmly by and see this glori-
Gus Union dissolved? (Never, never) Can
we stand by aud sre this glorious Govern
| mcnt torn down? (Never.l w lie the Dem
| ocrais-the disuniOn Democrats at the South,
| in the Gulf States-the dre-ea era, desire 10
| tear il down. and the AbOlitionistS of the
| North, too, desire to destroy it in like man.
ner. The charge is upon yen. upon me, upon
Us all, TO stand by the Union 10 the death
| Enthusiastic applause.)
What would be- the consequences of dis
| solution of This Union? May pain; them to
! YOU for mOmenig (CTies of 20 on, on J.
| The greatest the most glorious the most in
! dependent country upon the face OF the wide
earth. where man il hdppicst when he i,
! rrecst-ought we not to defend that country
with our blood and our live? I've will dc
! il, and applause0
Suppo-c this Union is dissolved, what then
[ flar nj "a
mel ghboring States, between brothers IpoI
one side of the line. and those upon the other
| Our Young South I'm men marry girls tina
| come from New England, New York and
| Pennsylyania.-Are their children TO he
brol gilt into the deadly conflict ui strife ant
the battle field of frdternal dscordg (NO
| uo) | have hut two brothers now alive
one Of them is here from the State OF Tennes
sae battling side by side with me for TIN
UniOn. "a Voice, Let him get up ON tn
sland.) The other lives in the State of Iowa
il the town of Burlington, upon the banks O
the Mississippi. Suppose that civil discor'
should ling throughout our broHd land. III
Iocsin of war Ice sounded. aud the sbrill hf
aud the spirit stirring drum should call ia
hosts Of our people to enter into an inferno
cine war, /, 20 be true to my section, mus
hight for and die by it.
My venerable brother in Iowa must DO tn
same for his section, and as the conHic
RACES and the storm of battle roars arouu'
us rs the lcaden shower of death is hailiB;
around us, ! may be brought IN conflict will
nv brother; | may bc C mpeil,d t0 battle m
blade in his blood, or To be hung as "a traffic
to the South. O! how horrible the idea;
must strike him down. or | must he hung
aud 10y the eternal God | would be hum
first. Applause. | would mount tn
scaffuld with as much joy as the bridegroom
mounts To the bridal chamber. before would
stain my hand aud arm in fraternal blood.
would pray Almighty God TO strike me biin'
II am nearly blind uow-bef,re my eye
sh II ever rest upon field OF BATH. rvC
with the blood OF brothers. | would pra,
God TO strike me dead before my ears -hal
ever hear The dread alarm, the heavy tread
OF military parade. marshaling the hosts il
such IA conflict iappiausr.l where broiher
dy e their hands in brothers blood.
We are Union people: shall We throw thi
! Union awayI How can we avoid the re
spoasibility of standing up 10 defend il
With what face could We meet the wonder
ing natiUns, If by spite aud h.te and bin,
ed councils, aud the blasted sway OF demz
gogues accuTsed, We throw away the riches
heritage that God ever gave to man, bio
our tair eScutcheon to all coming time, DE-
liver down our names to be aeeursrd, tea,
dcspOts that freedom Is but a dream, qncnc.
iIs fair light wherever il may dawn; aud bio
the lovers OF IN nkind despair! II such mus
be our eountry's ensiy doom. il ali h pride
her power. her childish hopes. our strips
our starr, orr heritage OF glory, and IN,
bright names We have taught our children &c
rcvere--if all mus, end Ia this, never 1t fr,,
man meet free man again, aud greet hin
with length OF years.
| ''An early tomb,
/ Wherein 10 escape the hiss AuG scern
| tlr ali mankind, ~vrs sure better uoom.''
Tear down your q ~; burn yonr Capitol
dl.miss oar navy; di>band your "A my; l..
| oar commerce. rot; oyerjurn ali yuur monu
,pruts. here la Baltimore and every " herr