Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-05-25
Speech of Hon. Mr.. Hillard.

The President introduced to the Convention the
Hon. Mr.. Hillard, of Massachusetts,, who said
Mr.. President and gentlemen:-I have been asked
if or the delegation of Massachusetts are prepar-
ed to say wether Edward Everett will accept the
nomination which has been rendered to him SO
cordially and with such cheering unanmty.
l cannot and am not prepared to speak definitely
but all can say is that if my iustrious friend had
been here and seen your faces, and heard your
voices if he had felt the joyous tide of interest and
enthusiasm which his name had awakened, he must
be something more or less than human to hesitate a
moment [Applause.]
Massachusetts,, gentlemen, did have a faint hope
that the name of her lustrous son might stand first
upon the ticket but she here in the spirit of
generous patriotism prepared to sacrifice and re-
nounce, and when she found that majority of the
Convention preferred the equally llustrous son Of
Tennessee, she readily gave him her vote. APP
plause. and in doing so know she did that which
Mr.. Everett himself would have wished the dele
gates to do. ! know we'll that a more patriotic
heart does not beat in the breast of any on this
continent than that of Edward Everett. TProlong-
ed applause. And trust he will feel as we feel q
sentiment like that uttered by the Lady Macbeth,
when she said, "stand not upon the order of your
going, but CO. that is, go to the White House. Bell
and Everett, Everett and Bell, it matters not which,
so they both get there Roars of applause
Mr. President, hardly had we been seated in our
places when gentleman from one ofthe Southern
States came and looked into our pew with face OF
enquiry, end said he wanted 10 look at the Massa-
chusetts delegation. [Laughter.] He wanted to
see what manner ofmen we were-whether we had
the ysages, the lineaments the organs and the di-
mensions of manhood. Now for his sake, for the
sake of the ladies in the galleries am sorry that
the lot ofspeaking for Massachusetts, has lot fallen
upon more personable man than l. Laughter. I
Sparta if may parody the celebrated remark OF
Brassidas "has many comler man than l." Roars
of laughter But let me tell you that we are
men.
At this point number of boquets were thrown
to the Speaker from the ladies' galleries which
handed to him by the President amid loud cheer
ing.
Mr. Hillard Tresuming)-I hope this is not given
to me as a hint that am making too fowery a
speech Laughter,
Now, we know that Massachusetts processes to
have not only the thews and sinews of men, but
to have good honest, natonal patriotic hearts beat
ing in our breasts, and the pulse of a generous pa
triotism animatiug every vein.
We have stood for years Mr.. President, in a sort
of lonely outpost of the CONSTITUTIONAL State in
which, as you all know, there are many men and
many women ofextrems opinions for-apd | hope
the ladies will forgive me if | say it-one half OF
the mischief comes from the ladies', laughter who,
am sorry TO say are Republicans almost TO a man
! TRenewed laughter.1 We have stood there for
years. band of faithful, constitutional, conserva-
tive, Union men between the dizzy heights of anti
slavery fana,icsm on the one hand, and the deep
sea Of Democracy on the other, keeping that mar
row pass of fThermopyle of Constitutional doctrine
laughter and applause, aud we have kept il man
fully, and, gentlemen we have our reward. Ap-
plause.
The material atmosphere around me is not of the
most bracing kind, but the mountain wind with
health and strength aud power in It's wings. feel
1t in every pulse ofthis Frame Now remember, Mr..
President and gentlemen, that although there are
many in Massachusetts, of extreme opinions, yet
there are many who for the last few years have
taken little or no part in politcs-men who could
fnd no party that responded TO their convictions
and their sentiments men whohave abstained from
voting in many ca1es-conduct which certainly !
do not approve of, but you should also remember
that you not 10 judge Of the state Of feeling in
any place by the amount of expression that is given
| by it.
! You remember Mr.. Burke's celebrated image OF
the grasshoppers and the great cattle feeding in the
pastures the grasshoppers made all the noise, but
he would be greatly mistaken should he infer that
they were the principal inhabitants of the pasture
in which they dwell. Laughter Now, in BIassa-
ohusetts, we have great many political grasshop-
pers who make great deal Of noise for their size
but there is a reserve power Of right thinking and
right feeling in Massachusetts, that want nothing
but just such men as you have given them to-day
and just such principles you have put forth to.
day, TO wake them from their ethary into high and
active life. And rejoice behalf Of this part
the people Of Massachusetts,, the intelligence o.
Massachusetts, the thoughtfhlness Of Massachusetts,
the patriotism Of Massachusetts, that you have dis
carded that miserable doctrine Of availability ans