Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-16
REMARKS OF
HON. WASHINGTON HUNT,

President Of The National Constitutional Union
Contention, t0hen closing the Convention sine die
Gentlemen of the Convention, before we
separate, you must permit me to express to
you my sincere acknowledgements for the
aid, the courtesy, and the cooperation which
have received from every side, to sustain
me in the discharge of the arduous duties of
presiding officer of this Convention. The
spirit of harmony, the intuitive sense of order
and decorum which have prevailed here,
have made the duties of the Chair compare
lively light and easy. And l believe it may
be said that in the course of our deliberations
not u sentiment has been uttered which any
gentleman would wish to withdraw, and not
an unkind or uniriendly sllusion, not
speech has been made to disturb the harmo-
ny, the good will and the affection which has
animated this Convention in all its proceed
ings, from lis commencement down TO its
happy and glorious termination.
may go further, l say that in the discus
sion OF tue great principles involved in the
contest before us, in reviewing the crisis up
on the country, and the condition of our
public affairs, not q sentiment has been
uttered, not thought has been expressed
which might not have been listened 10 with
pleasure and approval, even by the father of
his country, if he were now here to give his
smiling benediction on the labors of the rep
resentatiYes assembled here.
This is indeed a memorable day in the his
tory OF our country. AT a season of discord
and strife, when the kidnly relations between
the States of our Republic have been dis
turbed, when the fountains Of national feel
ing have been poisoned and embittered, when
the people OF one part have been taught TO
regard the people of another section of the
country with aversion and pr, jadice and
jealousy, we have shown today that there is
still body of patriots in this hand, North
and South, who can still come together and
embrace each other hand to hand, and ex-
change the noblest affections of the heart,
and make, as you have made here to-day, re.
uewed VOWS ol fidelity to the Union and the
Constitution of your country-new vows for
preserving all those glorious institutions
which we have received from our ancestors
lAppiause.l
Gentlemen, Congratulate you. l congratu-
late the country, upon the auspciods termi-
nation of your labors. IL has gratiied me
beyond expression, and am sure you have
all participated in the pleasure, TO see gentle
men from different States OF the Union CON-
ing together TO interchange sentiments. TO
look each other fairly in the face, to assure
each other that we are, and still intend to be, |
one united, affectionate family OF freemen.
lApplause.l We have frightened the chain
OF uuion, and have given new guarantees by |
the action aud proceedings Of this body, for |
the perpetuiIy of our glorious institutions. |
How important IL is that the people of this |
country should better know aud understand |
each other; IL the men OF the North could |
see more OF the people of the South, If the |
men of the South could see more OF the peo- |
pie Of the North, we should soon be con- |
WINGED upon both sides that there neither IL, |
nor can be, an iFripressible conflic. between |
u. (Applanse.l
The proceedings of this convention will 60 /
forth as the raiabow Of pence and hope TO the /
and il will give assurance TO the /
and courage 10 the desponding. /
and all will know and feel from Ihis time /
forth that there Is = patriotic band extending /
IRON the hills Of Maine and the vallies OF /
New England to the Sayannshs Of Georgia /
and the extreme Of the Gulf OF Mexico, which /
will be found ready In every crisis and emer-
gency, where the souEsd OF danger Is heard. /
10 come forward and unite in = glorious /
Effort 10 preserve our Consultation aud /
uniou.
More than that gentlemen. yoa have not /
only seoxa that lheFe lie power 20 preserve
The Consultation and the Union Of The States /
- positive political relation between indie
pendent political communities, bas yoa have /
'hosa that the peace OF the Union, the good /
sill. The ifaiernai feelings which give TO The /
Unioa he essential and vital salae, shall BE
,herished and preserved. aad that ne will /
never consent TO lose sHy part of These gls-
Tioas privileges and sdssntsges which The /