, 1860-10-05
From the Philadelphia Argus, Aug. Is.
Speech Of Hon. Isaac l. Stevens,


We take great pleasure in laying before
our readers the following brilliant and con,
vincing speech, delivered by Gov. Stevens
Chairman of the National Democratic Ex.
ecutiye Committee, in Washington, upon
the occasion of the sereuadc to the Hon
Daniel S. Dickinson, on the lst inst. We
had the pleasure Of listening to this able
speech as it fell from the lips of the i'm.
pressiVe speaker, and We regret our readers
we're not present on that occasion, in order
to appreciate its full force.
Upon introducing Governor Dickinson
to the assembled multitude, he said
Fellow-citizens Of the city Of Washing
tou-This is q most important occasion
an important crisis in the history Of our
cS0Rtry. AT this time l have q most
duty to perform. On the 18th
of July we heard the sound of the trumpet
from the city of New York that sound
reached the remotest limits Of this broad
confederacy-a sound so pure, so clear,
reaching to the skies, extending in every
direction, that it aroused the heart ofevery
citizen Of our land. But this voice, which
came to you through the press and on the
telegraph, you have here tonight That
voice has been heard in this city before, in
your congressional halls. 1t has been a
voice which, in every political crisis of our
country's history, has stood BY the equal
rights Of the sovereign States Of this
Union Without OBTAINING you any longer
from the great treat that is before you, /
now introduce to you that elear-headed
Democrat, that iron-souled, that warm
hearted patriot, Hon. Daniel s. Dickinson,
Of New York"
Three cheers were given for Governor
and three more for Mr.. Dickinson,
when the latter gentleman delivered an eft
fective speech. He was followed by q
number of other distinguished speakers.
The meeting was kept up until after mid
night, when, after repeated and continued
calls. Gov. Stevens stepped forward, and
said
Fellow-citizens of the city Of Washing
this late period Of the evening.
aud after the eloquent aud able speeches
which you have heard, IL would be most
impertinent on my part to do otherwise
than speak with the utmost brcvity. But,
desire to say few words
to you, Of hope and encouragement, and !
feel that in doing SO, speak not to you as
strangers, but speak to you as men that
l have known for long years. speak TO
American citizens, whose hearts throb with
the highest patriotic impulses, and whose
is Fixed and immutable to do
what each man can do for this country in
these times which try mems souls. 1t has
been well said by that most distinguished
and eloquent gentleman who frst addressed
you, (Gov. DickinsOn) that this is not a
time for the summer soldier or the sunshine
patriot. 1t is time for men who have to
face the storm, and who have the nerve
aud the forecast to see their way to VIC
tory through storm and battle and euVi-
roument Dire Yes, we will see our way
to victory. When we turn our eyes South
ward to Charleston; when the convention
met there in April, . scene was enacted
which should inspire the heart Of the lover
of his country to renewed exertion. There
we saw the spectacle Of a faction going
into the hall Of that convention, determin-
ed on the ruIe-or-ruin policy. We saw
there, by tricks unbecoming men repre-
senting the American people--we saw, by
tricks and chicanery most foul, that con-
vention 60 into the hands Of q minority
First, the unit rule, smuggled into the con-
VentiOu by chicanery-that unit rule which
tied up the hands of thirty delegates from
New York. of twelve delegates from Ohio,
Of nine delegates from Indiana, Of one del
egate from Vermont, and thereby adding
to the strength of the squatter hero some
twcnty-six votes. We find, moreover, a
platform Of principles enunciated by that
convention, its sole object being to fix a
platform upon which a certain distinguish.
cd gentleman could stand. say to you,
fellow-citizens, and l speak Of what think
/ knoW-I speak Of what l am most pro
foundly convinced of-a majority Of that
convention, aud large majority, were in
= l.