Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-08-16
RICHMOND WHIG.
THR UNION, TIE CONSTITUTION, AND
THE LAWS.
SPEECH OF THE
HON John J. CRlTTENDEN

men, and hope II may be So hat without tue iOial
OF introduction may venture TO address myself tC
you as one who is not altogether unknown in this city
Ii Is by urgent request ielowciJzens, that obrud'
myself on your attention this occasion. l do mol
seek opportunities Of speakDg-it has become rather
irksome aud although compelled TO observe the course
Of politics and take interest in them, it subject or
which have long since teen fully satisfied. am nc
orator. nor have any preensiOus TO advise you, but
have opinions that to conceal, aud when It i
the wish aud pleasure OF my countrymen TO hear me on
any subject Of public concern, 'l some difficulty III
refusing compliance. Il is in obedience TO such re-
quest that now appear before you for the purpose OF
addressing you a subject with which, am sure you
are already quite familiar.
Tee political Occurrences Of time have been OF
character strike deeply IN the public mind that
there scarce oLe unobs.rvant not to b. familiar
with them. fear that say IoLhing calculated e.
| ther TO interest or ins ruct you.
Felow-citizens great questions are nov pending aud
great events pend upon their issue. Presidential
election alwa involves TO nconsiderabe extent, the
tie public Welfare ard the progress Of our Government
and the importance of she struggle Increases in proper
tiOn TO the character Of the times aud the character Of
questions depending be fore the people at he moment
Perhaps there has been time past when questions Ct
Il more critical character depending Than those
which are now before the people You have before you
variety Of candidates unktOSn on any former occGs on
and these are, TO extent btough; before you by
the variety and interest Of the questions involved
have particularly at heart 20 make known TO You the
principles of this party which has recently sprung
into existence and which has placed before you its candi
dates for judgement aud electOnI mean Of cOuise
the Constitutional Union Party aud their candidates Bell
aud Everett (Cheers)
Fellow citizens il was high public necessity, great
eSigency in public affairs that forced this party into "a
islencc. Whst last winter the state Of our cOun
try Two great parties seemed TO occupy the Whok
country. There was no other Of sufficient importance
TO attract the least public attention Those parties weft
sweeping on in a fierce contention that involved everl
| ST on on ia or was
character OF the question, what the subject abOW
which those great parties marshaing their hosis
and preparing for great encounter in the approaching
Presidential election One Of those parties the De
mocratic, aud the other the Republican party. TIL,
| question debated before them was that most exciting O
all QueStons-ihe question OF slavery. This was con
dncted between them not with the temperance that marks
the discussion and settlement Of Ordinary political ques
tions but with the fCrcencSs Of enemies; aud the que;
ton involved merely the fate Of parties bu. the ai
OF the county-UU.on aud Dsuuion were involved il
the question. What good Cog!d possibly come OF such
contest There danger enough in Il, but no good
10 the country could be hoped for The party mus
necessarily be cOuquercr and the other be tramyleC
into the dust Victory to the one was prescription u
the other which threatened b. resistance and force Of
arms oppose the exercise Of tie pOwcis Of government
This tue prospect There thousands of men
everywhere who looked with concern aud, may say,
apprehension and awe, TO the result of such
What should they doy Tc join the other OF these
parties TO mngle in the conflict aud in the evil Th
only way stand forth like and form another
party; form parry for the county; 10 form party
that would stand bewccl these hostile parties
prevent far possible any collision between them
which might prove dangerous the country and if
could succeed If il shOd be scattered between
the opposing hosts Of seeonalim in their mighty
hct it would vet break the shock Of the encounter and
save the country. IL might be that the presence OF
such a party appearing in the field OF contcst-cam
patriotic with suitable and proper representatives. at it,
head-gould make such appeal 20 the sense aud pa
trotc feeling of the country would draw aside these
cOmbatantS- draw them to a patriotic standard and
unite them together and govern the country. This
the Olect and expectation. |. with these purpos
and upon these principles that this Union party spEang
into existence and took its place amid the Of the
parzaus. (Applause) lt took its stand between the
Democratic and Republican parties. What the basis
upon which il presented its,f: 1t no artif-
cil platform. IL With studied creed IL came
upon great aud high principle In this simple Ian.
guige it was expressed "The Constitution the Uuou
and the enforcement Of the LAWS" UImmense cheer
inG)
These are our principles. We want no platform to
eaptyae or eusuarc men. We appeal to them upon the
simple principles Of patriotism and of seliprcservlon
for their glory and the glory Of our land Applause y
These principles here are our purposes To
maintain the Constitution which fathers gave US 10
maintain the Union which existed anterior the Consti
tuition, aud which only confirmed aud slucf.d by
the COnstituon to enforce the laws Of our cOsnry
eryWhere. applause all can understand this. LISA
tiOns dubious resolutions ad captandum phrases
no creeds proclaimed bind the hearts aud blind the
judgments Of men but principles inherent in the gov
eTnment and common among al the peOple-''The Un-
iOn the Constitution and the Laws. Great applause
Here is ground broad enough for you all to stand up
on. We come With no old party feuds and accusations
We come a party-a party drawing It's strength
from the Constitution. Ii has sprung from the bosom o.
that necessity which seemed TO require and demand its
iuterpositon for the sake Of the country came with
l.
maker take its stand upon native land, and
TO mpore brethren Of all political parties cease that
desperate struggle in which they seem about TO engage
aud to spare their country. We came to make party
for the country There parties enough striving for
their own in nerest We wanted party TO strive for the
interests of the country aud the whole country Gap
plause) We nominated candidates. They before
You know their characters. Men Of tried integrity
men of age and experience; prIctised in the gov
efnment for long periods of their lives and in every
branch Oft-as Senator'S members Of the House of Rep
resenatives Ministers in the Cabinet foreign Minis
ters. In all these varied capacities, those two gentlemen
have oilciaed and where there two men in
try who have Of these trials with characters more
unblemished than theirs prolonged appause) Who
questions their integrity You have heard none makea
question Of t.
What is the language employed by the great parties
with respect to al the other candidatfs. will not re-
peat it. Their is hardly any term Of reproach spared
them These other gentlemen stand up in their solitary
| toned. Immense applause They come wi b the
Constitution in their hands They mporiag their
brethren forgive each other To lay aside their host
ities those fierce bros that alternating
tOu from section and from men. Let us join hands
and be one nation one great and happy nation. Ap-
| plause This is the appeal they make 10 the American
people For itself the party claims nothing but the char
acter Of a mediator entertaining aud chershing the
kindest and fraternal feeling towards ALL This is
the character in which it presents ITSELF have not
think overdrawn its features think our party and its
candidate deserves all have said Compare them with
the competitors that engaged in fierce contest
before you. IL Bel aud Everett succeed what is be
the consequence OF their administrations Does il Of
necessity bring together all pIrte,? How they be.
/ ing elected by from all parties, coming together
mighty host OF voters, bel saving their country
| Cheers. IL will be a triumph Of the country, not
triumph Of party. Applause Who have the Union
men to exercise any vengeance upouy Who have they
aecusedy Who have they denounced As individuals
they have their opinions and feelings with respect to all
passing public measures and to all present public men,
but as party they but yesterday brought into
existence by the countys exgences, and for the
| trys preservation. The come as peace-maker-as
mediator They have vengeance to wreak upon any
one Their victory and their triumph shall be the tri
umph aud security of all. Enthusiastic applause y
This is a victory worth winning In almost all victories
that are gained in civil conflicts there is much
to mourn as TO rejoice. II there is victor there
one conquered upon whom he treads aud our SYM
pahes are divided between the conqueror and the pros
trae Ours is victory free from all such taTnsh-
ing reflections IL is OF pure exultaton in our coun
| trvs triumph and in our couDtry's good. Cheers
Look at the other parties and see what must be the
consequences OF their victory Suppose the Republicans
succeed what then? Mr.. Lincoln may be very worthy,
upright and honest man. He married Kentucky girl,
and that is a wholesome influence. daughter and up
plause) am told he is a KeDtuckian himself which is
another sautary fact Mr.. Lincoln may be very hon