Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-14

ed. that he dare not show his face In single South
ern State, nor in the State in which he was born.
rApplause.1 Mr.. O'ConneP proceeded to speak with
emphasis the importance of the electoral vote OF
New York. as being capable of outbaancing the
vote for Lincoln and declared that event of the tr
umph of the Republican party in the pending cleo
ton in Pennsylvania, the Union party should IN
stead of encouragement further incentives TO exer-
Gentlemen, this is the state of things-thls Is the
case before US. a great and free and prosperous |
and united country is threatened with civil war and
dissolution. This is not matter of suspicion or |
opinion as to the objects of the Black Republican |
Party; it IS hreaend most dstintly by the plain dec
aratOns and ayowed designs of their candidates and
stump orators, and particularly by those OF the great
mouth piece. VIM. II. Seward. (Applause.l Now,
gentlemen this is the condition of things. And l
ask you to rise in your strengthto putyour should
er TO the wheel, and by united a vigorous effort to
defeat the attempt which is being made to convert
the great State OF New York into an instrument Tor
the elevation to power OF the man VINO has these
objects in view. This is the question which you are
to decide There can be no hesitation in pPonOunc-
ing that the issue is have stated it, and you are
called upon to say whether it be in your power, or
whether. such means are presented to you as will
enable YOU TO save the best interests of the country
from destruction. Now, gentlemen, the Union-lov
ing masses of New York united. | think that
the majority of the people of this State deter
mined TO accomplish the defeat OF Lincoln and the
overthrow of its candidates [appause.l And gen
temen will state to you why it is plain, short
easy matter of calculation. The menaced position
of vour country is that which is composed of your
Southern States Now these Southern States have
I2O electoral votes. In your Southern College, each
one of these votes will certainly be given against
Abraham Lincoln Just certainly as the sun will
rise on the day OF the delivery of your votes in the
public urn. You have then these l20 votes against
them and the State OF New York should withhold
her votes from the Republican party. Though she
should cast them into the bottom of the Atlantic
ocean, Abraham Lincoln cannot be President of the
United States. loud applause Thereafter, gen.
tlemen, though every other State OF all the North
and all the West and all the East should be fOrgetful
of its duty to the Union and should be forgetful
of this land it has been well denomInated treason
able) Republican party, and prove Peereant TO its
dIty to the Union. New York holds in her hands
the key the public safety, and she alone
the Union. [Applause.l They had to bring together
the most opposing elements. They men actively
engaged in lifes pursuits, and had their friends
and partialites to crafty. and you might well
suppose that they had most arduous task, and
that in bringing matters to consummation they
would often be obliged settle by the arbitrary vote
of majority whether A. B. should go the ticket
and whether c. d. 90 off But tell you this that
so pure and holy was the Office in which they were
employed, that weak and human they
liable to err liable to passion, liable to Partially,
like other men-yet, holy, sanctfying in its
operation upon their minds was the sacred cause in
which they engaged, that all their delibera-
tions, all questions kbetOre them, great and small
ended in uniCn. A unanimous vote alfred every
measure which they adopted Their final action re-
suited in the report presented you this evening to
which is promised your unanimous approval. Now
gentlemen, | recognize in this mastery of events
over the passions of men, in this perfect cOmbina-
ton and harmony for the purpose in view, the gov
eminent of. an oyerruling Providence-that Provi
dence which has heretofore protected this Union
from all dangers and will trust preserve it to the
end. TAppause.l \ word or two more, gentlemen
and shall have done. have claimed that the State
ofNew York alone can accomplish this object We
have the best evidence that the State of New York
WILL by the union of all the opponents of Black Re-
pubcanism effect the object of saving this Union
from the evils which threatening it. Let me
for a moment call your attention to an event some
time past which will show the reason why we should
confidently entertain this opinion. The American
arms were raised to the highest pitch of glory by
the conquest of the vast Empire of Montezuma,
effected with a small army not exceeding ten thou
sand men, under the command of Winfield Scott. the
greatest living General Of the age. Applause When
that gallant old hero returned, wearing the laurels
awarded for his triumph over this great State-con-
quered with such very limited means-the whole
nation bowed down in homage to his military talents
and heroic patriotism; one of our political parties
nominated the hero for the Presidency of the United
States No nObler character, no ADLER and more
eminent man could have been selected. He stood
before clothed with such attractions to the Amer
lean heart with such claims upon the patriotism of
the people, that he seemed candidate almost irwin
chile Now gentlemen, at that day-nO matter
whether it was true or false-l will assume it
was false and total mistake. But no matter
it was publshed-Yas first whispered and then
published louder and louder, until it took pos
session OF the public mind in this City and
State, that that great hero was not yersed
in civil affairs and subject, In some degree to
the influence OF the Black Republican leader-Wm.
H. Seward As result of that opinion. the people
of the great and patriotic city of New York assem-
bled a meeting at Castle Garden, to which my hon
ored friend Mr. Gerard has alluded, and notwith-
standing the high claims Of Winfield Scott to the
support of the American people. his election was
denounced dangerous to the Union. merely be-
cause il was feared that Vim. II. Seward. the or
gan of RepuJliCanism. might influence over
him New York, l might say with tears in her eyes,
condemned him. and throughout the length and
breadth of this land that opinion fatal to The
destiny Of Winfield Scott a candidate He had
scarcely any votes-Ony three four States voting
for him. Thus New York acted ten years ago
What has New York now presented to her consider
alton? Surely far more dangerous state of things.
Black RepubliCanism is ten times ram
pant than at that time; ii is not merely suspected
but it is roundly avOwed that it designs to crush
the Southern States and trample upon their honor
and their dearest interests. And this William FL
Seward is the avOwed leader of the party-he has
repented of his conservative speech and he stands
before US as the champion and predestined Prime
Minister OF this hackwUOdsman Lincoln, who has
no capacity to govern without some such assistance
[Appause.l Now. gentlemen, this is the state of
things. On a mere suspicion that Vim. Ii. Seward
had the ear OF General scott, New York denOuncs
thai patriot soldier and deprived HIM of his hold
upon the affections of the American people We
defeated him the candidate for the Presidency.
Now this same State Of New York still more dee D.
" interested in the Union than it then. has be-
fore It as a candidate for the Presidency this hand
some Abraham Lincoln. totally inexperienced in
public afairs-whO never performed al affirmative
&C: il public capacity excep. to vote against his
country when supplies were needed for gallant
soldery in foreign territory; this Abraham Lin
coin Is before a candidate for the Presidency
the reasonable doctrines O: his party are avow-
ed and this same VIM. II. Seward is to be his Prime
Minister Shall hesitate to exert our utmost
power and ability defeat him? and shall it be said
that the great and patriotic State of New York has
not within its limits sufficient number of citizens
who are lovers of the Union and haters of discOrd
and civil war to protect its electoral from be-
ing given for such a and such Prime Minister?
[AppIause.i