The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-15
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
THRILLING SPEECH BY Ex.pREs1pENr TYLER.

THRILLING SPEECH BY Ex-PREsIDENT TYLER.
The Peace Congress was temporarily or
ganized on Monday, the 4th, by the appoint
ment of Hon. JOHN 9. WRIGHT, of Ohio, as
temporary chairman. Judge WRIGHT was
formerly the editor of the Cincinnati Gazette,
in old Wing days, but has taken no part in
politics since the organization of parties
upon their present basis. On Tuesday, the
5th, JOHN TYLER, ex.President of the
United States, was elected permanent Presi-
deat Of the Congress. On taking the chair,
he delivered the following patriotic speech
GENTLEMEN 81 fear you have committed
great error in appointing me to the hon.
orable position you have assigned me. A
long separation from all deliberate bodies
has rendered the rules of their proceedings
unfamiliar to me, while should find in my
own state of health, variable and tickle as it
is, sufficient reason to decline the honor of
being your presiding officer; but, in times
like these, one has but little option left him
personal considerations should weigh but
lightly in the balance. The country is in
place assigned him in the great work of
concilation and adjustment. The voice of
Virginia has invited her co-states to meet
her in council. In the invitation of this
government that same voice was heard and
complied with, and the result of seventy odd
years have fully attested of the wisdom of
the decision then adopted. Is the urgency
of her call now less great than it was then?
Our godlike fathers created-we have to
preserve. They build up, through their
wisdom and patriotism, monuments which
have eternaLized their names.
You have before you, gentlemen, task
equally grand, equally sublime, quite as full
of glory and immortality. You have to
snatch from ruin a great and glorious Con.
federation, to preserve the government, and
to renew and invigorate the Constitution.
If you reach the height of this great occa-
sion, your children's children will rise up and
call you blessed. I confess myself ambitious
of sharing in the glory of accompl shing this
grand and magnificent result. TO have our
names enrolled in the Capitol, to be repeat
ed by future generations with grateful ap-
plause; this is an honor higher than the
mountains-more enduring than monumental
alabaster. Virginia's voice, as in the olden
time, has been heard. Her sister States
meet here to-day at the council board. Yer
mont is here, bringing with her memories
of the past, reviving in the memories of
all her Ethan Allen and his demand for the
surrender of Ticonderoga in the name OF
the Great Jehovah and the American Con.
gress. New Hampshire is here-her fame
illustrated by memorable annals, and still
more lately as the birth place of him who
won for himself the name of defender of
the Constitution, and who wrote that letter
to John Taylor which has been enshrined
in the hearts of his countrymen. Mass.
chusetts is not here-(some member said
she is coming)-I hope so, said Mr.. Tyler,
and that she will bring with her her daugh-
ter Maine. ! did not believe it could we'll
be that the voice which, in other times was
so familisr to her ears, has been addressed
to her in vain. Connecticut is here, and
she comes doubt not, in the spirit OF Roger
Sherman, whose name with our very chill
dren has become household word, and who
was in life the embodiment of that practical
sense which benefits the great lawgivers and
constructors of governments. Rhode Island,
the land of Roger Williams, is here, one of
the two last States, in her jealousy of the
public liberty, to give in her adhesion to the
Constitution, and among the earliest to
hasten to its rescue. The great Empire
State OF New York-represented thus far
by One-delegates to day q fuller force to
join in the great work OF healing the discon
tents OF the times, and restoring the reign
of fraternal feeling. New Jersey is also
here, with the memories of the past cover
ing her all over. Trenton and Princeton
live immortal in story-the plans of the
last encrimsoned with the hearts blood of
Virginia's sons Among her deleg alton 1
rejoice to recognize gallant son of sign.
er of the immortal Declaration which an
nOunced to the world that thirteen pro.
vinces had become thirteen independent and
sovereign States I; and here, too, is Della
ware, the land of the Bayards and the
Rodneys, whose soil at Brandywine was
moistened by the blood of Virginia's
youthful Monroe. Here is Maryland whose
massive columns wheeled into line with those
of Virginia in the contest for glory, and
whose State house at Annapolis was the
theatre of spectacle of successful com.
mander, who, after liberating his country,
gladly uDgirthed his sword and laid it down
upon the altar OF that country. Then
comes Pennsylvania, rich in Revolutionary
ore, bringing with her the deathless names
OF Franklin and Morris, and, I trust, ready
to renew from the belfry of Independence
Hall the chimes of the old bell, which an,
nouneed freedom and independence in former
days. All hail to North Cardinal with her
Mecklenburg Declaration in her hand, ,sstsnd.
+ ing eject On the ground of her ow4 pro.
bity aud hrmness in the cause of Mblic