Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-08-29
A Magnificent Speech /!
Grand Union Rally in Penn
LH sylvania.
SPEECH OF THE HON. DANIEL
8. DICKINSON.
10 THE DEMoCRAcY.


A Drmocu r,c .T !. rspu.us
10 THE DEMOCRACY.
M
Delivered at Tunkhannock, Pa, Monday, Aug. iel
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND LADIES AND GEN.
TLEMEN: Amid all the diversity of senti-
ment in our land, there is one subject upop
which we can agree; and that is, that our
country is in a most iamentable condition
our Government threatened with disruption,
our Constitution with subyersion, and our
institutions with overthrow. We are met
here for the purpose of discussing the great
interests of a common country, and Of de.
termining what becomes us in an exigency
SO trying and so fearful. I meet YOU here
not to discuss Slavery or Anti-Slavery.-
Though an Old Line Democrat, brought I'D
at the feet of Gamaliel, and adherine with
tenacity to the principles of Democracy
through an active life, yet come not to
speak to you upon political partizan subjects.
l come to discuss a matter that concerns our
Union, one that rises far above and shoots
deeper than party interests or issues. We
have duty, nlyfellow citizens, far beyond that
of the fatheisofth Revolution They were op.
pressed by tyranny, and they sought to throw
off the shackles Of a despotic monarchy
They hoped that great and free Govern.
ment would spring up from their patriotic
efforts, but the most sanguine never imagin.
ed that Government so replete with good
would be the fruits of their bcpinning.-
What with them was hone, with us is frui.
ton. They planted and we reaped. Their
experiment has become great success, and
we are enjoying, or might enjoy, such bles-
sings as Heaven never before vouchsafed to
n
strife and division are at our doors; and Il
becomes us now to see whether the fruits of
this great and beneGcent Union must be lost
or whether they shall be preserved. 1t were
needless to 20 back to review dead and buried
issues There is great fact staring us in
the face, and with that we have to deal. Ii
culties wa, North or South. or East or West
the ouestion IS How % sball II 4 he'd he dealt with G
and disnosed of? Tn every povernment and
especiaily in every free government political
parties Will arise Ana 1t is we'll that we
have them. So far from beinp n curse. when
restrained within legitimate Rounds tbev are
a BLESSING. The strife of political narties.
like the agitation of the natural elements,
purifies the moral atmosphere. and gives
fife. and yipor. and freedom To our instit,,-
tions. There are some questions too great.
some too small, for the exercise of political
parties; and we have MANY duties to dis.
charge in the various relations of life that
do not appertain to political affairs. but
which we should come together & discharre.
as American citizens, as brethren of one tie.
and NOT inouiriDc whether we belong to this
or that or the other division of political mar.
ties, When we assemble around the grave
of a peiphbor. and hear those words that
have riyen SO many hearts. "Earth TO earth.
dust to dust, ashes to ashes, " and hear the
creakinp of the cord rs the remains are low
cred to their final resting place, the strifes Of
passion are hushed in the bosom, and we re.
member only that we are men-ino,lire not
what were the political views of the dead OF
living. At midnight Won hear the CRY Of
"firei You rush into the street. and find
your neighbors dwelling in flames. II /,
found that in the terror of the moment n
mother has left her infant in the chamber.
The flames hiss through every creyice. the
rafters tumble, the cinders crumble, and an,
other and another makes the attemnt tilI a,
last one is lost in the flamesl Every eve
hall ia strained. every heart nalnitates' ever,
breath is hushed. every muscle stand, on,
like wbipcords. and All believe he is Lost
but finally he onnears and restores the lovef
and lost to ;ts swooninr mother bnt T M % onl
;nnuires To what nolit;cal marty he belongs
When the citadel Of orr country Is in flames
when the ediice that washington anr
Franklin and their associates erected. Is II
flames. II becomes ms whatever NAV hav,
been our political nrocIivit;es before IN r;s,
far above ali other considerations and n :,
keen This citadel from destruction fChcers
/ cannor afford to turn awav from NV dut,
because a nolitical onponent is acting witt
me. nor TO stav back from a dutv because
nolitical friend deserts me- M. I mmst o.
On and discharge a great dntv 7 bold II ~ F.
the first dutv Of every c;t;zen of avery N mar =
tu tn aid in restoring restored Il can ha" hp.
tb;s great and GOOD 1ouernmant ETh fGhoer.
and and cries cries Of % .aIbsss tr"s doc.r;ne "Iss pre
v;ous IN M The last nol;t;csl eIect;on tb;s coun
trv % was "a at naace s with The world snJ I i u un
in the en;opment % Of greater @ % nr;y;Ienes @ " ,ha IVA
anv other !overnment IN e.rth tbsro % wa
no no. %neonle so blessed in W eueru - ram % ;Scat;on =
society This mighty sea 81 bannv taces he
fore me testifes to Ike fact that theu | 6av y,
heen in The an;ovment M ~ civil T and rs,;a;a,, &
freedom And % h was from The Nnrsh :
the South. and from the East 10 to- The oyy Was,
with over thirty millions of neonIe mos T1
nressed bv Goyernment hit ' everu ono uaol al
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