The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-02-14
THE WASHINGTON CONVEN-
TION,
President TyIer's speech.
WAsuIxoroN. Feb. 8.

WAsHINoroS, Feb. s.
The Pesce Convention was opened on
Tuesday morning with prayer, when the
Committee on Organization reported as
follows:
For President of the Conyention-Ex-
President John Tyler.
For Secretary-Mr. ]. G. Wright of
Ohio.
The report was unanimously adopted,
and Mr.. Tyler. on taking the chair, made
the following address.
SPEECH OF TX rREsI DENT TYLER.
GESrLEMEN.-I fear you have commit.
ted great etror in appointing me TO the
honorable position you have assigned me.
A long separation from all deliberativs
bodies has rendered the rules Of their
proceedings unfamiliar 10 me, while
should find in my own state of health,
variable and fcble as il is, sufficient rea.
son to decline the honor Of being your
presiding officer; but, in times like these,
one has but little option lett him-rer-
sonal considerations should weigh but
lightly in the balance. The country is in
danger-it is enough-one must take the
place assigned him in the great work Of
reconciliation and adjustment. The voice
of Virginia has invited her co States TO
NEST her in council. In the institution
Of this Government that same voice was
heard and complied with, and the results
OF seventy odd years have fully attested
the wisdom Of The decisions then adopted
Is the urgency of her call now less great
than it was then? Our godlike iathers
created--we have 10 preserve. They
built up, through their wisdom and pa
triotism monuments. monuments which
have eternalized their names. You have
before you, gentlemen, a task equally
grand, equally sublime. quite as full of
glory and Immortality. You haze to
snatch from ruin great ard glorious
Confederation, to preserve the Govern.
ment, and to renew and invigorale the
Constitution. If you reach the height
OF this great occasion, your children
children will rise up and call you bIes-
sed. | confess myself ambitious of shar-
ing in the glory of accomplishing this
result. TO have our names enrolled in
the Capitol, to be repeated by fture gene,
rations with grateful applause, this is an
honor higher than the mountsins--more
enduring than monumental alabaster-
Yes. Virginia's voice, as in the olden
time, has been heard. Her sister States
meet her this day at Tie council board
Vermont is here, bringing with her the
memories Of the past. reviving in tie
memories OF all, her Ethan Allen, and his
demand for the surrender Of Ticondcroga
in the maine Of .he GresI Jehovah and
the American Congress. New Hamp.
shire il here--her fame illustrated by
memorable annals, and still more lately
as the birthplace of him who won for him.
self the name of Defender OF the Co:,slilu.
ton, and who wrote that letter to John
Taylor, which has been enshrined in the
hearts oi his cOuntrymen. Massachusetts
is not here--(some member said she was
coming III hope SO, said Mr.. Tyler, and
that she will bring with her her daugh.
ter Maine. ! did not believe that it could
be that the voice which, in other times.
was 30 familiar 10 her ears, mas been ad.
dressed 10 her in vain. Connecticut is
here. and she comes, | doubt not, in tie
spirit of Roger Sherman, whose name with
our very children has become household
word, and who was in life the embodi-
ment Of that practical sense which bene-
fits the great lawgiyers and constructors
of Governments Rhode Island, the land
Of Roger Williams, is here. one OF the
two last States in her jealousy of the pub
lie liberty to give in her adhesion 10 the
Constitution, and among the earliest tC
hasten to its rescue. The great Empire
State of New York-represented thus fal
by but one--delegaIes to-day ftller forc'
to join in tie great work Of healing tn,
discoutents Of the times. and restoring thC
reign of Iraternal feeling. New Jersey ii
also here, with the memories of the pas
covering her all over. Trenton anC
Princeton live immortal in story--tht
plains Of the last encri soned with The
blood of Virginia's sons. Among he
delegation l rejoice 10 recognize I
gallant son of the signer Of the i'm
mortal Declaration which announced Il
the world that thirteen Provinces had be
come thirteen independent and sovereign
States. Aud here, too, is Delaware. tht
land OF the Bayards and Rodneys. whose
sell at Brapdy%ine was moistened by th'
blood of Virginia's youthful Monroe
Here is Maryland. whose massive column
wheeled into line with those Of Virginii
inlhe contest Tor glory. and whose Stat
: House at Annapolis was the theater OF
D spectacle OF successful commander, who
after lbera,ing his country, gladly un
girthed his sword and laid it down uPoI
; the altar of that country. Then come
5 Pennsylvania, rich in revolutionary lore
! bringing with her the deaihless name o
J.. Franklin and Morris, and, | uust, read
to renew from the belfry of independence
Z. Hall the chimes of the old bell which an
(. uounced Freedom and Independence il
9 iormer days. All hail Nor'h Carolina
with her Meckenbdrg declaration in he
i. hand, standing erect on the ground Of he
= own probity ana frmness in the cause o
t public liberty, and represented in ths at
/. tributes by her Macon, and this assembl!
Y by her distinguished son. at no great dis
3 tance from me. Four daughters ofVir
Q ginia also cluster round the council boar,
= on the invitation Of their ancen. mother
the eldest, Kentucky, whose sons, unde
s that intrepid warrior. Anthony Wayne
i gave freedom Of sentiment to the ierritor