Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-06-18
S. NJ. HARRINGTON.


to preside over the convention.
CHAIRMAN.
S. NJ. HARRINGTON.
VICE PRESIDENTS.
G. W. Churchman, A. Boys,
B. s. Booth, /. +. Williamson,
Thomas Scott, A. Oh. ndler
James Riddle, Capt. Geo. Maxwell
j NJ. Denning, John Woodall
G. l.. Heverin, HUM Jenkins,
p. j. Carlisle, John Quilan,
q. B. Ralston, A. II. Hail.
G. B. NAPLES, W. Sharp,
Hicks d. Hooper, l.. N Heverin,
B. y, Fooks, II. F. Willis,
P. Il. Burton l., l.. Lyons.
SECRETARIES.
W. @. Spruance. L. j. Draper,
II. F. Hail.
At two o'clock the meeting reassembed and
confirmed the above nominations.
On motion, the following gentlemen were
| appointed committee TO prepare business.
| n. b Smithers, Dr. |. Jump,
! Fl. NJ. McCOllcy, W. T.. Eiason,
Elias S. Reed, DR.. Owens,s
lion. G. S. Layton, Robert Davis,
John A. Ilazzard Aaron Marshall,
j. Sharp Manaen Gum.
Judge Harrington on taking the chair, IN ade
the following speech.
After returning thanks for the honor of pre-
siding, he said, whatever else this meeting may
or uiay not do, it will settle finally the question
of loyalty of the State to the Union, ques-
tion which think, very enormously, has been
/ supposed to he in doubt. Both in numbers
and influence, it is of such character rs to
settle this or any other question authoritatively,
! for the State is so fully represented hero
/ that II might almost be said without exagerii-
| tion, that the State of Delaware is hero
/ Whatever this meeting shall announce as its
undivided Judgment and purpose, in contormi-
| ty with the public sentiment it represents, that
sentiment being patriotic and loyal, will be
the action of the State. Speaking thus au-
thoritatiyely it will become this meeting to
! speak advisedly, and as you have done me the
| honor to make me its moderator, you will al
| low me to counsel moderation and calmness of
speech with reference to those among us who
| are supposed to incline to Il contrary senti.
ment Their dislOyalty has doubtless been ex-
aggerated, as their number has been and
those who do express unpatriotic sentiments
differ widely among themselves, from the out
spoken secessonst down through the scale
of State rights men, anti-coercionists, defen-
ders of Government within State limits, peace
men, and the amiable class of Christian loyal
lists, who would sacrifice their country rather
than shed the blood Of their Southern breth-
ren. However erroneous you may consider
/ luGht VIEWS sometimes luhtulptIhttllg anu III
ways imprudently expressed, they are the SEN
timents of men who profess loyalty to the con-
stituton and Union, our fellow-citizens whom
il were better to address in terms of concilia-
ton and kindness rather than of denunciation
and menace. You will doubtless however ex-
press your sentiments in relation to these and
other principles involved in the present crisis,
fully and plainly, as well as your determine
tion with reference to carrying out these senti-
Lar a Afst
moderation is, that unnecessary personal OF
party denunciation should be avoided
Delaware Is loyal in word, and believe al
heart. She has been heretofore always loyal
in word and deed, and | cannot believe there
is now anything more than lip disloyalty il
the few who express unpatriotic sentiments
of secessionists there are almost none, and
they who sympathize with seceders do it by
way of apology, and with no real purpose o
uniting in their treason. If the State wer'
polled to-day there would not be found five
hundred men who believe in the legality o
| the expediency of secession. much large
number are carried away by the specious ant
dangerous doctrine of State rights, and ALLOW
their sympathy with rebels to find sanction il
the excuse that these men are acting under
paramount duty to their States, and their re
bellion against the United States Governmen
is therefore not treason.
This theory, which you often hear main
tained by men who speak from sympathy anG
not from Judgment is as untounded, as it i:
dangerous. 1t is the theory that makes oui
government contederacy and not Union
that exalts loyalty to the States above loyalty
TO the United States, that destroys this, oul
government, ordained by our fathers, and sub
81 utcs in its stead the many State govern
mculs of which it is formed, and makes its per
pct ui existence TO depend not on its own in
hureut sovereignty, but on the caprice of thir
ty-fuur sOvereignties. Sirs, this is not th'
government onr fathers made, and the heresl
now announced is utterly Inconsistent viii
the loyalty every citizen owes to the unite'
States Constitution, as the paramount law
Another error of kin to this, and of like dan
ger, is thai Of divided loyalty which ae
knowiedges the obligation of iealty to tn
General Government, but will only render i
at home, which will not go or aid Others to go
beyond State limits, to protect and defend tn
Union.
Sirs. State lines and geographical limits hay
nothing to do with the obligation of fealt
which is due from States themselves as wei
as individuals, and which reaches wherever it
(, authority is assailed. That flag which is it
|. nt1blem, is to float wherever its authority j
\ recognized, and whoever bows TO any othe
Il symbol, is disloyal.
This heresy OF paramount duty TO States,
n at the bottom of all our troubles. II is tn
Al pretence Tor secession, and the apology for re
\ bellion. 1t was on this pretence that Sout
= Caroline withdrew from what she calls a com
. pact OF sovereign States, and on which tn
other rebel States have been, one after anotn
, er drawn by party aspirations, and the syn
nathy which has been supposed to exist, thoug
r., in a very slight degree, even here. Yet it
y totally unfonnded or has no other foundatio
than misunderstanding OF language and
peryersion Of the fundamental principles
In no reHOect nre the State