New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-16
ADDRESS OF JOHN X. PORTER,
AS PRESIDENT OF THE ALBANY UNION con
vENTIoN, OCT. ~, 1901.

NEkIlON, OCI. IL, l-Cl'
| am grateful for the honor Of being selected 70
preside in Convention second in character 10 none
ever assembled for similar purpose in the County Of
Albany.
This ia the fret time in our State history, when, on
the approach Of popular election, citizens have
been called 10 choose between serving their party
and serving their country In this contest the weight
Of New-York must be felt, and to that end the men
of New-York must strike together. We have no
time now for minor issues and party fesds. Our
ympathies ere not with conventions that apologize
for treason and deal tenderly with rebellion, but
with the Democrats and Republicans in the trenches,
the camp and the battlefield. 1t is due to them
and TO ourselves that we forgot party in loydy TO
tho Government which they are defending in arms.
The people Of this State are not blind. The poli-
clan who proposes peace to-day proposes submission
TO rebellion. lie knows 10 such submiRion viii be
made by the North, and thst bis counsels serve only
to encourage the enemy and protract the war. Let
no such man be trusted.
We have no sympsthywith those who cry peace
peace, when there IL DO peace who tender olive
branches TO rebellion in arme; who would have US
run up the white flag, and lower the Stripes and
Stare in the presence OF hostile armiesi who cayil
and croak while the battle RACES, and nd solace in
the defeat'of defenders; who, by predictions Of
disaster and COUNCILS Of dishonor, Geek 10 paralyze
the arm Of Government, and give nerve and courage
10 the cohorts OF treason. Such men may mean well
by the country, but it IL an ambiguous patriotism at
the best, whose every act and utterance tends to
weaken US and 10 aid the public enemy. Timid par
tisans may falter but the masses will not ialter.
Politicians may hold back, 10 debate questions Of
Southern alliance and party advantage, of partition
Of Office and private gain; they may commend gentle
and tender-footed war; they may revle thoee ell
trusted with power by the popular will, and proter
peace to a red.handed enemy; but in November next
they will learn from the people OF this State, that
wo were never less disposed than now to barter
away our bir,hrght We do not fear war. We
love peace less than we love our heritage Of Union
and Liberty.
The Northern neck can never bend 10 the Southern
yoke. II were better that millions Of men should
perish than that the nineteenth century be marked
by the fall Of the Imperial Republic founded by the
warriors and statesmen who, in the eighteenth cen.
tuIy, dsmembered the British Empire. We are
right, and We are strong. The Government 10 as
sailed by the sword and II must be defended by the
sword. The enemy IL encircled by sea and by land.
We have half q million Of men in arms, with mil
lions Of stroDg.armed frtemen in reserve. We have
the Treasury, the Navy, and the Capitol. We are
not laden with the burden OF human Slavery, which
crppes the strength Of the South and arrays against
il the public sentiment Of united Chrslendom, at the
very hour when il u making war on lite only friends,
md rejecting the protection Of the Constitution, but
for which the san would neither rire upon master
nor act upon slave.
We ore in the midst Of civil couyulsions, aud yet
VIC foremost among the nations in all tie ele-
non,s Of iising strength and greatness. No people
earth ore an prosperous this day in peace as the
Free States Of he North, IN the midst Of civil
war, such as Europe has never known. Oar
strength R po' ID eQ leaders, but In tbe bedy q The