, 1861-05-31
Speech Of Gov. stevens

Mr.. PRESIDENT. Gentlemen of The Coar,y-
lion, and FeLlolO- Citizens of The Tsyyitoyv
Of WashingtOn:
congratulate you on the harmonious
termination Of your labors. NotyithstanJ.
ing great differences Of Judgment as 10 the
admission of delegates and the fairness of
the organization Of this Convention, you
have at length with almost entire uuanimitv
agreed upon a platform aud candidate
BY your action shall abide. The choice
of this Convention is my choice npd
will receive my cordial and uusweryinp snn.
port For one, l shall not look mournfulIv
into the past. This, the hour of aconv Of
our country's life, is no time for recrimina.
tion and the indulgence Of selfish feeling
1t appeals to whatever is noble and patriot.
ic in behalf Of that country's cause. Our
beloved Union is in most imminent peril
The sad spectacle Of civil and fratricidal
strife is being exhibited to the world, and
the doubt has arisen as TO the capacity of
man for selfgoyernment. No longer devo-
ton to our whole country, no longer an en-
larged view of the liberties and progress Of
mankind, shapes the policies of parties and
prevails in the councils of the Government.
but the strife Of jarring sections and an in.
sane grasp after asceudeucy has precipitated
upon the country cruel internecine war.
Our hope is in an united, invincibie Democ-
racy. 1t is the duty of the Democracy TO
unite for the sake of the union of these
States. The sundered Democracy of the
States has already come together Let
not our hitherto united Democracy now
separate.
l most heartily endorse the platform Of
the Convention, that secession is revolution
There is no such thing indeed as peoceable
secession. From the beginning Of this con.
troversy, not only have deprecated, but |
have denounced secession. I have deemed
it the worst possible remedy fog tue redress
Of the grievances Of the South. have
considered it an aggravation ten thousand
fold Of all their wrongs. feel that, as the
Representative Of The mos Northwest
Territory, have been true and unfaltering
to my constituency aud my country. For
during the entire winter past, have used
every irtion Of my nature in behalf of
the union of these States and against seces-
sion.
Gentlemen, it is our duty as patriots and
as true lovers Of liberty, to stand by our
Government and our country in this its
great emergency. Th aggressions Of the
South upon the property and the forces OF
the G iC.al Government must be sternly
repelled. That Government must be main
tanned as well against domestic and foreign
foes. Let these States become the prey Of
revolutionary schemes, let the doctrine be
admitted that Que Of the parties can alter
or break up the compact without the con-
sent of the others, and anarchy will reign
throughout the land and all hopes Of regu-
llaLsd lihoriy will come to an end. We
must, repeat, stand. steadfastly by the
constituted authorities 10 their efforts to sus-
tain the Government. AT the same time,
let US recollect that the people Of the South
are our brethren. Let rs deprecate strife
that shall bring fifteen States into tho hos
tile presence Of nineteen States. Let US
remember that when we had difficulties
with Utah, before invoking the 6nal arbi-
trament Of the sword, we 6rst sent Peace
Commissioners, who arranged by peaceable
negotiations the existing difficulties.
Fellow-citizens and fellow-Demoerats,
am profoundly grateful for the confidence
which, through eight long years Of labor,
you have placed in me. l am especially
profoundly grateful for the marks Of conf
denee which have received in this hour Of
uncertainty and doubt. 1t imposes upon
me additional obligations of fidelity and
devotion TO your cause 1t may be said
that the platform which has been adopted
is Of very general character can most
heartily endorse it, feeling at liberty, as |
do, to give it my own Interpretation. My
own views and opinions are known 10 you.
have nothing to explain, TO retract or to
apologise for. / have sought faithfully IN
der all circumstances to do my duty.
feel that at my hands the honor Of the Ter
ritory has been sustained, and can look
every man in the face, knowing, as ! do,
that l have done no man intentional injus-
tice. 1 will say to your standard-bearer:
You opposed my election two years ago,
though l was the unanimous nominee Of the
party; l will now support you in the can
vass, even though in the minds Of some
there are doubts as to the fairness of your
nomination. / see before me gentlemen
who opposed my last election-one gentle
man, indeed, who opposed my election, al
though he had supported me in the coDven-
tion. will now join with him and them
10 endeavoring to secure the election Of the
man of his aud their choice.
Fellow-citizens, thanking you most cor
daily for your kind attention to my re-
marks, | will nov take my place in the
ranks Of the Democracy, to do good battle
in its behalf
From the Sandwich Islands POlynesian.