The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-07-31
Speech Of Hon. John G.. Knox.

Speech Of Hon. John G. Knox.
The following are the patriotic remarks
of Judge Knox upon. the occasion of his
assuming the duties of Presiding Officer
of the Peoples Union Convention, at
Harrisburg, on the 18th inst ;
The gentlemen of the Conven ton will
please accept my thanks for their kind
partiallty in selecting me to preside over
their deliberations. L rejoice to be here
to-day, acting in concert with the true
and loyal men of Pennsylvania, regardless
of former political associations, and recog-
nizing at this eventful time as the only
true tests of fellowship and communion,
love of country, devotion to the American
Union, fixed and unaterable determina-
tion to uphold and sustain the government
of the United States, and to resist to the
death the enemies of that government
whenever and wherever found
rejoice especially to be here because
| can in this way evince my desire to
strengthen the hands of that honest man
and patriotic statesman, the President of
the United States to cheer him on, and
to bid him and his trustworthy counse,lors
God speed in their noble labors for the
maintenance of our government and the
preservation of Our country :.
Yes, gentlemen, it is to me a source of
great pleasure to be able to declare that,
In my judgment, the men at the head of
our National and State administrations
are, In this terrible crisis, doing their
whole duty, and are consequently entitled
to our entire confidence and our Warmest
support
L envy not that man who cannot now
look beyond the platform of his party to
the standard of his country.
The question is not now which poll tical
party shall administer the government, or
what men shall fill its offices, but it is
whether there shall be Offices to fill or
government to administer and until this
momentous question is settled, for one, L
shall act with the men who are the most
earnest in their efforts to destroy this re-
beTlion, and the most determined signally
to punish the rebels, their aiders and
abettors.
repeat, gentlemen, that / have great
confidence in Abraham Lincoln and his
chosen counsellors: and l must be permit
ted to say that especially do l confde in
the clear head, sound mind and honest
heart of the Secretary of War, Edwin NJ
Stanton, our own immediate representa-
tive in the Cabinet. L say this with a ful.
knowledge that of late a systematic at
tempt has been made to bring this officer
into disrepute, and to cause his removal
from the high and responsible position he
now so ably fills.
Every disappointed man, whether for
the opportunity of serving his country
with title p,efxed to his name, or for
furnishing the munitions of war, at large
profits, visits his vengeance upon the
head of Mr. Stanton The friends of this
officer cannot, of course, complain of the
most careful scrutiny into his official con-
duct, and do by no means deny that he
may. like others, have committed mistakes;
yet when it is seen that the most nmeas-
ured abuse is continually lavished upon
him and upon his acts that he is held
responsible for consequences to prevent
which has been entirely beyond his power,
and charged with disasters arising from
movements, which he neither counselled
nor directed, it becomes necessary to lock
for the causes which have prompted these
attacks.
For myself, 1 believe he has been thus
attacked
1st, Because he is truly in earnest in
his determination to put down this rebel
lion, and
I'd, Because he performs his official
duty without fear, favor or affection.
Those of US who are personally acquain-
ted with Mr.. Stanton, know that his in
tellect is of the highest order that he is
possessed of character for integrity,
which even malice has never dared to
question, and that when he undertakes to
do, he does with all his might
l do not Say that all of lis opponents,
or those who counsel his removal from
the War Department, are either kuaves or
secessionists; butI dosay, that the North
ern sympathizers with. this wicked rebel
/ lion, with great usanimity, assert that Mr.
Stanton ought not TO be the Secretary
of War, and stra,ise as it may seem, the
J very patriotic gentlemen who have not
objections to contracts which yield very
large profits, have also discovered that
the manner n which he conducts his. de-