Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-08-06
S p EE CHI OF
HON. VIM. HI. WITTE,
OE MONTGOMERY c,or-rv

The Democratic State Convention, after
concluding its labors, on the evening of the
4th inst, resolved itself into Mass Meeting
and invited the Hon. VIM. H. Witte, of
Montgomery, to address the Delegates and
others present, whereupon Mr.. W. appeared
and spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of tie COisUewtion and Fslzolo-
Cit'zenS:-I have to thank you for the invi-
tation TO address you. | esteem it a very
high privilege and, assure you, l am CRATE
full. 1t is always privilege to speak on
those questions which directly concern the
Democratic party and the country, and it is
especially a privilege TO be allowed to adj
dress such an assemblage as this here to
night-mOre especially under the circum-
stances. | rejoice with you, because think
there is feeling of general rejoicing here. |
congratulate you, as | think | well may,
upon the termination of your labOrs to-day.
| regard the action of this Convention to-day
as wise and just, and as | think the future
will show, calculated to vindicate the past
history of the Democratic party and secure
for it future power and future glory. Ap-
plause.
In popular form of government, where
political power is derived by the process of
the ballot. opinion must be free, aud there
must be in the citizen proper authority for
cialty those of q political character. This is
the process BY which political power. in all
its forms, is derived, and it is, therefore. a
great obligation to impeach no mans opin-
ion, if 1t be exercised conformahly to law
and by virtue of the law. and to have
proper respect for his convictions and his
cOnClu.ious- And there is. also. a high and
solemn duty, especially as we regard it in
the Democratic party, which requires that
while we have regard for the opinions of
other men. and while we respect their mo-
tives and those of their party organization.
and especially at such time as this, in the
hour of our country's peril. we must dis,
charge our obligations to our party and to
ourselves. As citizens under free govern
ment, by speaking boldly and freely of those
things which are rank abuses. and which
have brought us. if not 10 ruin, to the very
verge of ruin. Applause.
We have heard through the Republican
party press, in public and private circles.
and through other means by which the sen
timent of that party is made manifest, that
the Democratic party has failed to exercise
its function; has failed to fulfill its glorious
mission; that it is not quite the party of the
Union that it ought to he, and that there
are here and there men N do not impeach
their motives or question their pltriotiSm1
who think they could not properly discharge
their duty TO their country and to this
glorious Union by remaining in the D mos
cratic party.
Well. Nh President and gentlemen, if the
Democratic party be not the party of the
Union, have read its history in vain. If
the history of this great country is anything
more-and. thank God, it is nothing less
than the simple, plain story Of the Demo
cratic party and its benefcent enactments.
then have | read that history in vain 1t is
hut about sixty years since that party was
distinctively brought into life-since It as
sumed form and shape-and you vii re-
member with me (perhaps il is not unprofi
table for US to remember these things now,
for they are the substratum of our political
structure) the circumstances under which Il
was brought into existence. l: was when
jefferson commenced his administration of
the General Government, under the elder
Adams, the most odiOus and unjust natural
ization laws had been enacted, which ren>
dered period Of fourteen years residence
necessary TO entitie foreigner TO citiZen~
ship. The country was new and contained
much unsettled land. The Democrats wan
ted to make this country, what the tyrant
ridden people of the Old World deemed it,
an asylum for the oppressed of all nations.
They wanted to make it truly the modern
Canaan, and when the Democratic party
came into organized existence, it was based
upon the great doctrine Of equality Of rights
1t said to the oppressed millions of Europe
.'come unto us and, complying with our
laws, which, after short residence, you
may, yourselves. help TO enact"
During the sixty years which followed.
and which have Just closed, the theory and
principles of the Democratic party were en-
acted into lawc and were practically applied
as the policy of the Government, with the
most benefcent effects. The alien and sedi-
ton laws of the elder Adams were repealed.
and in their place the Democracy gave to
the country liberal naturalization laws and
perfect freedom of speech and of the press
The favorite doctrine of the party as to the
acquisition of territory was put in practice.
so that while immigration was invited, land
was duly provided for the immigrants to set
tie upon and cultivate. The Democracy
took the ground that this Western Conti>
nent must be ours. and thus inaugurated
the theory of acquiring new territory. The
purchase of the louisiana territory, which
included the entire country west of the
Mississippi and east of the Rocky Moun>
tains, out of which so many fourishing
States have, since, been formed, the produc-
tions of which. already, are almost incalcu-
liable in amount. was the work of the Dem>
ocratic party and the resnl: of Democratic
policy. notwithstanding the furious opposi-
tion made by the party which, under divers
rs,,as b.c aI,vavs arrayed itself against the