Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-09-23
SPEECH OF
} A NJ ES G.. ALLEN.

on Tor speech and responded as follows.
! Mr.; President and Gentlemen of the Convention:
nheu this report of the committee on
resolutions was made, presumed 1t would
De accompanied by sume remarks from the
chairman or some other member of the
committee. You have called upon me
however. TO speak in relation to TINT renort
But. before proceed. il il proper that I
should again return to this convention NV
unteigned thanks for the honor and conf.
d"rce manifested IN me by SELECTING me
this day as Its candidare for Congress 10
represent the State at large. The honor
WIS unsonght-was unexpected by me /.
but appreciate it on thar account 80 mucb
tbs more. only Gear that shall not be
able, ~ the brief period of time that will
elapse between this aud the day of cleo
non, to vindicate the correctness of your
Judgment IN the selection Of a standard
bearer. L have this, however, to promise,
that whatever time | can possibly dispose
OF IN indicating the principles of these
resolutions which have been read in YOUR
hearing. asyour candidate for Congress.
wis be freely given. [Cheers.
In reference to the series of resolutions
which You have adopted, permit ne to say,
once Tor all, indorse them in letter and
IN spirit, wholly and completely. FAD.
plause.I FROM the resolution that starts
out by proclaiming the devotion of the
democratic party to the constitution and
the Union Of these States 10 the closing res.
olution, l indOrse them fully and COM
pletely.
have been taught it by the democracy
oil the country, too, tina. it wss to that in
ttTument we must look for the protection
oil our rights, civil, religious-rights Of
every description whatever. And | have
been taught that we must look to the
Union OF these States for that glory, and
power, and renown which have marked our
footsteps heretofore, and will, if we pre-
serve 1t, mark them permanently in the
future. And / have also been taught, fell
low citizen, at all times, and under all
circumstances-yea, and under all admin.
istraiions.-tO stand close by that consti-
tuition and cluse by that Union. ICheers.
Aud have felt that the richest inberi.
lance L enjoyed from my father was a
home and place in a country that had
such constitution and such Union.
Renewed cheers And | have felt that
the man who would wantnnly infringe up
on the one, or refuse to fight for the other.
was unworthy the name Of an American
citizen, or of the blessings of an American
government. Cheering long and loud
MIR. President, in relation to some of
these questions that are raised in these
resolutions, my convictions that they are
right and are equally clear. They NAV be
so vitality important; but that thew are
right, and ought to be lived up to, | am
equally clear.
1t may be proper, gentleman, under the
circumstances in which | am placed he
fore you, that saw word in relation to
the great, the overpowering, aIl-absorbing
question that to-day, and for the past
eighteen months, has been weighing down
the spirits, and spreading a pail of gloom
Uvertbc teartsef Cur pcopisNzI zhsSerzl
opinion IN reference TO this unfortunate
war 10 which we are engaged that am
ashamed or sfraid to avow.
Shortly after the commencement of hos
tilities, when the President issued bis
proclamation calling upon the volunteer
sOldiery Of the loyal States to arm them
selves and march for the vindication of
our rights and the Union, told nv fellow
citizens that there was but one course I
could take. / felt tina. it was nv dutv tn
aid and encourage the President OF the
United States in vindication OF our COM
mon country as against those who would
strike them down Applause But, gon.
tiemen, will not be charged by any one
with being political friend of the Presi
dent of the United States for ! think |
labored about as faithfully for a given time
10 defeat him for that position IA ever
lahored upon any given subject before.
rejOiced as much at his elevation to power
to which Re belongs, as ever rejpiced at
the success of any political party opposed
TO him in principle. But, when the peo-
pie OF the United States, under the forms
prescribed by the constitution, had declsr-
ed that he should be our President for four
years. as a law-ahlding citizen. | felt was
compelled TO yield to that voice, and give
him my support in all conceived he was
doing IN accordance with the constitution
and laws OF ny country. Applause. 1
believe ore of those duties was the putting
down Of rebellion, let it come from what.
ever quarter it might. i endeavored to
inculcate the duty of our obedience to law;
and, if there was one subject above snntb-
er have tried to impress upon ny fellow
citizens, it was, that no where is it right
to set the laws Of our country at defiance.
used to talk that way to abolitiOnists
when they talked about not bleeding laws
that did not meet their appreciation.
believe II was the duty of the Presi-
dent Of the United States to put down this
rebeliion,-to restore the supremacy of the
constitution and the laws; if necessary, the
duty OF Loyal citizens TO aid him in that.
IN money, IN counsel, in means, aud arms.
II report to arms was necessary. And.
in doing this, did not abate one iota from
my adhesion to the great doctrines of the
democratic party. In dDing this | gave
no cOunteDance to any one of the doctrines
of the repu blicsn party that had, prior to
that time, divided that rarity from our own:
but feel the came interest in the success
of the principles Of the democratic party.
l have ever felt the same desire TO see them
obtain throughout this broad land, beliey-
ing they are the true principles of this
government, and that it cannot BIZ success.
fully administered upon any other than
democratic principles. Cheers
Now, gentlemen, while | thus believe IL
to he the duty If The loyal States to aid
the President of the United States in put
ting down this rebellion. do not commit
myself to every act the President might do:
and i am free To confess feel that he has
committed many blunders in the adminis-
tration Of the affairs Of this government in
connection with the war as with other
things. suppose that to say this is not
treason, for / understand the President
himself says all his acts are subjects Of just
criticism. But, gentlemen, perhaps we
bad no reason to expect he would not com.
NIT biuDders. lie was in new position.
elevated to power by q rarty that be-
lieve to be organised upon principles in
consistent with the principles of the c, n
stitution. tCheers. 1t would be impossi-
BILE for man thus surrounded to admins
ter the government IN times like these and
not commit some Numbers. unless he was
more than human. believe it is our duty
10 stand by him, as far as he keeps within !
the pale Of the constitution and laws. 10 en-
deavoring TO put down this rebel ior.-
Although the Clouds hang more l,wering
than ever. am for standing BY him and !!
saving him from his enemies. VociferOus