The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-10-04
Speech Of Hon. ). @. Allen.

q When this report of the committee q
resolutions was made, presumed itwoul'
p be accompanied by some remarks from
the chairman or some other member Q
the committee. Youh called upon me
however, to speak in relation to that re
port. But before i proceed, it is propa
that should again return to this conyen
ton my unfeigned thanks for the homo
and confidence manifested in me by select
ing me this day as its candidate for Con
sress to represent the State at large. Tbi
honor was unsought-was unexpected by
me, but appreciate it on that account SC
much the more. / only fear that shall
not be able, in the brief period of time thai
will elapse between this and the day ol
election, to yindicate the correctness Of
your judgment in the selection Of stand
ard bearer. ! have tais, however, to
promise, that whatever time can possibly
dispose Of in indicating the principles OF
your hearing, as your candidate for Con.
gress, will be freely given CCheersl
In reference to the series of resolutions
which you have adopted, premit me to say,
once for all, Iindorse them in letter and in
spirit, wholly and completely Applause
| From the resolution that starts out by pro.
claiming the devotion of the Democratic
party to the constitution and the Union OF
these States to the closing resolution, l
/ indorse them fully and completely.
have been taught, my fellow citizens,
ard have been taught it by the Demo
cracy of the country, too, that it was to
/ that Instrument we must look for the pro
| tcection four 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 mark
! ed our footsteps heretofore, and viii, five
preserve it, mark them permanently in tle
/ future. and ! have also been taught,
/ tellow-citizens, that it was the duty Of the
7 AmericaL citizen, at all times, and upder
/ all circunstances-yea. and under all ad-
miustrations,- stand close by that con
/ stitution and close by that Union Cheers
And have felt that the richest inheritance
enjoyed from my father was lone and
, place in a country that had such a con
stitution and such Union Renewed
cheersl And ! have felt that the man
who would wantoulv infringe upon the
one, or refuse to fight for the other, was
unworthy the name of an American citi
zen, OF of the blessings of an American
government ICheefings long and loud
Mr. President, in relation 10 some OF
these questions that are raised in these
resolutions, my convictions that they are
right are equally clear. They may not be
yitally important: but that they are right,
and ough. TO be lived up to, l am equally
clear
1t may be proper gentlemen, under the
circums tances in wwich am placed before
YOU, that | say a word in relation TO the
great, the overpowering. all-absorbing ques-
ton that 20 day, and for the past eighteen
months, a. been weighing bown the spirits,
md spreading a pail OF bloom over the
hearts Of our people. | have no opinion IN.
reference to this unfortunate war IN which
we are engaged that ! am ashamed or
afraid 10 aFow. .-
Shortly after the commencement Of hos
tilities, when the President issued his
proclamation ealing upon the volunteer
soldiery Of the loyal States to arm them
selves and march for thy vind.caiipn of
o.Y r;sI..e 4nL ,!.o Union, J to,d my foli,sve
citizens that there was but oae course /
could lake felt that it was my duty to
aid and encourage the President OF the
/ nitei States in yindicatiOn OF the laws
and the Constitution Of our common coun-
try a. against those who would strike them
down. tApp.ause But, sentlemen viii
not be charged by any one With being a
.
ted States for think | labored about
faithfully for a given time 10 defeat him
for tina; position as ever i Iabored hpon
any gwen subject. before. rgoIced as
much at his elevation 10 power TO which
he belongs, as ! ever rejolced al the sue
cess Of any political party opposed Il. him
in principle. But, when The people OF
United States, under The Torcs prescribed
By the consti tuition, had declared that he
should te our President for four years, as
Il law abiding citizen, l felt was compel
ed to Weld to that voice, and give him my
support in all ! conceived he was doing IN !.
accordance with the constitution andIaws
of my country. App!ause l believe
one Of those duties was the putting down
Of rebellion, let it come from whatever
quarter ii might. ] endeavored TO incu
late the duty OF our obedience to law
and, if there was one subject above another
have tried to impress upou my fellow
citizens, it was, that no where is it iigh: to
set the laws Of our country at defiance
used to talk that was to abolitionists
when they talked about not needing laws
that did not meet their appreciation.
| believed il was the duty of the Presi-
dent OF the United States to put down
this rebellion-to restore the supremacy
or the constitution and the laws: and if
necessary. the duty of loyal citizens to aid
him in that, in money, in counsel, in
means and arms, if resort to arms was
necessary And, in doing this, l did not
abate one iota from my adhesion to any
one of the doctrins of the Democratic par
ty In doing this gave no countenance
to any one Of the doctrines of the republi.
can party that had, prior to that time.
divided that party from our own but
feel the same interest in the success iottie
principles of the Democratic party have
ever felt tho same desire to see them OBJ
tain throughout this broad land believing
they are the true principles of this gov
ernment, and that il cannot be successfully
administered upon any other-than bemo-
cratic principles. Cheers3o 11214 z. !.
Now, gentlemen, while thus believed I
it to be the duty Of the loyal States to and
the President of the United States IN put
ting down this rebellion, do not commit
myself to :every act the President might
do; and l am free to confess l feel that
he has committed many blunders il the,
administration of the affairs of this GO
vernment in connection with the wfr as
well as with other things" j supposethat
to say this is not treason, for ! understand!
the President himself says all his acs are
subject to just criticism. But, gentlemen,
| perhaps we had no reason not to expect
lie would not commit blunders. HI was
IN a new position-elevatedt to poverty a
party that believe to be organizedfipon
principles inconsistent with the printiples
Of the constitution. (Cbeers.) 1t WOULD
be impossible for man thus surrounded
TO administer the government in tines
like these and not commit some biune era
unless he was more than human. bel
lieve it is our duty to stand by him, as fat
as he keeps within the pale Of the constiI
tuition aud laws in endeavoring tetpuD
down this rebellion Although the clouds
hang more lowering than ever, l am for