East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-03-25
Speech of Hon. II. j. LtttlejOhn,
.oll sIom Xla BEFORE THE ,s = .
Democratic State Convention, .
W. Held at Detroit, March s, 1862 ih


tV- Held at Detroit, March s, 1862.
Gentlemen Of the Conv ention and Fellow Citizens:
Deeming il due to my official station,
have for the past four years, abstained
from attending political conventions.
even declined being delegate to this
convention. But when the time arrived
/ was irresistibly impelled in this diree
tion. / became an unrepining captive
TO my own feelings; voluntary prisoner
to a truly intensified interest in all public
movements, touching our. national peril,
and the vexed problem of a safe, happy,
and honorable deliverance therefrom.
I came, however, as an outsider a
silent observer, intending nevertheless, if
need be, to whisper in some friendly ear,
words of pence and harmony, words of
calmness and caution, and words of hope,
of manly courage and high resolve; and
above all, to point increasingly to the
precepts and examples of '76, and to the
ancient ways our fathers trod BY the
partiality Of old-time friends, and the in
dulgencs Of the convention, / have been
suddenly fOisted upon this platform, and
constituted, pro hac rice, one of your
number. aU gm9r7 ~ 20
B. Now that am here, standing in this
noble presence, I have no excuse TO urge,
no apology to offer, and no..special justifi-
cation to plead for being present, or TAX
ing part in your deliberations. The
country and the times alike demand, and
the government may rightfully claim, the
cordial and united support of all Union
loving citizens Claiming to have stead
fastly occupied that position, and deem
ing the present a fitting occasion for the
spontaneous pledge of fealty to rightful
authority; | intend, within my sphere, to
both speak aud act freely, as becomes
oyal American citizen--fsarlsssly, as be,
comes northern democrat---and patriot
ically, as becomes one born under the
,helter of our national fag-whose hap
piness it, has been, for long years, to
'ondy gaze upon the increasing breadth,
md undimmed lustre of the stars and
stripes, and whose present aims ard fu
ture hopes are all centerei in the perpet-
nal glory, the immortal vigor of the
/ Federal constitution and Union as our
'athers made them. '.Hi asii aii no
In the few remarks | may have the
,onor to submit, it will be, my object to
avoid trenching upon ground more prop
erly assignable to irregular members of the
and to content myself with
s0lated points, practical. suggestions, and
gleanings by the way side. sd is siails
- have no present purpose 20 descant
upon the remote or even proximate causes
which have precipitated upon our gov
srnment and people this unnatural, but
most formidable. rebellion, For weary
months we have been in the midst of the
sweat and blood and mortal agony Of an
war! A thousand traitorous
laggers are yet flashing and cleaning at
the throat of the. Unionl Let us first
ward of, strike down, and wrench away
these r. murderous weapons! This done
and all discussion of cause and effect may
prove useless, The sd,s Of treason's
forge will then be made manifest, For,
like the pixies of "Ossowatomie Brown"
'ths n,amufactwer's mark viA be found on
saty and Jlads,"iyt baa !et y l'i
This, much is clear. The rirus Of this
wide,spresding treason is neither trace.
able nor chargeable to- anya Legitimate
action Of the general government. For
fpqr,ffths Of a century that government
had well,performed its functions, moving
within the circle of its delegated powers,
ard Aithfdlly Obsersine IL SohstitdtiOnIl
obligations. No American citizen East
or West, North or South, could honestly
stand up before high Heaven, and fight
fullyscOuse that government of injustice,
oppression, or even inequality in the be-
stowment Of its national ,benefaotions.--
The attempt to drag into this bloody
issue questions Of Southern States rights,
which have never been BY the gocersmsnt
invaded, or the security of Southern5in-
situations, with, which, no admipistrstion
hsd interfered, Is Saih and 'iiiusory.-
Equally unfondsdl iFvths uchsrge qthst
,sovernment Neutrality-suspicious. the libot
ties or trespassed upon the franchises of
northern freemen. IA NNk NSAMDMJA