Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-19
ADDRESS OF HON. D. W., VOORHEES,,
BEFORE DEMOCRATIC UNION ASSOCIATION or n. YORK
TUEsDAY EYENING MARCn 10.

TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 10.
Mr. Voorhees, began by saying that he owed his 10y
alty to tue people. The people have settled down, he
said to understand the great fundamental principle
which lies at the foundation of OUT Government, which
Is expressed in the first line Of the Constitution, that
the people make this Government, and when / stand
before the people and talk TO them, am talking to the
ely government owe any allegiance TO. applause
Loyalty il often defined by speakers and by men
in the halls of legislation csn define my loyalty in
81 gle word owe my allegiance 10 the Constitution
of NV country. owe it in that sense in which
fathers wrote it. The sovereign power OF this land
paced by them in the hands of the people express
erms-not By construction, but in express ferns,
Mr.. Lincoln and his cabiuet (llisses
No President and cabinet, Office holders const-
utc your government. These times, however when
few oice-holdeis whose time is TO expire hav-
ing the power to day prOmugate the strange doctrine
that they are the gov, nment Let that dcctrcc once
prevail and this s fee government no more-yOur
government is overturned and you wi acccpta mOnar-
chy or despotsm any other form OF government from
the other side of the Atlantic, and our form will be
more. / am not bcreb ecause anybody lets ne come
because any master provost m r5a President or See
tlry OF War says may be here. amacrc because it
is nv right TO be herc-bccause You invited me
here and when look in the faces Of those before me-
tender my allegiance TO you my government.
owe none TO those that would overthrow the Liberties Of
my country. (Applausc,) | owe them simply CONNER
daton and support in that in which they are right
owe them opposition and dcuunciatOn' in all that they
do that is wrong CHEERS
The speaker then reviewed, at some length, the his
tory of the Democratic party saying that had always
boon noble ofgaNizltion to which any man might have
been proud to belong, and contrasting the condition OF
the country under democratic rule to its condition now
he Said sec rs history written in every bright line of
your coutrys prosperity aud happiness. The people
were safe the Unisn saved; the Constitution
preserved The fruits Of labor came to the OF TOLL
no gigantic debt 10 taxation no Walling widows or
sobbg orphans, marked ito track and the policy OF this
government, and yet would you ask me tonight to
abandon this tinchOnored and glorious organic on Tor
this pirate Of the high Of politics that shall speak
of directly? saw in the morning papers of the other
morning that a distinguished gentleman OF your city
said il was good once in while US we were progressing
along to get out of the old stage OF the Democratic
partS-Llat John Van Buren,. groans and Kisses said it
was good to get out of the Democratic omnibus and
walk; and understood him to say that he wasOut and
walking now will tell you how to do; just. tApct
the driver whip up the horses and let him trudge the
balance of the journey on foot
man that would rather walk on foot, aud trudge
along in common with Wendell Phillips, and Horace
G.aeey and Lincoln, and Stanton loud hissing,) and
that class Of foot passengers do not think IL fit
pany to ride inside stsgecoach full Of Democrats
(Great cheering) Mr.. Voorhees, read from the debates
in Congress, showing that Douglas said in the Thirty
sixth Congress that if his party bad triumphed in the
last election the people of the Southern States would
Union would never have been dissolved Washington
Jcer: or Jackson Clay aud Webster predicted that
the result Of sectional party would be dismiOu aud
civil war; and yet the Republicans excessively Scns
tive about being charged being the authors of this
war / am sure, said the speaker, if felt that the
blood of this IN any way on my hands, or that
any vote of my hand had brought into exis this
thousand miles of graves upon the borders of the South
mad caused this mourning OF mothers for cir first
born, like Rachael weeping for her children because
they are not. .,
IL thought that was responsible by word deed
FOR this war; should feel that upon my fingers was the
boodshed damned spot Of murder that would incarna
dine great Neptnnes wave, and that all the waters in
the ocean would wash out (tireat applause aud
three cheers for Voorhees, the pitrot" given heartily
There would be reposc for me this side the other
of the grave. would have TO have a lighted candle in
my to keep away spectrci of the murdered dead
slain in battle thank God tonight and love to look
in the faces of audience that participate in the feeling
that Democrat has to take the guilt of this great
crime against natIne and humanity. You know il we'll
that everybody had voted you voted and talked as
fou talked, and minded their own business as YOU mind
ed yours aud let the slave States alone in slavery and
let them have the guarantees of the Consttuon-who
does not know that there would have been peaccsaud
union before to-dayg
The man that pretends he don't know it falifes his
own internal convictions Every man knows il. He
who stands before you and says 1t is not truc don't
even represent his heart II instructive feel
ING IN your breasts, and you know it. Consequently
when you ask this question Of Republicans how anx-
lous, nervous and sensitive they are; how quickly they
put up their hands and saw Lets argue this question
when the is over'-it is like Rinquos ghost threat
ching Macbeth Their eyeballs scared by the awful
sight. They ask that the day of reckoning may DC
postponed like soana guilty wretch upon the verge OF
belltseif they say, "Forbcar few days, let not
discuss these questions now" How loving they are
with Democrats that will give them time-with men
who viii agree to say 1--WE will speak of these things
when the war Is over" Alb gentlemen short accounts
mud quick settlements are best, Great cheering)