Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-09-14
SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM ALLEN,
OF OHIO.
Deleered IN tho Chicago National Democratic
Conuention, August 30, 1864.

THE President. Gentlemen Of the Convention
We are honored with the presence here OF on,
whose reputation has ever stood high with tn,
american people, and whose reputation is the
more endeared to us from its connection with th ,
memory Of Andrew jackson. ILond cheers.1
call upon Senator Allen, Of Ohio, to address the
Convention.
Mr.. ALLEN who wac received with enthusiastic
applause, spoke as follows,
GENTLEMEN or THE CONVENTION: Men OF
America: during tho last four years our
rulers have been 30 unfortunate as to
make political and military mistak es,
which have exposed this nation to
the complicated dangers of disintegra-
ton, despotism and anarchy. [Cheers. |
The people of the nation at large, ire
spective of party badges and distinctions,
have become appalled, at the dangers
which threaten it in the near future, and
have looked around to find on earth some
power capable of rescuing them from
these dangers TO which they are exposed,
and by which they are enyiroped. They
have found but one power, and that is the
old Democracy of the United States.
Great cheering, In obedience to the
call of this endangered country, you have
come forward here and rendered your SER
vices to aid the balance Of your country
men in the salvation of your country.
[Cries of good" and cheers. Your de-
Gberations are about to be brought to o
conclusion ; and. fully aware that it was
the unhappy split in our ranks four years
ago which opened the way for the ingress
Of this destructive power, you are now
bound by your own allegiance TO the Con-
Stitution of your country to close up your
ranks and act unitedly, as the only means
Of ofsaving it.. [Cheers. Hence it is that,
notwithstanding the necessity and una
voidable diversity Of sentiment in regard
TO the unimportant and irrelevant issues,
and with regard 20 the indiyiduals named
for the great office Of p,,eside..:. in the end
w behoi.. wha.. ne are about 10 enjoy
tb" grand combination Of the union Of the
Democratic party first, and then the union
of the States. Loud cheers. Whilst
there is Democrat in this land whose
reason is not obscured by error and whose
heart is undaunted by danger, there need
be no danger Of the Union or Of the llSer-
critics of the people. The people have
done wisely in calling the Democracy
10 make this great effort for the country.
think they have done wisely, because
our party, tho great Democracy, can say
what no political party on earth can say
that before the breaking out Of our troub-
les and the commencement of the war, it
acquired oil the territory OF the Union,
carried the country successfully through
two foreign wars, and so administered the
Government as to leave the people, at the
end of its heightened term of. office, hap
ny, prosperous, and contented. Cheers. !
The States were then all in their proper
places in the Union, and under the Con-
stitution, and that Constitution four years
ago remained as uncontaminated and un-
broken as when il received the signature
Of the Father OF his Country. With such
o record for the purity of the past, what
could the nation do, than to see for itself
that that body has never betrayed us, and
that under its wise administration we
prospered and were happy. Under it we
put down Hartford qualification and South
Carolina notification without drawing a
drop of blood. Cheers. We never drew
drop of blood, and we can say what no
Government on earth could say before,
that under our administration peace and
harmony prevailed, though the country
extended over thirty-!our States. space
we'll nigh as large as the whole OF Europe
occupied by population made up from
all parts OF tho world. speaking nearly all
languages and entertaining all manner oil
religious sentiments, and spread over Q
land with diversity Of climate and
having a variety of local interests. We
maintained happiness and prosperity as
long as the Democratic party had control
of the Government. Loud cheers. We
administered the Government without
having drawn drop Of blood for politl-
cal offense. Renewed cheers. Our
President put down two such local calam'
ties as that which existed in the South in
1859, without even drawing sword. How
many men, would like 10 ask, were muir
dered, and how long did the civil war last.
in putting down the Hartford Conven'
ton? Applause. Mr.. Madison was
then in power Where are the thousands
and hundreds Of thousands who by his
order lost their lives in putting that in
surrection DOWN. Why, sir, he never
injured even pumpkin. Laughter and
cheers. How was it in South Carolina
tDAt Oldto WulCu threatened 10 BeCeue
from the Union in 1882 Andrew Jack
son was then in power as President. Die
he murder hundreds Of thousands of citi
Gems in order to get rid of that local diff
Guilty? There was not word of il bu
on the contrary he appealed in a grea
proclamation TO the reason and sense o
The people to maintain the Union and th
country. He did what every Democra
Mad done before him, and will do after
wards-he assumed the proposition tina
mankind we're capable OF selfgovernmen
and that human reason was sufficient .
maintain it without powder and stee!
Loud and enthusiastic cheering
The illustrious and eminent gentlomal
who presides over the deliberations oil I'M
body, threw out some remarks the othe
day, in his inaugural address, which, Il
my judgment, we're eminently proper t
be considered and acted upon by ever
Democrat. One of the difficulties Whlcl
you will have will be in getting all IN
IL nan