The Placer herald., 1864-06-25

FERsoN.
l have never, gentlemen, felt less able to re-
spond to a call of this character than on the pres
ent OCCASION Not, perhaps, for want of thought
for in these days and in the present condition of
our country, too many unpleasant thoughts force
themselves upon u.s. but through fear that shall
not be able to clohc what may have to say in
language appropriate to the occasion upon which
we are assembled. | regret. gentlemen, exceed
ingly. that your dstingu shed fellow-ctizen Mr.
McKeon, whom should follow instead OF precede
is not present, and that what ] may have to re-
mark may lead you to regret that he is not here
TO speak for me. Ono, no.')
Gentlemen have heard much of your associa-
ton, and feel that | am in sympathy with those
by whom ain surrounded; (applause0 that we
think alike on the great questions Of the day: that
dark and unpromisng as is the state Of our coun-
try, we do not wholly despair; that we are hoping
for better days, and that, through the joint c0un-
sells and efforts of patriotic men, we may be able
after awhile, to redeem this country from the ar
btrary rule that is now opprcssing rs. Gap
plause.) Gentlemen. in times gone by, have
Travelled some in other parts Of the world. when !
was proud Of my country, and when her fag in
spircd in my bosom emotions of reverence and
love. | still honor it, my friends, but excuse me
for saying that it is not to me the same flag that
it once was And il never will he. until it shall
become the symbol Of peace to all who bear the
American name. (Great applause.} Gentlemen.
it is impossibe on an occasion like this or on an
occasion of anv kind. when patriotic men come
together. not to recur TO our present unhnppv
struggle. We can not Danish it from our minds.
1t presses itself upon our minds by day, and
haunts us through the watches Of the nipht
In speaking upon This subject. let me turn vour
attention for a single moment to the first month
of the present Administrations when mon were
beginning to talk Of war. AT that time, the SEN
timent OF the people was averse to engaging in
ratricidal struggle. They believed that we
should, if possible. avoid conflict of arms with
those in whose veins our own blood was running.
And. indeed, they had good reason for taking this
ground, for the fathers of the Constitution had
enuncilted and maintained the doctrine that
State could not be cocrced by force of arms
(Appluuse) | may refer gentlemen, TO one Of
tne most distinguished men that Connecticut ever
produced in proof Of this position. | alludc to
the Hon. Mr.. Ellsworth, afterwards chief justice
of the United States. On his return to Connecti-
cut, after the adoption Of The Constitution, he
went before the Convention which was called for
the purpose Of ratiiying that Constitution, and
there announced the doctrine upon which the
Democrats Of this country for while stood as
upon foundation of rock. He showed them in
that Convention that "the Constitution does not
undertake to coerce sovereign bodes-States in
their political cap ptcity;" and went still further
in saying that any attempt to cOprce den
quent State by sending an armed force against it,
would involve the good and bad. the innocent and
guilty in one common calamity" (Applause)
That WAS the true doctrine upon which, during
the first month Cf the Lincoln administration, a
very considerable portion of the Democratic
party stood firmly Here LET me say. gentlemen,
that if we had maintained that position this ad-
ministration would have been compelled to either
recognize the doctrine OF State rights, which is
maintained by your Association, or in some way
to initiate the course OF measures calculated to
restore the Union. (Applausa.) But. in going
.I H. Il. ,,,Il