Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-06-16
TsaHs ss xDtns s..mse

lhe uIsoharge ol tee duties Of the chair
httie experience in parliamentarys rules, Il
VIII oe my pleasure as well as my duty to
spare no effort in contributing to the eitan,
OF my abllity TO the facilitating Of tho bust.
ness Of the Convention, and securing ssch
results from your deliberations ss wifi mac.
the loyal expectations Of the country. We
meet here as representatives of the true
friends Of the Government and of imnartiaI
liberty, Of that large portion of the reonle.
who gratefully appreciate the unmatched
blessings which flow from our institutions
well administered, and reject every form Of
human enslavement not IN punishment Of
crime as no less incompatible with the right,
OF humanity. than with the genius and
peaceful workings Of Republican Govern.
ment. In no sense do we fneetas members
or representatives Of either of the old po-
lilical parties which bound the people, or as
the champions Of any principle O. doctrine
peculiar to either. The extraor. .iIp,ry con-
dihon OF the country since lha ,u,' r.ak OF
the Rebellion, has FROM po-.s itr taken
from the issues of these pa n as ..,ii p.rtial
slgnIhcence and compelled ,pr r,1, ion OF
substantially new political " ksDiSa,i ,os:
hence the origin Of the Unio ATTY, if par,
y 1t can be called, Of which ~ uenyon.
ton Is Tor the purpose OF its assembling
the accredited representatives, and the only
test Of membership n which is an unro-
served, unconditional loyalty to the Gov
eminent and the Union. Let me congrat-
ulate you upon the favorable auspices Of
yeur meeting, while the deepest anxiety Is
felt by all patriotic men as to the result Of
the war, Unjustifiably forced upon the Gov
ernuont by the bad, ambitions men. and
their deceived followers in the Rebe!lious
States, and the country il filed with dis
tress and mourning over the less of 80 ntny
OF our brave men who have fallen in battle,
or died in hospitals frem wounds recesived,
IN the defense Of the Constitutional authori-
ty OF the Government. We yet have, ia
what has been accomplished toward the
suppression Of the Rebellion and the ex-
tlngulshment OF its cause; in the heroic
deeds OF our noble armies aud gallant navy:
In the revival OF the patriotism Of the coun.
Try, that almost seemed to he paralyzed un-
der the influence of our national prosperity:
in the unprecedented generosity of the
people awakened by the wants of the Gov.
ernnlent and the necessities of its defenders;
much, very much, of the highest fclicita-
tlon, and for which the country is grateful
to Almighty God and may | not add to
these causes OF oongratulaton the forma-
tion Of the political organization of which
this Convention is representative, which
has SO Dobly sustained the Government in
its efforts to put down the Rebellion, and to
the complete accomplishment of which its
energies are concentrated. The patriotic
harmony that has marked our assembling
and will characterize all our proceedings,
and promote that harmony which will dis
play itself on the unanimous nomination
for the Presidency of the United States OF
the wisa and good man whose unselfsh de-
votion to the country 10 the Administrations
OF the Government, has secured to him not
only the admiration but the warnsst afec-
ton Of every friend of constitutional liber-
t.. need not remind you of the very
grave responsibilities that devolvc upon you
as members Of this Convention. The loyal
people OF the country have authorized and
expect you to renew on their Fart the
pledge of their faith to support the Gov
eminent in the most vigorous prosecution
OF the war to the complete suppression OF
the Rebellion, regardless of the time or tha
resources required to that end, and they squ-
ally expect and call upon you to declare the
cause and support Of the Rebellion to be
Slavery; which, as well for its reasonable
ofienses against the Government as for its
incompatibility with the rights Of humanity
and the permanent pescs of the country.
must, with the termination Of the war, and
as much speedicr as possible, be made to
cease forever in every State and Territory
10 tho Union. But must not refer to other
subjects of interest that will challenge your
attention. Lot me repeat my thanks for
your expression Of confidence in ms 10 hav-
ing selected NE to preside over your deib-
erations. Applause