The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-09-26

Of Hon. James Guthrie.

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Speech Of Hon. James Guthrie.
ADDRESS Delivered at Nep ANaay, Ind,
September l6-Ihe Meaning Of the CHI
cago Plattoam--Peoce on the Basis Of the
Union .ts
FELLOW CITIZENS or INDIANA: Ken
lucky bids you God.speed in this great
work of saving the nation. / have been ia
Chicago. know the platform there adopted
by the Democracy. l assisted in making
it. I know what it means. 1t means peace.
It means peace upon the basis of the re. es>
tablishment of the Union in all it's integ~
rity. Who would give up the mouth of the
Mississippi and the grave of jackson for a
peace which divided this Union? Who
would give up the glorious Constitution of
our fathers for peace which separates this
great Republic2 Not the Democratic and
conservative masses now arrayed under the
standard OF that hero statesman, George
B. Mcclellan. No, fellow-citizens, it is an
other party that would thus disrupt this
nation if it's hideous dogmas Of abolitionism
are not accepted by the people ofthe South.
The Chicago platform and the letter of ac-
ceptance Of Mcclellan mean that the Pres
ident of the United States, and every otti.
cial of the Government, either in the civil
or military departments, shall be as obedient
to the Constitution as the humblest citizen
or soldier. 1t is peace platform on the
basis of the Union, the Constitution and
the laws. Who dares be against such a
platform? fthe South is against such q
peace, if she refuses to accept the offer Of
such peace, "if frank, earnest and per-
sistent effort to obtain these objects should
fail, then the responsibility for ulterior
consequences will fall upon those who re
main in arms against the Union. But the
Union must and shall be preserved at all
hazards" Such is the construction Of the
Chicago platform as given by General Me-
Clellan, the nominee Of the Convention.
Such is the construction placed upon it by
tho Democratic and conservative mass
es throughout the country. We will
never give up the mouth of the Mississippi
for jeff. Davis and all his crew. know
him well. The South are for peace. Offer
them peace upon this basis and they will
take it-yes, take it with joy, and return
to their allegiance. 1t is the principle of
tho Constitution, and says that the majority
shall rule. 1t is not for one man to say that
we shall or that We shall not have peace.
Who is it that reverses this principle of the
Constitution, and says that the majority
shall not rule? Abraham Lincoln and his
party, he who denied the people the right
Of free speech and the liberty of the press.
=. h.,
coin was elected-the first time since he
violated the Chicago platform of 1860
since he violated the laws of Congress
since be violated the Constitution--that the
Democratic party have had a chance to
speak. And now it will speak until it saves
this great republic--this precious Constitu>
ton. 1t will speak ut the ballot-box, the
great and sacred forum from which every
American citizen may speak with power.
have right as Democrat, to speak of
jeff Davis and Abraham Lincoln. They
were both born in Kentucky, and both have
disgraced that noble commonwealth, and
her principles of equal rights and Just laws.
Both Of them take men against their wills
to fight their battles. Lincoln is doing this
now-forcing men to fight for the abolition
of slavery, not for the restoration Of the
Understanding n en- into your houses with
bayonets to hold in awe peaceable loyal
citizens. He has to-day scattered through
out the loyal States of the North to domi>
nate over free people, soldiers enough to
subiugate JEFF. Davis confederation. /
am for peace-for peace that will
give us back the old Union under the Con.
stitutlon, was q member of the peace
Congress in 1861. In thi. Congress / was
for peace, concession, and renewed guaran
ties to all the States. i believed, then, as
now, that the great waste of precious blood
which has taken place would not restore
the Union. Issked that the seven border
free aud the seven border slave, States
might propose basis for the settlement oi
all difficulties, They could hare proposed
such a basis as would hare been full
final, honorable and satisfactory arrange
fment. But the radicals in that Congress
would not consent to II. Neither the Ab-
olitionists Of the North nor the Secession.
lists of'the South would consent toft. Thej
would have, nothing but blood. Well, have
we not had blood to the hearts content o
the nation Even preachers have preached
war, and desolation, and blood. The tenn
pies Of the meek and lowiy Jesus have beer
made the temples from which war, ant
raPine, and blood have been preached; b,