Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-14
TIE SPIRIT OF THE CHICAGO
G,3NV-ENTION.


TIE SPIRIT OF THE CHICAGO
-. ~. CONVENTION.
We givo below the speeches OF AIR. Bel
mont, Of New York, who called the Con-
,cntf,a to order, Mr.. Hgler, of Penr.syl-
vania, the temporary Chairman, an i Gov.
Seymour, of New York. the Permanent
President Of the Chlcag Ccnvention.-
From these our readers wii..;te able to nm
derstand tho sen,iuents which controlled
iee seton:
Cn1yAG, }, August 29.-At noon the Ma
tinnaI Democrat Convention was calle'
to order hv Ansnste Belmont, Chairman 6
the National Committee, who said:
G.nle,u u Of tie Conv- nttom:-We ave
assembled here to day as the Nstions
Democratic Convention, under the call O ,
the Democratic National Committee, for
the purpose Of nominating candidates tor.
tie Presidency aud Vice Presidency o.
the United States.
rnis task, at all times most difficult
andardaoas one, has, by the sad event OF
our civil war, assumed an importance and
responsibility Of the most fearful NATURE.
Never since the formation OF nar govern
n,ent has there been an ass;lnh1 ase, the
proceedings of which were Taught with
more mo:nentuus and y'..al results than
those which must flow from yaar aetin:.
here.
Towards You, gentlemen. are directed
at this r,omeut the anxiors feass and
doub's, not only of milliens of American
ciiizeus hut ais, OF every lover of civil
iboyiy throughout the world. In your.
hands rests, under tire rulings Of an all
wise Providence, the future OF tho Repub-
lie. Four years of rule BY a sectional,
fanatical and corrupt party, warns US OF
the disastrous consequences which would
betall us if MIR. L:ncoin's reelection should
be made possible by cur want of patriot
ism and unity. The inevitable results OF
suclf calamity must he tho tlisntegration
of our whole political and social system,
amid bloodshed and anarchy, with the
sr,a. prohlens Of liberal progress and SELL
so:crnnent jeepardized for generations
> to come.
The american psopie have at last awak-
ened to tlie conv:ct ion that a change Of
pnlicy and Alminisyrstio:. can alone stay
or downward cnnrse, apd they will rush to
tn" support of or candidate and platform
provided you Will offer to their suffrages
II tried patriot wing has proved his devo-
tI'n to tue Union sssa Constitution; that
yon pledge !im and ourselves to maintain
their halI'wed Importance by ever effort
and sacrifice in oar power. Let US, at the
very outset of the proceedings, bear i'll
nliid fiat the dissentions of the last Ma
iional Democratic Convention were one
Of the principal causes which gave the
rens of the government into the hands OF
o"r opponents, and let us beware not to
fall again into the sa,ae fatal errer.
We must bring to the altar of our conn-
try the sacrifice of our predjudees, epn-
ions and convictions, how ever deSr and
long cherished they may he, faom the mo
ment they tllreaen the karmony and uni
ty of action 50 Indispensable to our sue
cess. ~. .- ~.--.,.
We are here, not as War Democrats,
nor as Peace Democrats, bat as citizens O!
this great Republic, which will strive and
labor to the last to bring back to its for,
mer greatness and prosperity, without ono
single star taken from the brilliant con
stella;ion that once encircled its youthful
brow. ....,t
Let pure and dis:nserested patriotism
tempered by moderation and f;,rbearance
preside over our deliberations, and, under
the blessing Of Almighty God, the sacred
cause cf the Union, the Constitution ant
the laws must prevail over tauaticisln anl
treason
Mr.. Bcisannt WAS enthusiastically zap
piauded daring the delivery Of his al
dress.
srErcu OF Ex-Gov. BIGLER.
Gentleman of the Convention i all
greatly lsmored III yonr selection of M
"preshie over the preliminary deliber.,
tions Of this body. My acknowledge
ments. for the high compliment, and to
the ki',a greeting just extendedt TO ME b,
This vast concourse OF my fellow citizens
will he best manifested hy the proper dis
charge. of the duties of the position I,
which yai, have called me- 1t is not TX
peeled, nor would it be fitting in one a.
Stunning more Temporary Presidency Il
the Convention, that lie SHOULD enter III;
nn any general discussion ,f the man
topics suggested by the unhappy cond
sion Of aur country,
a brief ahHsinn to III, ocros;,n o.,
purposes u our assemblayc is all that ";
he necessary. No similar body ever -
senblsd III America witt, ,nixhti.r ii
;sets before it, or to which such a VA
proportion Of the American peon,e loci
I'd with such profound solicitule f,r N 90
ures to promote the welfare of the con-
try and advance their individual ham
sr~t-