The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-20
syracuse Convention.

syracuse Convention.
SYRACUSE, Aug. ia.-There were two
49, meetings tt day, one ON Franklin st.
Nnd tho other near the Syracuse HOpse. Y110
lar9est was on Franklin Square, VallAn-
rliehann and Fernando Wood being m
nounced to speak there: IN response TO
lond ma enthusiastic calls, Vallandigham
ntepped forward and addressed the multi
tude for an hour or more, holding their
closest attention, except when interrupted
bv applause. He said he was not here TO
parade his private griefs, not to speak Of
what he had done or suffered In the cause
Ill such things were indeed insignihcant IN
comparison 70 the great national lnterests
time has already vindicated almost 70 the
utmost extent, his views in regard to ma
tional affairs. They are no longer peculiar
they are becoming most general. It was
not the purpose Of the convention TO sow
the seeds OF discord in the democratic ranks
such was no part Of his mission. A dele
Constituents at Chicago, he would be false
to them and to the interests Of his party and
his country, were he to lend himselfto such
he would 90 then with the single pur-
pose Of aiding in the bringing about the
nomination Of q sound candidate upon q
sound patriotic platform to promote bar
mOuy AuOuS tuo D0AV01ceS "Iu SO10IA
atives of the country. There Is now but
one question before the country-War or
Peace.
He assured that it is the desire Of all who
love their country that feel her liberties
shall be made safe, and then he wanted.
prosperity restored. There were some who
believed that these objects couldsbe best
Democracy held that they could be OBJ
tanned only through Peace. A majority
determined to try war. We were Obliged
to submit. Had he possessed the power
not one drop Of blood would have been
shed. There would have been no marshal.
ing of hosts; no hostile cannon; no mill
tary debt.
all the men, and all the money he demand
ed. Never was there such an example by
y people. Nothing has been wanting that
constitutional power conceded or that au-
dacious usurpation could take from the
people, and what Is tie result, with more
battles fought than was fought by the three
greatest conquerors Of the world in any
five years Of their power, and is the Union
restored? No! Is q single State brought
back. No! Is the Constitution maintain
ed or observed, our liberties respected?
No! Have we had q free press, free as
semblies, the right of habeas corpus or ar
rests by due process Of law? No! Not!
How is it in material point of view?
A debt of nearly four thousand millions! 4!
lions and a currency worth SO cents on the
dollar, which, two months ago, was worth
a hundred per cent. more than it is now,
and which, two months hence, will be
worth one hundred per cent. less.
Ruin is impending, and now, in the
fourth year Of the war, what better is the
prospect of success. We failed in 1851 and
fCADD. -. - -
men ever went to battle. The campaign Of
1868 opened under better circumstances,
aud we were told that the rebellion would
be speedily crushed out by the force Of
arms, but the end of that year found US
but little advanced.
The campaign Of 1864 opened with the
largest armies the war had yet seen. Those
armies, composed largely OF three years
veterans, were concentrated for attack on
two or three vital points, and with what
result, let the record of carnage and blood
answer.
Having tried war so long, shall we now
try some other means?
He was for trying Cancellation. We SUBJ
mitted to necessity. You had your trial;
you have tried war for four years. Now
let us try our plan. Our foreiathers made
our Constitution in convention with pen,
ink and paper, after debate by free speech,
coming from the hearts Of freemen, and
for three years We prospered under II as
no other people prospered yet. Yet we had
our faiIings during that period. More
than once the Union was endangered. This
is not war for the Union or under the
Constitution, and the eyes Of the people are
being opened to this fact, hence it il that
through all the States the cry for = cessa-
ton Of hostilities is being loudly uttered.
He regarded the call for 500, 600 more men
as confession that the war is to be pro-
longed through 1865. II you send more
men, demand that the war shall be sue
cessful and conducted to the end for which
it was inaugurated. 4afats 4G
In June, IN lis Philadelphia speech, Mr..
Lincoln said that this war would continue
at least three years longer. Elect him, and
you are committed to that policy. There
Is but one way Of averting such calamity
and that ia By n change of Presidents, and
through the ballot box.
At Chicago we propose to nominate cam
didates who will inspire the confidence Of
the people; a statesman who loves liberty
and respects the Constitution and all It's
guarantees a,fu reservations.
Let us be united, disregarding all per-
soma! and minor considerations for the sake
Of the cause, and ifsuccesful, we will have
received the Constitution and secured to
ourselves and our children civil and poll
teal liberty; arrests, military trials and
the suspension Of the writ Of habeas cor
pus, as we'll as OF the press, viii close for
ever in the United States.
He believed a reunion Of the States pos
sible, the South has proposed through her
press and through agents to meet us and
sec If we cannot agree so that peace and
prosperity will be once more restored TO
the country. They too are tired and wea-
ry of the war; they too want an armistice.
AT the conclusion of his remarks Mr..
Van Allen read long series Of resolutions.
They declare that the country has, been
passing trough fearful political convul-
sion when violence attempts by force to
destroy the work Of patriots, and express
heartfelt gratitude to God at the visible
subsidence1of the excitement and passion
which has ccompanied this ,convulsion.
They call upon the people, irrespective Of
party, to aid In obtaining permanent sus-
pension of hostilities and the perfection Of
some mode Of reconstruction which shall
again unite our country on lasting basis
of peace, and that it is the duty Of the Chi
cago Convention to give expression to This
sp;.it of peace and to declare rs the pur-