The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-09-16
THE NATIONAL CONTENTION.
Street Speeches to the People of Chi
cago.
SPEECH OF HON. G. T. CURTIS.

Hon. Mr. Curtis, Of New York, said. |
join very heartily 10 the sentiments of NV
friend, Capt. Ry nders. Of New York, when
he urged upon the people of this country
the necessity for unity of sentiment in the
grea. struggle which is now upon us. We
have endeavored to build up strong dem
ocratic party in the comm on W ealth of
New York, ard with the help Of God and
The Intelligence of the people, We have
built there tarrier against Federal usur-
patton and tyranny, such as will never be
swept away. [Cheers. And pledge
you tonight. that whoever may be The
nominee Ct this convention, that nominee
will receive in the State Of New York a,
least 90 900 majority. Loud cheers
Father Abraham has sent for u. and we
are coming fully 10000 strong. GCheers,
laughter, and cries of "good"1 We are
coming not TO do deeds of laughter-we
are coming not to destroy the liberties Ct
the American people-we are coming not
to work discerd and sepsration-but we
are coming to restore the Union, to re-
establish the constitution, and to declare
to all men that for all time the Liberties Of
the American people shall remain secure
aud firm as the everlasting hills. ZAP
plause.
We stand almost 10 view of the last
resting place of a great sta:esman-of the
grave of the grea, Douglas. And regret
that he could not have lived to have wit
hessed this great uprising to express the
majestic voice and the free sentiments Of
ihs masses. Cheers. There is no State
IN the Union where The Federal govern
ment have endeavored TO encroach more
upon the liberties of the people than in the
Commonw wealth Of New York. We have
endeavored, to the best Of our ability, to
resist this encroachmen:, and to tiud
anids, the struggle which is now upon us,
and which We had long foreseen, com
mon standing ground from which the
democratic sentiment should 90 forth to
victory Cheers. Fellow citizens do you
realize the importance Of this issue Cries
of " We DO" Do you realize the fact
that you are TO head a powerful conflict
for the preservation of all that is near and
dear to US as free citizens in the way of
political rights Every principle ofliber
ty-every guarantee embodied 10 the con.
stituton-has been trampled under the
feet OF the National Executive and bis sub
ordinates; and they fear not so much the
change in office as the just retribution Of
the people upon them for their individual
corIuptions, and for their political malfeas>
ance, and crimes. .[Cheers.1 .a ..l
Fellow-ctizens, you are in danger OF be-
coming subjects of a centralized, consoli-
dated power in the general government.
Every act of the administration since the
Inauguration of this struggle has tended to
that end, and every act of usurpation of
which they have been guilty, they have
endeavored to excuse under the plea of
military necessity. | ask you what is the
significance CT the word. military peces>
slty :! AS applied to the government of
The people, 1t means the enforcement of
martial law. And wha, is martial law
1t is that law which usurps the place of
evil legislation and OF civil process, and
gives in its stead individual rights and
liberty. Cheers. l trust the dav will
never come when the scenes witnessed in.
the Commonwealth of Kentucky-a State
rendered glorious by the associations of
the Past-will be enacted on this-when
the administration will endeavor by force
Of arms to interfere with the free sentiment
and free will of the people. BUTT that
should come. before God and in the sigh,
of Heaven, | would invoke the aid Of
counter revolution. Loud cheering.1 A
people who would submit to the degree
Of outrage and tyranny which DESTROYS
the charter Of their liberties, are not fitted
to live and stand up as men, but should lie
down and die as slaves. Cheers, and
cries OF good" | warn the government
now in power not to trample too far upon
the liberties which are left to US; for if
they do. they will be swept before storm
as ship is swept from the sea in storm.
.ICheers.
Fellow citizens this victory is within
your grasp. and | ask you not to allow i,
to be torn from you but sink all personal
differences and prejudces, and resolve to
do your DUTY as citizens. Remember, up
on you depends the question whether or
not IN this land freedom of speech is to BE-
allowed-whelher freedom of the press is
to be allowed whether the great writ of
habeas corpus is 10 be respected whether
that gooG old doctrine of non-interveu,ion,
inculcated by the spirit and genius and
craftsmanship of Monroe, is 20 stand as
The fundamental principle and law of the
land. Cheers.I In regard to this s:rug-
gle, remember that peace can only be
brought about by supporting the nominee
OF the present convention. TCheers I |
tell you that The south to-day are willing
to come back to their rights Under the
constitution, if their rights al e guaranteed
to them beyond peradvepture. [Cheers. I
And any man who, in spite of the mute
bu, eloquent appeals of those brave men
whose heads now lie under the cold sods
OF the valley in Virginia and Tennessee
any man, who in view of the immense
burden Of deb. and taxation will continue
10 course Of national destruction and re-
venge, must be worse than a Nero-yea,
even than Satan himself Loud and con.
tinued applause
E The Hartford Times publishes an
origin nal poem on the last call for, five hun