Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-09-08

OF NEW YORK,
Before the National Democratic Convention.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION |
thank you for the hig honor you have con
ierred upon me in making me President of
this body. The importance of the occasion
has already been expressed in fitting words
by your temporary Chairman. | have not
language to tell with what anxious solici
tude the people Of this country watch our
proceedings The prayers Of men and Wo-
men in ten thousand home go up to heaven
that we may be SO guided i'll our delibera-
tions that our actions may conduce to the
restoration Of our Union, to the return OF
peace, and the maintenance of liberty in
this land. Cheers
1t it not for me to forecast your action
it is not for me say what methods may be
adopted to relieve this afflicted country Of
ours But while | may not speak ON that
subject, | can, with propriety, allude to the
sentiments which animate you all. There
is no man here who does not love the Union.
Cheers. There is no man here who does
not desire peace Cheers. There, is no
man here who is not resolved to uphold the
great principles Of Constitutional freedom.
Applause.
know that the utmost importance at
tachcs to all our proceedings. l know It
it is of vital consequence that you should
select such men, as your candidates, as en-
iov the confidence Of the American people.
But beyond platforms and beyond candl,
dates, there are other considerations OF still
greater significance and importance. When
you wish to know what the policy of Il par
ty will be, you must strive to learn the pas
sions and sentiments which animate that
party. Four years ago, in this city, there
was an assomblage of citizens from the diff
ferent parts of our country, who met here
for the purpose of placing i'll nomination t
candidate for the Presidency. They put
forth declarations that they would not inter
fere with the rights of the States Of thi'
Union. They did not intend to destroy oul
country-tbey did not mean to break dowr
its institutions But unhappily they were
influenced by sectional prejudices, by tanat
icism, by bigotry and by intolerance, anC
we have found in the course Of the last toul
years that their animating sentiments have
overrued their declarations and their prom
iSes, and swept them on, step by step, un
til they have been carried on to actions from
which at the outset they would have
shrunk away with horror. Even now, whcl
war has desolated our land, has Land 1T
heavy burthcns on labor, when bankruptc,
and ruin ONGrhang us, tncy VIII nOC nlN'
Union except upon conditions unknown tC
our Constitution; they will not let the ; he'd
ding of blood cease, even for a little time
to sec if Christian charity or the wisdom o
statcsmanship may not wink out Il mctho'
to save our country, Nay, more than thu
they will not listen to a proposal 10
peace, which does not offer that whicl
this government has no right to ask
This Administration cannot now save thl
Union-if it would 1t has, by its proclaim
ations, by vindicitive legislation, by dis
plays of hate and passion, placed obstacle
in its own pathway which it cannot over
come, and has hampered its own treedoi
of action, by unconstitutional acts. 1t cal
not be said that the failure Of its policy
= due to the want of courage and devotion o
Il the part of our armies. Cheers, NevC
IS in the worlds history have soldiers give
# up their lives more freely than have thos
h of the armies which have battled for ID
h flag of our Union in the Southern States =
The world will hold that they have done o
l. that arms can do and had wise statesme
secured the fruits of their victories, to-da
: there would have been peace in our land
Much Applause.
But while our soldiers hove desperate
n struggled to carry our banner southwark
" the Gulf of Mexico, even now the govern
ment declares that rebellious discomfort hi