Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-27
THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
SPEECH OF HON ROBERT C. WINTHROP.
AT NEW LONDON, (cT.)
FOR A CHANGE OF ADMINS IRA TIOY.

la.
which the meeting held was crowded to IT'D utmost
capacity, and numbers were unable to obtain entrance
Aiter lne meeting had been organized, the Hon ABEL
CONVERSE who was appointed to preside introduced tho
speaker OF the evening by The following brief speech;
Fellow citizens we are to night honored with the pre-
sence OF distinguished gentleman who naturally iurns TO
New London the birthplace Of his father aod the home
OF long line of ancestors gentlemrn whose eerant
culture and enlightened ststesusnship have made him
nationa nay, world wide reputation gen;ieman who
iu the better days of the Republic leadug spirit 10
the national Wing party gentleman who tonight stalts
with shoulder shoulder 10 the ranks nf only con
stuiional and Uoon party of the country [appsus- he
George Mcclellan [AIpause Fellow-ot TsOs, allow
me to present to you the Hon. RoDert c. Winthrop.
MR. wIETHRoP's SPEECH.
Mr. WINTHROP was greeted with applause as ne roae
on the platform, and proceeded to speak a. f5iowas
FELLOW. CITIZENS: am deeply sensible to the kind.
ness aud the compliment of this reception hauk you
for this inspiring welcome TO your city. have
your request to address You the great nb which
uppermuut in all our mnds aid in all our hearts
here Tor no purpose Of d. clamauon or display
to appeal to no preudces ar parsloos OF rhsorc
can meet the of this hour If We're ever O..
pabe of h.m, abandon and discard them all to night
an here only from deep OF fhe duty wh rests
upon each Of to contribute what can by word
or BY deed for suffering. bleeding country Comp p-Ied
by engagements by my health hu dr-d hsc
invitations, could not resis the appeal which made
to me from New London Aud if any word OF may
be thought worthy Of being listened to or regarded 10
Connecticut elsewhere there place from which it
may more fhy 60 forth thap from This old and h,lord
home of my fathers. lApp!ause
1t is tms am aware, my friends whom the beet and
visest aud most patriotic men may dfsr and do differ
widely from each other. would reproachrs upp
my opponents do not forget the reproaches wOich
been upon myself from quarer-, but have
heart for bsndyiug personalities at period like this
pass by all such matters unworthy Of moments co 81
deraton Or rather let me say they pa. By like the
idle wind Th- air. indeed full Of them. rbitrarS aud
napta Ind
and malicious Representations and mputations0p
probrious aud insulting and epthets, often applied
by who might we'll be conscious tnat uobvdy d-a
them much themseves-the air is full OF them Thy
swarnDg up from stump and rostrum aud press and
platform We meet them at every turn. Let US me-
tort them. Let not them Let no ono by any
be tempted provoked By them ioto acs OF veu-
geance violence. Let Us simply overwhelm them With
contempt aud pass unawed aud uuintmidated e. the
hon st opi aad tne asser.
on and ex' rcse uf our rghts as reemen lAPt l'usa
Let initiate the example of noble caLdldate,
whose quiet Of injustice and cau my has been
of the most beautiful illustrations OF his character md
has won for him a respect which viii outvs ephemc
raj nooriety of hi, reves Our country cals Al toia
for the beat thoughts, the bTavrs counsel tie
one of her sons Let US compare our opniaa "tn ach
other honestly, ipdepe denty, feariessy and let no
shrink from following his own confoentous conv.ctions
wherever they may lead him.
THE MoAENToUs ISSUE AT STAKE.
It may be misfortune fslow-ct gems, that new ees-
on of national rulers should have cume upon pre-
csey at this moment We would all slaoy keep our eyra
steadily fixed upon courtry's flag, it and
wavers upon yonder battle fields. We would willingly
follow its gallant supporters in the conflicts 10 which they
engaged with undivided and uninterrupted sympathes
for great political struggle The Constitution of tue
United States has fixed that time unateraby and nothing
remains for but to discharge our duties Intelligent aud
responsible citizens. great, tremendous respon ibty
certainly upon u.s. When the vtes of the people Of tho
United States-your votes and mine among tuem-shal
have decided the question: by what party and upon
what principles and policy the National Governmet shall
be administered for the next four years they will have de-
termined under God the dcsnss OF our country for un
born generations NO In can dsubt that the
results Of the Administration OF the next four yesrs Will
be decisive of the fate OF this Republic Within that pe
riod the Uni to bs saved lost Within that period
the Constitution is TO be vindicsted or overhrown With
in that period the old flag Of our fathers IL 70 DO re-
advanced in triumph over all the Sta of which IL has
been, borne the emblem; or rent 10 twain
and shorn Of half its ustre 1t Is to droop over divided
land If the stake of the impending contest my friends,
any thing less than this any thing less any thing
other than the Of the Uuon and the salvation Of tho
Republic 10 be the result OF this electoa We might
well hesitate about entering into political struggle aad
arrayng ourselves against exiting Administrator in
time civil But with puch issue OF national life
national death before us, there ought to De- there cal
be, hesitation on the part Of any patriotic citizen
Every Of u.s. young and old 10 called upon by coDste
raons from which there be no appeal by obligations
from which there be escape to iorn careful did.
passionate conscientious opinion 70 hs Own Ia ivdu.l
duty and then to perform that duty without tuchng
iatering. We may be pardoned for honest mistake
We be excused for OF judgment but we can
ne YER be excused before beurS God for sIaudng
neutral md doing nothing There is no exemption fom
this warfare Not only should be written every msus
forehead what he thinks OF the Republic bu! 10 "a
should give sleep 10 bis eyes suulber 10 DIS eyeis
without ASKING blmself What do for my counI y
How exercise that most precious Of all privileges,
greatest Of all hs the ell, cve franchise 10 ~a5
to from the dangers By which she Is epeom'
passed [Applause.
GRATITUDE For VICTORIES.
And pow my r.en lhs 6rsL emotion which nelcn
these of milling ourselves together, aud the
TO which ali aud always most eager - give
presson Is that OF and gladness aud grauds tor the
signal WHICH have been recently vvuchsalsd 70
our arms [Cheers Most sisoal they certainy tass
been, 1t te denied that, spos tbs Of
Gen. Mcclellan pEomus at Cncugo loud chsers,
the military aspect Of our atars has been taty tu
proved. lhe ,llaut sherman, at Atlanta, h1e.s aud
daring usshug Sheroap in the sheuaudoah ley
cheers have achieved victories OF vital I1pvrt1ce o
Of The Union aud most heartily would "e urs
with fellow citizens Of all parties 10 paying Welt
earned tribute OF respect and aonruJI 70 lRs nin'
ders and 10 the soldiers who have been iostrumt ~
accomplishing these glorious results. laPPau's,I ms
told, indeed that all these victories are lDparos tns
prospects own political success snd ma!sn9s ene
chances of Cen McCleans election to the PresdsIcy.
Laughter But we rejoice ia them all notwithstanding
and thank Ucd TOR ". tn Undivided hearts tess
esn1 The more of them the better Whatever Elsy DO
lbe on the election before Us We are cJUieut
to h, so deeaed that DO their glmate, their
ileotmats result-wo tha0 coutens. venture
n s,y mat cur noble candidate would luce heaculy
4. Predeut Lincoln hmse at every Of srus,
even should the quence be to leave him without
single electoral vote. de had rather see bic couUtry