The Portland daily press., 1865-08-11
UNION STATE ooNvENr1on

The delegates elected to the Union State
Convention assembled at City Hall Thursday,
Aug. 10th, for the purpose of nominating a
candidate for Governor.
Atten O'Clock the Convention was called to
order by Hon. George P. Sewall, of Oldtown.
Chairman Of the State Committee, who nomi-
mated for the temporary organization of the
Convention the following officers:
Hon. John A. Peters of Bangor, President.
and Major Eliphalet Rowell of Hallowell, and
Alden Sprague, ESQ.,, of Rockland, as Secreta-
ries.
On assuming the chair Mr.. Peters address,
ed the Convention as follows:
FeIIoso Citizens II thank you for the hon.
or of the position assigned me in the Conven-
ton of the Union men of Maine. aW H
we have assembled under new but most
glorious and happy auspices. Since our last
gathering year ago the war has been vigor-
orously fought and ended, and our country has
become redeemed, regenerated and disenthral-
led. We have met the enemy and he is ours
the country is ours-the Union and Consti-
tuition are ours-the battlefield and victory are
ours. How nobly and true was a sentiment
OF Webster as applied to us that we
should endure as one country, one cOnsiitn-
ton and one destinyi Such material in the
men who fought the battles could not be CON
quered-such heroism, patriotism, devotion
and steadfastness the world has never SEEN
1t for no other purpose we should meet on an
occasion like this to ask the blessings of Heav-
en- on the head Of every soldier of The great
and glorious armies, whether white or black
And such generalshipl We suffered long for
great men to lead u.s. but they came to us at
last, and then success came like the blaze of
day-ylctory came sure, perfect and irresista-
pie! ouch combinations were never known
before the victorious legions of Sherman ar
complished what the imperial Corsican Nano-
leon could never do; Charleston was taken
l50 miles OFF almost as by the wizards wand
Sheridan struck down the valley of the She
nanadoah like an electric fire, literally ies-
troying all opposition. Itseemed as if he came
down from the clouds and was everywhere at
the right moment. And Grant, silently and
surely watched besieged and surrounded and
captured Richmond and the Confederate army
This was strategy-noble, sublime and godlike
strategy.
New resolves and new duties are now to be
assumed by us. Rebellion is down. but If
musg 0e forever Kept doacn, and with the least
posslpie expense and effort. We have DESTROY
ed slavery, but shall it ever tve again shall it
DreaGne! shaIiit SUI? shall its dead corpse be
ever LETT In sight? shall its carcass remain nm
buried to offend our nostrils? shall all thn
blood and treasure expended be lost shall the
deSolation of homes and the scenes az ADD
sonville, Belle Island and Libby Prisons anar
be enacted again? No, never-neuer. fao,,
citizens! Sink the old hull of Southern Co,
federacyl pile upon it all the weights necessa-
ry to keep it under! We employed the black
man to help contend against ii while it was
iving-for Heavens skae, if necessary, allow
him to assist us to bury it now it is dead
But, fellow citizens, the enemy in the North
Is as numerous and hostile to us as ever. The
spirit of rebellion is still smouldering, even
pere at our own homes, and must be put down
anu put out forever. In New Jersey, and even
IN New Hampshire, and that, too, since the
IAN u In Inc entire confederate armies, the So
caneu democratic party refuse to vote for the
abolition of slavery when its sura and sr;ft
s,. uctlon has been Acknowledged nv tbe re-
DenlouS states. With their eves hut not with
Cneir hearts, nave they seen the fall ~ tbn inn
perial DuI accursed institution. Tbev arc aven
W soiIe extent, engaged in the praise If prasi-
nothn oo Wo nc needs none Of their SYM
MN. They the supporters Of Toh. 10y KNOW
nave nave Deen opposed to this defensive WIG WIG
they who erected the Chicago nIatea,e war?
even Mcclellan wouldn't stand nno,, . Tinch
son mas taken up the great work whore IN + III
coin left OIL. He will carry it throuob IN m
was almost, 1t not the only distinpnisbaS
ooutnefn leaaer VINO swore on the altar of his
country the fiercest opposition to the antbors
OF rebellion. At that awful period, when civil
and military officers abandoned their posts 70
take up arms against the government and
when State after State swung from the Consti-
tutional moorings to drift out from under the
old nag, ever earnest and honest, vigilant and
faithful, Andrew johnson stood out like a
Drlgnt' clear and only star in the dark and
nr rSen ts Southern Heavens. Who will ever
sSorse. Inc memorable scenes in the American
b DSha.e when Andy johnson rushed into the
s;o o,ows vi ueoate upon the question of seces
evc;ta,,, ~ uoes not remember the terrific
'@-'A''''ien's oi that passage when he advanced