The national Republican., 1866-08-10
MASSACHUSETTS, WHEELING INTO LINE,
THE NATIONAL UNION CONvENTiON IN
FANEUIL HALL.
speech Of Genern swiit.

A convention Of delegates from the citizens Of
Massachusetts,, who sustain the Administration In
maintaining unbroken the Union Of the States,
against tho encroachments Of Congress In their
usurpation Of power; who believe tbe Union Of the
States to be indissoube that their equality In the
Union, including the right of representation, Is
guaranteed by the Consiitutioni that slavery Is
abolished, s,d neither can nor ought to be re-es'
tablished, and that each State has an undoubted
right to prescribe the qualifications Of Its own
eieotors-met In Fanouil Hall on Wednesday, fol
the purpose Of celebrating upon the state Of the
country and Of appointing delegates to represent
Massachusetts in tho National Union Convention
which Is to be held in Philadelphia on Tuesday,
August II.
The Convention (says the Boston Commereiai
was very fully attended, embracing delegates from
every part. Of the State, while the galleries and
space beyond the seats prepared for the member
were filed with citizen, who interested in the
proceedings.
Hon. RICHARD s. sPorFoRp, jr., Of Newburyport,
formerly Of the United States Attorney Generals
Department, rose and said thers was q gentleman
present who had in times past rendered conspic.
uous service to the majority Of Massachusetts,, but
Wuo Whs uoW hontt hhu manu- WIN she heu'hio'"'
tion, and he moved that Gen JonS L. SWIFT be in
vited to address the convention:
Gen. Swift, on taking the platform, was loudly
cheered. He began by proclaiming that the move
ment of which the convention formed = part was
started for the restoration Of the zion, and the
people Of tho country meant to b. vo II so. In
such conflict he had no hesitation wIers to go,
and did not entertain q doubt how the people
would decide. The strongest moment Of the oppo-
sition Is the present time. By 9 mistaken pulpit
an emascu sculated Congress and vicious and erro-
neous public opinion, they have boon enabled to
keep their forces together until the present time.
But from this morning their downfall Is assured.
A light has appeared; Q voice has spoken, and
their right Of power from henceforth begins to
wane. week hence the grand army Of the peo.
pie will be organised In the city Of Philadelphia,
and under the banner that will then be thrown to
the breeze the people will go forward to conquer
and overthrow the powers Of disorganiration that
have undertaken to keep the country disunited.
With regard to Senator Wilson'S charges against
himself, the other night, Gen Swift said he would
try titles with tho Senator as to who most en-
titled to claim fidelity to principles II the Sena.
tor and himself diverged now, it was because the
Senator had abandoned the principles upon which
he was elected. Upon the movement now made to
restore the Union against the devices and conspra
cies of radicals, Mr.. Swift was sure 1t would grow
and flourish and fll the land. and that, in its
growth, the time was coming when Senator Wilson
would pass out Of the Senate Of the United States
and lay down honors which he had tarnished, with
q greater unanimity Of assent from the people Of
that Commonwealth than followed him to that high
post. Gen. Swift closed amid great applause.