The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-09-14
Chr 5aneosk Jsffersoaiaa
Speech of Hon. Jas. Speed,
Chairman OF the Philadelphia Loyal
Convention.


ASSEMBLED: thank you cordially |
for the compliment you have paid me |
in calling me to preside over the de
hberations of this body. l feel that
you could have called a worthier
man, one who has been more thor
oughly tried than have. l take the
position, however, and will discharge
the duties and functions of the Office
to the best of my ability.
In my time, gentlemen, / have re
ceived some honors, and have borne
them, think, meekly. l feel in my
heart that the honor conferred upon
me to day by this Convention of vol.
UNFAIRLY associated Southern men,
devoted to their country and its free
dom, is the highest honor that ever
yet received. Applause.
We are assembled here upon a
grand and a great occasion, and
at great time. Why are we here,
gentlemen Why is it that so many
of us have come from the far distant
portions of this country, not at the
command or upon the suggestion OF
those in power, but have come of our
own accord, have come at our own
expense Why is it, | say, that we
are here? ? Why is it that we have
come to the good old city OF Phila
delphia? [Applause. And above
all, ask you why and how it is that
when we had come here the loyal
hearts of this loyal people so stir.
red ? Why have they turned, and
almost by millions, to greet us p
Why this spectaclep Did they come
out simply for the purpose OF seeing
a reed shaken by the wind? Did
they come out simply for the purpose
OF seeing frail men who are to-day,
but may not he to morrow who have
had their triale in the past and ex-
pect them in the future? They turn
ed out to receive us and meet us
some what upon our own accounts,
personally, it may be, but mainly and
chiefly because We are representa-
tives of a great truth. 1t was not TO
us as men, as it was TO the principles
that we represent. Applause. II
was because in our past lives We had
shown decision of principles, and
because we arc here for the purpose
of renewing, upon the altar OF liberty
in this ancient city, and among these
loyal people, our pledges, and of de.
claring our purpose to stand by the
principles upon which this Govern
ment is founded. Applause.
l beg you, gentlemen, in the delib
erations of this Convention, to bear
this great fact in mind. Let it con
troll your thoughts. Let it control
your actions and your thoughts. BE
free. firm, clear and digniied, loving
and merciful. Applause
What principle is it, then, that we
represent 4? Why is it that we are
here 2 Why is it that we receive
such an ovation upon our coming
What is 1t and how is it, that thepeo-
pie Of this great nation are stirred
now rs they rarely have been stirred
heretofore ....
Just think of it. Less than eight
cen months ago in this country more
than 4 million of men were arrayed
in arms hostile to each other. The
passions which led to bloodshed, anC
the passions which are consequen
upon the flowing of human blood
were then ripe, aud these swayed anC
controlled alike, individuals and com
binations, and the whole country wa
awake, and the whole country, as i
d were, in great throes of excitement
= hearing the tread and march of grea
y armies and listening to the cries from
e the battle field, hearing the news o
!, severe battles 10 follow--then tn
e country was stirred, then the coun
!, try was excited. But the great arm.
: OF the Republic, that army which ha
II consecrated itself to constitutions
liberty and the establishment Of free
!. dom, that noble band OF patriots an,
: warriors has performed the task as
. signed it, and nobly did they do thei
work. Applause. They disarme
= traitors, dispersed the hostile armie
and destroyed the organized civ
Governments Of the rebellion, an
having taken the arms from tue hand
of traitors within our limits, the arm
D of patriot warriors disappeared, an
they are again patriot citizens. u
distinguished, they sit in the crow
'e without epaulettes. without badge
ID without uniforms. Applause, i
They, rs everybody else, appeal I
o. %. the ballot box. Applause rhC
st appeal to the regular, ordinary, an
o. peaceful agencies of this Goyerme'
" for the purpose OF accomplishing Il
remainder Of the work. Applause
W. The soldiers of our army, in comIG
- with all good men, never wish To y
war again, i Applausel But II
soldiers from tue army, as all goS
ng men, whilst they never wish to s.
or war again, whilst they also wish
he see peace established upon prineipl
II IL permanent, peace, not a. seemiI
nl peacenthey wish principles establis
d, ed whose, origin is in that truth,
" the bosom of God himself, that is t
/. principle of justice, equal rights al
w security to every human being wit
y in the jurisdiction OF the Unit
States. Great applause. Il
Southern men who have seen ii
great sin of slavery which some 50
paradoXically was the corner sto
r. of Republican Institutions, say
c., ,hA hn Z