The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-03-10
a Brief and Pun.ent Speech.

a Brief anI I.un.ent Speech.
Upon the motion of the chairman of the
state central committee, Hon. VIM. d. Bish>
op was made temporary chairman of the
State Convention which assembled in Hart
ford, Conn, and upon taking his seat spoke
as fellows:
Dir. Chairman and Gentlemen Of tie Con-
reatt0n u can assure you that | am taken
somewhat by surprise in being called upon
to preside over this convention. However,
| thank you for the honor YOU haze conferred
upon me. | am little surprised to find
that there Is a Democratic convention in the
state OF Connecticut, for it has been con
stantly prophesied by our political opponents
that the Democratic party would be unable
to withstand the defeats and reverSes of the
past four years, and that. if it ever hoped
again TO assume the position of power and
influence which it once ossesseI, it would
be compelled to change not only its name
bat also its principles. But | find, gentle
men, that the members of the Democratic
party Of Connecticut are once more ready TO
show their allegiance 10 the constitution aud
the Union Of cur common country, and their
devotion to those enduring principles upon
which alone a free government can rest.
often STYLED the '.unterrifel." | am Inclined
to think there is some pro rriety in tn. Ie>ig
uatiOn-for during the past three or four
years all tn threats of power, all th oppro-
briOus epIthcts of political parsons. ali the
bi!Iinsgate and abuse which meauuess could
invent or malice coucoct. all the pcrsrcu-
tians OF the press and pulpit. and ros'rum,
have not been able to drive them from their
allegiance. to their principles, or fri-hten
them out Of their consistency. Applause
And | think, gentlemen. in the language OF
the Apostle Paul, that we are "pe. .suaded
that neither death, nor life, Tor angels. nor
prIncIPalltIes, nor powers. nor things pres
cnt. nor things TO come, nor height or depth,
nor any other creature. shall uc able to s-p-
arate Us from the line" of the Union and the
principles which are in The Democratic par
ty. Loud applause Never. perhaps in
the history cf the countrg. or IN the history /
OF the Democratic party, have the mtmoers /
Of that party been called upon and urged I.
forward with stronger motives of patriotism .
and love OF country TO enter iG.9 the contest .
than thcy are At the present time. We have .
Just passed through tour wears OF . bloody .
and terrible civil war, unparalleled ia mag .
nitu!e III the history OF tie world. We are .
lust beginning TO reap the bitter fruits Of the .
bloody harvest. For years arl yeats. and .
years to come, the people Of this vast cJuu-
try, their ch:ldsen and their children, bal /
drca must continue a. s;aggyr U4aar load /
Of taxation aai deb: greater in proportion 70 F.
the wealth. of tie country lhun auy which /
oppress.s the people Of any aat9g upon /
Gods tootstOol. Those evils are uppn . G ;
and it must be the mission Of ,he Demo, .
cratic party to render the LOAD as eas.lT % be /.
borne as possible. Some inquiring political ,
opponents NAV asA-"Whal 10 the Demo /
cratic party propose - dD:' | answer bv +.
telling him, we propose first to make one (
vigorous effort to tain the management OF (
the affairs OF this Government. IIo may 3
naturally inquire wha, We will DO then? ! 4
tell him some things that we viii NOT do:
We will not continue to force a law or srs- .
TEN OF laws upon the statute books Of this
state or nation which compe.s one half o. the
people of this cOuntry to belr the burdens Of
taxation OF the other half applause but
we will make taxation just and equal. as be
tween man and man, aud We vii use all the
means which God aud nature have placed in
oar power to accomplish that end Ap-
pause and cries of Good" \ gain W
will not attempt to block the wheel. of tue
government, nor 10 make patch worl os- the
constitution Of the United States, for the
purpose OF forcing the Negro down the thrOa;s
Of the people Of Connecticut, Wisconsin, or
any other state, against their consent. TAp,
plause. y gain We will not attempt'to 70 des-
TROY the equality Of The states, or roll them
Of the reserved rights under the constitution.
and thus build up in this country Il great
concentrated, consolidated govcrnment.-
But in the future, as in the past, we Will ap-
peal to the peo J., and will advocate eqaalitv
of taxation, equality Of states, and no negro
suffrage. Loud applause In addition to
this, we viii sustain the president Of the
United States in his honorable PATRIOTIC and
worthy efforts to prevent Sumher. Ste-
vens and their satlllites from destroying the
union bf the states, Iapplause, and 10 all in
our power to aiG him in bringing bad to the
union those who have strayed from it for the
time being. These, tello" citizens, think.
are the objects which the democratic party
have in view. These are ;he objects which
we shall endeayor to accomplish and, if we
are only true to ourselves, and true to the
magnitude Of the greet Issues which are at
stake, I cannot but think that the democrat
ic party will succeed at the coming election.
Applause.