The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-08-22
MR.. DooLITTLE's SPEECH.

Gentlemen of the Convention, and Fell
low Citizens Of the United States ICheersl
For the distinguished honor Of being called
upon TO preside over the deliberations of
this Convention, sincerely thank you. |
conid have wished that ITS responsibilities
had fallen upon another. but relying upon
that courtesy and generous confidence
which has called me 10 the chair, enter
al once upon its duties with an earnest de-
sire for the success Of the great Cause in
which We are now engaged. Among The
great events Of our own day this Csnsen-
tlsn, in nv own opinion, will prove to be
one oil the greatest. for peace hath her VIC
tories not less renowned than war. APP
plause.l And this Convention IS one Of
her victories-may | not say croMning
victorys GAppl.use. For The first time
in sir years national convention repre-
senting all the States, is now assembled.
TAppiause.l Six long. weary years. As
we look back, OH !! what an interim OF blood,
and agony. and tears During that period
we have been engaged in the most gigantic
civil war The world has ever seen, wasting
our resources. drcnehing thousand battle
fields with fraterna. blood, and carrying 70
. premature grave our fathers. our sons.
and our brothers By hundreds Of thou sands.
Bat, thanks be TO Almighty God. the var
| is over, Enthusiastic cheering and APP
plause, aud the assurances which We here
witness tell Us that peace has come, and
come 10 stay. Applause. Bal, my fell
low citizens. il The people ut the Uniled
States could al this moment look IN at tbs
Convention. if they could see what We now
witness, the North anil the South, the Eas,
and the West, joining together IN lraternal
/ association as friends and fellow citizens,
our work would be already done. Cheer
| ing and applsuse.l Ifthey could have seen
las we saw-Massachusetts and South
Carolina, Applause, BY their full Jrlrga-
ton, coming arm in arm GspPlause INTO
this great Convention, Applause II they
could have seen this body greater in num-
bers, aad in weight of character and brain.
than ever yet assembled on this continent
under any roof, applause, j melting TO tears
Of Joy and gratitude 10 witness this com.
ming ling, there could be no struggle At the
polls in the coming elections. Applause.
i When | remember that il was Massachu.
sets and South Carolina that. in the con.
yentian which framed the Constitution,
voted against The abolition Of the slave
trade that il was Massachusetts, in 1872
which, through some VI her mea, taught the
herrsy II qualification, which South Caro-
lima r.asserted IN 1855. and in the form Of
s.r.ss,.,., ...a,., ~aaaaarf.I m S6n. ,.k.o 4
call u mind that South Carolina fired the
first gun iii this recent contest, and that the
VEINS Of Massachusetts, poured out the hrsi
blond ii the struggle; and when call 10
mind all these memories, and al tile same
time ask tie people VI the country 10 look
III Un this Convention aud see these two old
States Of the Union coming here IN irater.
nal embrace. approving common action
VI common country, ready 10 make com.
nun sacrifices for the good Of the whole
SAY again, could the whole people ol Tie
United States witness all this. there would
REMAIN no further work fur Us III the tall
electious. Applause. II the poole ol
Massachusetts herself could have witness.
ed il, nnt 4 single member could have re-.
turned To Congress enthusiastic cheering
and applause iram q ~ State until lie had
given the most sacfei pledge that he would
do all ~ his power 10 Congress to reeog.
nize tie equality and dignity of al States
under the Constitution, applause aud
cheering, including the sacred, inallrnable
right Of every State under tile Consultation
70 representation 10 both Houses. [cheer.
ing and applause.l Gentlemen of tie Con.
sen,ion. shall 20 into no argumen, 81 ri,
occasion. A .oice, Go on. 20 on Tie
distinguished gentleman who preceded mr
said al that now desire 10 say, and much
better than could say il. Voices, !. Gl
on | endorse, and take great pleasure
IN fully endorsing all that he said-scn.
tenee BY sentence and word by wori. Up.
1 nl.asa