The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-10
THE NEW YORK CONVENTION.
Opening Speech by Mr.. Belmont

dels,ates in New York on the ith, 10 call
Ne democratic national convention to order.
lie did go. IN . neat, welIconsdcred, forci'
bly, expressed and very appropriate speech
His sentiments we're 50 felicitiously and
forcibly Expressed on the occasion, that we
feel confident our readers would not excuse
US if VIC fail to lay his remarks before them.
We therefore give his speech, as reported in
the proceedings Of the convention. Mr.Bel'
mont, in calling the convention to order,
said:
GENTLEMEN or TIE CONVENTION 1t is
my privilege to-day to welcome you here in
this hall, constructed with so much artistic
taste and rendered to You by the timohonored
society Of Tammany. welcome YOU to this
temple erected to the Goddess Of Liberty by
her staunehest defenders and most iervent
wurshipers. | welcome you TO this good
city OF New York the buIwark OF democracy
which has rolled back the surging waves Of
radicalism through all the storms Of the last
eight years; and | welcome you to your
empire state which last fall redeemed her
self from republican mi3rule by a majority
Of nearly 10000 votes, and which claims the
right TO lead the vanguard Of victory an the
great battle to be fought next November for
the preservation Of our institutions, laws
and liberties. 1t is q most suspicious omen
that we meet under such circumstances and
surrounded by such associations, and ! share
your confident hope Of the overwhelming
success Of the ticket and the platform which
will be the result Of your deliberations, for
it is to the American people that our appeal
lies. Their final Judgment will be just
The American people will no longer remain
deaf to the teachings Of the past. They will
remember it was under successive democrat.
ic administrations, based on our national
principles the principles Of constitutional
liberty, that our country rose to prosperity
aud greatness unsurpassed by the annals OF
history.
They well remember the days when the
north aud south marched shoulder to should
er together in the conquest Of Mexico
which gave our golden empire on the Pacific
our California and our Oregon, now
the stronghold of triumphant democracy
They well remember the days when peace
and plenty reigned over the whole union
when we had no national debt to crush the
energies Of the people; when the tax'gath
ercr was unknown throughout the wide ex
tcnt Of the land when the credit Of the
uitad States stood as high in the money
market Of the world az that Of any other
They will remember with wise sorrow that
with the downfall of the democratic party in
1861, came that fearful war which has
brought mourning and desOlation into every
household has cost the loss of million OF
citizens, and left us with national debt,
the burden OF which drains the resources,
crippes the industry and impoyerishes the
labor Of tho country. They we'll remember
that aftor the fratricidal strife was over
when the bravery Of our army and navy, and
the sacrifices of the people had restored the
Union, and INDICATED the supremacy Of thu
law when the victor and vanquished wert
equally ready to bury the past, and hold out
The hand OF brotherhood and good viii across
the graves of their fallen comrades. 1t wa
again the defeat of the democratic candidate
in 1864. which prevented the consummator
80 deyoutly wished for by all. Instead o
restoring southern states to their rights, in
stead Of trying to wipe out the miseries @
the past BY u maRnaHlmOus policy, dictate
alike by humanity and grand craftsmanship
and so ardently prayed for by the gen
erous heart of the American people
the radicals in congress elected in an ev
hour, have placed the iron heel of the cor
querer upon the south. Austria did no
dare TO iasten upon vanquishCd Hungary
nor Russia impose upon conquered Polan
the ruthless tyranny now imposed by con
gress upon the southern states. MiIitar
satraps are invested with dictatorial powe
overriding the decisions of tho courts and rs
Stunning the functions of civil authorities
The white populations are disiranchiscd o
forced to submit to test oaths alike reyotinJ
to Justice and civilization, and a dCbaset
and ignorant race just emerged from servi
tude into power, are entrusted with the des
Linics Of that fair portion of our common
country. These men elected to be legsla
tors are Legislators only trampling the con
stitution under their feet; have usurped tn
functions OF the executive and the judiciary
and it is impossible TO doubt after the event
of the past few months and the circumstan
ces Of the impeachment trial, that they wi
not shrink from any attempt hereafter t
suhvert the senate Of the United States
which alone stood before them and their vic
tim, and had virtue enough left not to ALLOW
that American name to be utterly disgrace,
and Justice to be dragged in the dust. Ii
order to carry this nefariOus programme out
the army and navy are kept in time Of pro
found peace on n scale which has involved {
yearly expenditure of from one to two mill
ions, prevents the reduction OF our nationa
debt, and imposes upon our people system
of most exorbtant and unequal taxation
with vicious, irredeemable and deprecated
currency. And now the same party, which
has brought all these evils upon the country
nomes again before the American people
asking Cor their suffrage. And whom has it
chosen for its candidate? The general com.
manding the armies Of the United States.
Can there be any doubt lett us to the designs
Of the radicals If they should be able to
keep their hold on the reins of government.
they intend congressional usurpation of the
to be enforced by the bnyonets
of q military despotism. 1t is impossible
that a free and intelligent people can longer
submit to such state of things They will
not calmly see their liberties subvcrted, the
and greatness Of their country un.
dormiued, and the institutions bequeathed to
them by the fathers OF the republic wrested
from them. They must see that the con.
sentative and national principles of a liberal
and progressive democracy aretbe only
safeguards of the republic.
Gentlemen cfhe Convention Your coun,
try looks to you 10 stay this tide of disorgan
cation, violence and despotisin 1t will not
look in vain when next November tie roll
shall be called, and when state after state
shall respond by rallyinr around the broad
banner of democracy, on which, in the future
as in the past will be inscribed our undying
motto--"rHE UNION, THE CONSTTTU.
TON AND THE LAWS"