The Placer herald., 1868-05-16
AN ELOQUENT SPEECH.

remarks Of Col. Kewen in the late Demo.
cratic State Convention:
Mr., PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CoNvENrIoN:-Fu this kindly greeting, this
ha.tering demonstration in my behalf, my
heart throbs iis voiceless expression Of graft
tude. The facinsting enthusiasm electr'fles
and thrills the with unwonted happiness
The occasion justifies it, for it is the inangu-
ration of new era of national Independence.
II is replete, too, with the exhibitions OF
God given patriotism conviction is fortified
in the integrity OF our faith, and confidence
reassured 10 the success OF our aspirations.
And yet gentlemen, this generous welcome,
this weird enthusiasm, and this nsplrlllng
patriotism, almost ALLEVIATE me for the mo-
ment, from the ordinarily seductive thrall of
rolitica! af1fnities. could almost wish in
ny heart that WINS disciple of Mongrelism
"a devo,ee at the shrine of Radical worship;
could momentariy endure the ignominy of
having homsged usurping Congress; that
here, 10 the presence Of congregated wisdom,
in the mids, Of inspiring patriotism. and in
the broad face of plying Heaven. might
fall down upon my knees, and con'ess'ng in
aoning sackcloth and penitential ashes, m'
plore Gods forgiveness for the daring pollli
cal impie'y.
This grand convocaIion Of irrepressble
hearts and energies, this mighty avalanche
of Democracy precipi,ated from the noun
tains into the great metropolis OF the ocean,
dispels every fugitive doubt; and osIracses
every vagrant suspicion as to the revival OF
the primitive days Of the Republic. For a
season, the incubus Of power limited your
expressions and dwarfed your instincts. To-
day we rejoice in the privilege of partial
emancipation. The stone has been rolled
from the sepu|chre Of the buried divinity OF
our faith, aud the risen Savior of the coun-
try atles,s, in the partial resurrection OF
Democracy. the gradual restoration OF Ca
tiona Independence.
Rereut, alas! too recent has been the day
when the gathering the Democracy in San
Francisco would not have escaped the inter
rupion Of Federal intrusion. The hostile
ordnance of Authority would have fulmin'
aed It's solemn and huniiating interdlct'on
Tie great spirit Of the party of The Const''u
ton has slept-bas slept the vo'celess sleep
in which the disturbing visions we're bast''es,,
and ,s only soothing melodies the hideous
clankng Of vassal and corroding chains.
Like the Irshman who fell from the scat
folding, and was interroga,ed by his co,npan'
ion from alof,-" Patrick, an are ye ded ;"
Replied. mo, Mirkey, not kilt iptirely, but
be jabers, In, spocheless" So, the Democra-
cy under the dynasty Of Lincoln, was not
wholly dead Its vital functions, under the
sway of an unprecedented despo'ism, were
only suspended and, though it thought, and
felt. and ambiiuned as Of yore, yet, under
the iron rule of " military necessity y" Be
bers. boys, but it acos spacbeless."
To day it RECEIVERS lis voice; to-day u utters
it's thought; to-day, i, braves the majesty of
a,mes, The glitter of swords, the flash OF ar
tillrry, the terror of dungeons. and dares to
confronta tyrant Congress with its tyranny,
and rebel against it's lawess edcts. The soul
of Liberty survives in the Democratic party,
and that soul relieved from the temporary
burden upon the active principle, finds am
pc illustration and expression in the sublime
spectacle before me. The Democracy has I'M
vaded the hot.beds Of political fanat'clsln.
and holds here its unfortidden revels. 1t
has passed through the valley of the shadow
Of death, and triumphs in the beatitude OF
glorious resurrection. 1t has " local habit a.
ton and name in California;" aud thank
God standing once more on It's ancient
platform, feel with true Highland pride
"my foot is on my native heath, and my
names McGregor."
have no 1T, ,nement to offer-no apology
to reoder for being a Democrat. The Dem
ocra,ic party is the firm, reliable, consistent
unchan ging friend Of the Constitution. and
the country II has removed no opinion
and modified no principle in relation to the
equal rights Of the citizens, the equality Of
the States and the "diviue right OF the
Constitution over the law 'essness of prerog'
alive. 1t stands to-day upon the impregnaa-
ble basis of principles born with the patti
archs and sages Of the Revolulion-prlncl-
pies incorporated in the early platforms OF
The party, maintaining inviolate the supre'
macy Of the Caucasian over the Congo eIe-
ment in the Government, and contlding as
ever for success in the discriminating justice
of the American people. 1t bears the same
relation 10 Radicalism, as light 10 darkness
"a heat to cold. as beauty to deform''y,,
Democracy is the light and warmth and
beauty impregnating our system OF Govern
men., aud harmonizing, adjusting and con.
ciliatng the clasbing interests of in'mca'
sections. The Mongrelism of the hour, Is
the dark, cold, and deformed offspring OF
political hate, and usurpation and tyranny
whose government is not instituted for the
benefit Of The governed, but for the ag'
prandizement Of the despot to the sacrifice o.
popular liberty. Amid the wreck Of oonsI
tutions and chaos Of political creeds, the
principles Of Democracy, unaffected by the
mutation OF time or circumstance, remain
sublimely patent in their meaning, impreg
uabls as truth aud eternal as the stars,
cannot, 1 repeat. atone to usurpers and ~
rants for my political faith. | would as soor
supplica.s absolu.ioo from His btum'ou'
Ms!a..u for hapino confessed q reverent coD.