Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-05-26
Speech Of Gov. Hawley, upon taking
the Chair as President of the Nation
al Convention at Chicago

GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION.
! lender You my most greattul thanks
for the hign honor you have coufer-
red upon me. Deeply impressed by
the responsibilities of the position,
earnestly solicit yoar Indulgence
aud your aid. We come together
charged with The momcntous uuLy
OF selecting the CHIEF ruler of the
great nation which leads the world
IN promoting freedom anu equai
rights. The Indications vi our pur-
poses aud spirit already given assul,
US tnat you VIII mautaln ,i,e ,.oulo
character Oh the Rcpu0iican party =
We unavoldably recall the conveu>
ton OF 1860, with It's profound anx>
ieties, It's fresh, pure aud glowing
devotion TO liberty, aud It's enthusiasts
te acceptance OF the wager OF bat
tie tended by slavery and secession.
1t now seems clear that God rules
our counsels. He made our delega-
ton OF principal bold, manly and
serene. lie gave Us Abraham Lin
coin tor President. May he send us
like wisdom and success to-
day.
He tested US in a manner and to
an extent which the liveliest imae
ination could not have anticipated.
Posterity will decide that we met
the trial with spirit worthy of q
free people. Countless treasure
and three hundred thousand lives,
freely offered, are the evidence that
we were solemnly in earnest
We offered our lives and our prop
erty, but it was not enough. We
laid our prejudices of race and class
upon the alter, and the conscious
ness that we at last deserved success
redoubled our strength. The same
high resolve rules to-day, and the
Union men of the country are ready
for equal and greater sacrifice il they
be indispensable 10 the dedication oi
this continent to liberty and equal
rights.
We learned the first lesson, when
we found that we mast make all
men free, and call al. men to the
battle field We learned tho second
lesson when we found that we mus,
still move on and impartially give
all men a share in the governments
we were endeavoring to restore.
With a clear and fearless express
ion OF the essential and important
questions at issue, which The people
we'll understand, and no ingeniou,
device personal or temporary con.
troversies; working in perfect conf,
dence, that the American people
may feel sure of triumph. The pow
er Of a nation of forty millions mus
be behind the just claims OF the poor
est workman OF whatever race, t.
recover days wages. It's majesty
must be felt, wherever the BUNDLES
loyal man appeals against persona
violence and oppression. For every
dollar Of the national debt the blooC
Of soldier is pledged. Every bond
in letter and spirit. win, gentlemen
We shall win. 1t is the old fgh. .
liberty, equality ana fraternity
against oppression, caste aud aTts
tocracy. It's the old fight To- snak
the world better with sna.llt.
towards none, with charlay toE ali
We may halt for Z R0ment, .
change direction, bus the good caus
goes toward.
On the evening". os-that awful bat
tie of the Wilderness, where the le-
gions of the Union army fought il
the wild woods and tangled thicket
by faita, and not by sight, it is salt
that some men asked General Gran
to step backward and reorganize
he replied. Gentlemen, we hav'
done very well. at half>past three il
the morning We move forpard."