The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-30
SPEECH OF GEN. PALMER, IN THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. ATCHICAGO.

On motion of the delegate from Ken
lucky, tue soldier, statesman. and patriot,
Gen. John NJ. Palmer, was called out and
received with much enthusiasm. He spoke
as follows:
MIR. President and Gentlemen of the Re-
Puoiican Convention: attended this Con-
Ventlon to witness and observe its earnest
actlon, without any disposition IN my part
70 contribute to the volume Of words that
usually attend assemblages like this, as YOU
VIII see L have outlived ina great measure
the estimate that young men place upon a
mere speech. Applause, and cries of Good n
Years ago, when the1great questions before
the country We're Matters of argument and
delloeratlon, ehdeavored as best could to-
contribute myshare to their peaceful solu-
tlon; In 1851 1T was resolved by portion
of the people of this country that the prob
lens o1fhe hour were to be settled in a more
stern and decisive manner In my way-to
theextent of the power possessed-1 con-
tributed to the settlement of those problems
Z lApplause. 1t seemed to me ut the close of
the war, and it seems to me now, that the
matters of dispute between the different
sections of the country were settled upon the
battlefield, and thsr all have desired since
that time is, that the logic of the battle
field should be secognized, and the decisions
there made should be carried into~1
the controversy, the question was whether
men in all parts of the Republic should be
allowed to speak. I valued freedom of
speech, not much speech, but free speech.
Laughter and applause.] While I COM
manded no large share of the popular gift, I
did insist that those who loved speaking
should be allowed to do it. 1t was denied,
not only in the South, but in many districts
in the North. At that time it was insisted,
~ Oft
please ana. for themselves and ourselves
Applause believe that while every man
should be allowed to speak freely,
and speak for himself, that all men
should be allowed to act freely, and act for
themselves, that every man be allowed to
own himself He should be allowed to own
not only himself but to own his own wife
and his own children. This question has
been decided by the arbitrament CT the
sword, and not only was that great funda-
mental, essential doctrine established, but
it was also set led conclusively as any ques-
tion could be settled, that hereafter men
should not only be free in their own persons,
but they should he alike free and equal be-
fore the law, everywhere in this great Re-
public; [applause] and the issue of the Re-
publican party to-day is not to discuss
theories, but to give practical effect to the
field. Applause. Not for the loyal men
alone, nor for the North, not for the South,
but for men everywhere within the limits of
the Republic. Nor for white men, not for
red men, not for black men, but for all men.
[" That's SC" and applause. And we sup
posed that the voice of the American people
during the progress of the war, and at the
close of the war, seemed to indicate that
hereafter there would be no difficulty that
these doctrines would be accepted-at least
by the Republican party everywhere. Six
months ago what man supposed that there
remained any further distractions to the ex-
ecutlon of the popular will, and that we
were still to struggle on in vindication of
these great principles. We had triumphed
during the war at the Presidential election |
of 1854, and at the close of the war, in the
greater conflict of 1865, when johnson ap-
pealed from Congress to the people reitera-
ted their determination that these great doc |
trines should be hereafter American doc |
trincs everywhere. Cheers The public |
voice was spoken in language not to be mis- |
understood. 1t was supposed then that |
every man who accepted the name of Re- i
publican recognized those great essential
doctrines, and that they were hereafter not
to he resisted, at least by the members of the
Republican party. There was but one thing |
then in the pathway of the people. In
1864, when one of those signal plumbers
which seemed like the dispensations of the
Almighty in his wrath, we elected Andrew
johnson Vice-President, thoughtless men
may characterize it as blunder, but
thoughtful men may well wonder whether
what we deemed a mistake was not the
judgment Of the Almighty inflicted upon
the country for some sin, and certainly, ex-
cept the war itself, no curse could be heavier
than the election of Andrew johnson.
Cheers. In 1866 the distinct issue was
presented to the American people, whether
that curse should be removed. The people
of Illinois, by majority unheard of in our
history, instructed its Representatives upon
that question:; Iowa spoke out. Kansas
spoke out, other States spoke out upon this
question. There was possible room for
the will of the people of the
country there was but one way by which
all the departments OF the Government could
be brought in harmony. A demand was
made to impeach the President; but it has
failed. 1t is not for me to speak of the
reasons of that failure it is enough for me
to dcplore that result. The removal OF
Andrew johnson was demanded by the ma
tional safety. We may talk about it, we
may discuss it as judicial or political ques
ton; but as question of common sense, it
is that Andrew johnson stood in the way of
the peace of country, and ought to have
been removed. Prolonged cheers.] I'm
parchment is the substitute of modern civ
ilization for old-fashioned resistance and de-
capitation that is all there is of it. LCheers,
and cries of GOOD, good."] Sir, in old
times, among barbarous people, when the
ruler stood in the way of the people, they
took of his head. In America, under the
influence of civilization and Christianity,
when the ruler stands in the pathway of
principles and the prosperity of the coun-
try, it is by Impeachment that we take off
his political head. [Cheers and applause.
Nice captious questions borrowed from a
Police Court, have no application here. 1t
is enough that the interests of the millions
Of American people demand that this OBJ
struction should be taken out of the way,
and it ought to have been done lcheers] or
to use the lawyers phrase, johnson oughtto
have been indicted. He should have been
charged, convicted and removed. Mr.. Pres
ident and gentlemen of the Convention:
there remains for us but one remedy. Inn
parchment is a failure. There is q tribunal
that cannot be corrupted. IA voice, g What
Of Trumbull9" Cries of" Go ON Go on!"
A hiss leave the man to that tribunal of
which 1 am about to speak. [Cres OF
9 Good Good /" There is tribunal that
cannot be corrupted. [Cheers.l We pro-
,,Nf H.xr ro({I ON