The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-12
West Virginia Democratic Convention.
SPEECH OF GEO. Il. PENDLEToN.

The Democrats of West Virginia held
their State Convention on the 10th ult
More than ten thousand persons were in
attendance, excursion trains being run
over the various branches of the adjoining
railroads. Mr.. George H. Pendleton and
Senator Thurman, of Ohio, and others ad-
dressed the acsemblage Mr.. johnson, Of
Conover county, presided. The following
nominations were made
For Governor, G. D. Camden, of Wood
county.
For Auditor of State, Daniel Mayor.
For Attorney General Captain Wiley.
For Judge of the Supreme Court, L. M.
Edmerst.
Resolutions endorsing tile nominations
and platform of the New York Convention
and demanding tho repeal of the Registry
law in force in that State were unanimous
ly and enthusiastically adopted.
MIR. Pendleton on coming forward was
received with great cheering. He said:-
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN-The
Chairman OF your State Executive Com
mittee when he invited me to attend your
meeting to-day told me that l had no tluer
friends in the Union than I would meet
here in West Virginia. You have proven
his statement to be true. I came obedient
to your bidding. desired to see you, to
make your personal acquaintance, and to
return to you my thanks for the warm and
constant support ofyour delegates to the
National Convention. I came to show
you that no personal disappointment lin
gers in my breast or dampens for an in
slant the ardor of my efforts for the success
of your party-(cheers) -but that far above
all personal considerations I rate the sue
cess of the principles in which l believe,
and that whoever shall bear the flag on
which these principles are inscribed, /
shall be found close by his side in the
thickest of the fight to cheer him with my
voice and to aid him with my arm. / came
to urge upon you, Democrats and Republ-
cans, alike, to trample under foot every
p,epossession and prejudice and passion, If
it were as dear as life itself, and rsn. TO
to the height of this great struggle, to re-
member that we have only life 10 give
and noble and enduring government to
save. (Applause.) am a party man; /
avow it, but not, l trust, in any narrow or
sectarian sense. | am attached from con.
viction to the principles Of the Democratic
party; / have studied its history from the
foundation of the government.
1t would be impossible for me to
make myself heard in this immense audience
unless you keep quiet, and shall ask that
while am speaking, you will allow me TO
proceed without further interruption. ]
thank you, gentlemen, for the very cordial
reception you have just given me. In the
States [ have found it to be the party of
liberty and progress. In the Federal Gov
eminent have found it to be the expo
nent of that fundamental principle of the
Constitution that all powers which are not
granted are reserved! 1t has been the con-
sistent opponent of consolidation in the
one system and of excessive administration
in the other. It has been at once the finn
supporter of the rights of the States and of
the just powers of the Federal Government.
In every vicissitude of our history it has
appeared to direct us with it's wisdom and
to extricate us by its courage, and to-day
it stands as it did in 1898 and 1899, under
the guidance of Mr.. Jefferson, pointing US
to the path Of safety, which is now, as it
was then, the path of the Constitution, of
fraternal harmonyand peace. The Con-
vention which sat in New York was an
august assemblage. 1t was the trae coun-
Gil of our party. 1t embraced our best and
purest and wiscst men. The roll of the
States was called, and not one was without
representative. The roll of the districts
was called, and not one of them was mis-
sing. The doctrine of State suicide was
not recognized, the dissolution ofthe Union
was not acknowledged. Every State Sc
lected such citizen as she chose, and thus
it happened North Carolina. South Caro-
lima, Georgia and Virginia, sat as in the
days of The Revolution in fraternal council
with Massachusetts and New York and
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and that
Hampton and Preston and Forrest sat side
by side with Steadman and Morgan. The
Convention was the sign and the symbol
and the prophecy of restored Union and
a harmonious people. 1t rose to the dig
nifty of its high duty. The eyes ofthe
world were upon its proceedings. Greater
than the holy alliance which subjugated
people and divided empires. its mission
was to enfranchise people Of our race, to
restore the union of our States and to
maintain the institution of civil liberty.
For the first time in their history the
American peoplerealized that free govern
ment was in danger and that the fact of
the Republic tren,blea in the balance.
They had been taught to believe that free
don, yuas ;na;nopops in our coil and ehnt.