The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-26
GOV. HAWLEEY,S SPEECH.

Gov. Hawley, permanent President OF the
late National Republican Convention at Chi
cago, addressed the Convention as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION l ten
der you my most grateful thanks for the
high honor you have conferred upon me.
Deeply impressed by a sense of the rcspon-
sibiIity of the position, earnestly solicit
your indulgence and your aid. We come to-
gether charged with the momentous duty of
selecting the chief rulers of the great nation
which leads the world in the promotion of
freedom and equal rights. Applause | The
indications of your purposes and spirit al
ready given, assure us that you will MAIN
tain the noble character of the Republican
party. We unavoidably recall at this time
the Convention of 1860, with Its profound
anxieties, its fresh, pure, and glowing devo
ton to liberty. and its enthusiastic accept
ance of the wager of battle rendered by sla-
very and secession. (Applause) 1t now
seems clear to us that God then ruled our
counsels He made our declaration of prin-
ciples manly and severe. He gave us Abra-
cheerlng) God send us like wisdom and
success to-day. (Applause.) He tested US
in a manner and to an extent which the live
Hest imagination could not have anticipated.
Posterity, we hope, will decide that we stood
that test with spirit worthy of free people.
Countless treasures and 100000 lives offered
were the evidence that we were solemnly in
earnest. We laid our prejudice of race and
class on the altar; and the consciousness that
we are at least deserved success redoubled our
nerve. The same high resolve rules to day,
and the honest men of this country are
ready for equal and even greater sacrifices if
they he Indispensable to the declaration on
this continent of liberty and equal rights to
all. (Applause.) We learned the first les
son when we found that we must make all
men free and call them to the battlefield,
we must still move and give impartially to
all men a share in the government we are
endeavoring to restore. (Great applause)
With clear and fearless expression on the
essential and important questions at issue,
which the people well understand, and no
ingenious device, no words can obscure or
avoid passing by all personal and tempo
rary controversies, working in perfect conf
dence that the American people mean to do
right and will do it in the end, we may feel
sure of triumph. The power of a ma
tion of 100000 900 must be behind the
just claims of the poorest workingman, of
whatever race; and to recover his just wa
ges its majesty must be felt wherever the
humblest loyal man appeals against personal
violence and oppression. (Checrs) Every
dollar IF the national debt the blood of
soldier is pledged tor. Enthusiastic cheer
ing) Every bond, in letter and in spirit,
must be as sacred rs soldiers grave. Gre
newed cheers.) We must win, gentlemen,
and we shall win. 1t is the old fight OF lib
erty, equality, and fraternity against oppres-
sion, caste, and aristocracy. 1t is the old
fight to make the world better, with malice
toward none and charity for all. Cloud APP
plause.) We may halt for moment or
change the direction, but the good cause al
ways goes steadily forward. 1t is related,
and whether it be true or not the incident is
well invented, that on the evening of that
awful battle of the Wilderness, when the
legions of the Union Army had fought all
day rather by faith than by sight, on the
wild woods and tangled brush, that some
man asked Gen. Grant to step backward a
little and reorganize, and that he replied -
1--WE have done very we'll, gentlemen; at
half-past three in the morning we move for
ward" Uong, continued cheering) We
accept his spirits and his words. Perhaps l
am not anticipating in saying that we shall
accept him again in person as our leader
cloud cheering) Thanking you again, gen
tlemen, very heartily for the honor conferred,
await the further pleasure of the Conven-
ton. (Applause)