Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-05
Speech of Judge Pierrepont.
A WAX DEMOCRAT FROM TAMMANY HALL ABAN-
DoNs SEYMOUR AND SPEAKS FOR GRANT.


The following extracts are from the speech
of Judge Edwards Picrrepont of New York,
a Sachcm Of Tammany Hall, and member
Of the Democratic party when Seymour and
Blair were nominated. The speech was
made at the great meeting of War Demo-
Gratis in New York, last week:-
Mr.. PRESIDENT, FRIENDS AND Fellow
CIrIzENs-F years ago, sir, you and |,
and many patriotic men, assembled IN this
hall to aid our country in her day OF peril.
We asked no honors and no office and re-
ceiyed none. Four eventful years have pass
cd since then, and now new danger threat
ems. Supported by all who were with us
then, by our unfaltering friend General Dix,
who speaks to us so well from over the seas,
and strengthened by many new and noble
men we meet again upon this platform. You
have been steadtast even unto the end, and
il is bright presage for the future that you
preside here tonight Then we invoked the
God of battles, and we helped TO win the
bloody fight. Now we invoke the Prince of
Peace, and, we hope, far more glorions
victory. Old party politics are dead. The
war made new issues. When Lee surren-
thought the rebellion was ended. But trea-
son has new birth. Not yet hath 1t put its
armor on not yet does IL dare to proclaim
its felest purpose-the seizure of the gov
ernment and the restoration Of slavery. Now
il seeks by diplomatic arts to win what it
lost by war--to make treason honorable and
fidelity odious. and, as Wade Hampton ex-
presses 1t, "to restore the lost cause" By
some strange fatuty our Northern people
will never take warning until it is too late.
They never would believe, until Fort Sump-
ter fell, that the South meant war. They
will not now believe that the crushed rebel
lion is reviving. Has not the enemy MUIR
dered enough of your children to quicken
your senses to approaching danger? The
Convention which met at Tammany Hall on
the 4th Of July ballotted twenty-five times,
running into the llth day of the month be-
fore HOratio Seymour was nominated as Its
candidate for President In the same Con-
venton rebel general stepped forward and
nominated Frank p. Blair for Vice Presi-
dent. No ballot was needed; one yell of
wild enthusiasm filled the hall; Blair had
the full heart and soul of that Convention.
He fairly represented its spirit. Good
Why did the Convention hesitate so long to
nominate Seymour, and why with such
eager unanimity did it hasten to nominate
Blair? Read the list of leading names in
that Convention and read the speeches OF
Seymour and the letter of Blair, published
just prior 10 the Convention, and you shall
see the reason for this striking differ
encc. In that list | find one hundred
and five men who were rebel Generals, Col
onels, Majors, Captains, Governors, Sena-
tors or members of the rebel Congress.
Among them are Wade Hampton, Buckncr,
po,e,n, Nopoo pnoooly TJil1 practpn
Clingman, Rhett and the pettcd Gen. For
rest-(groans)- s)-remembere for his cruel
and inhuman massacre of Union soldiers af,
ter their surrender at Fort Pillow. In that
Convention were many good and true men
of the North, but they held no sway and
their voice was not regarded. Mr.. Seymour
| in his recent speeches denounced every form
of Reputation, and such sentiments as he
| there expressed might be the words of a sa
gacious statesman with ndtinancial views
| such might be the words of n patriot jealou
of his countrys honor. Wade Hampton ant
| the other rebel generals who dominated nvel
that Convention had read these speeches
They knew Seymour to be the son of u New
England sire, and they doubted his readines.
| to sell his birthright. Wonder not that they
delayed his nomination so long, but wonder
aud be sad that gentleman of the North
whose ideas upon the great question OF tht
day were so Just, should be humbled to thu
earth and bend down before these rebel gen
erals, all fresh from the slaughter of his coun
Hymen, and take back the noble words III
had uttered before they would consent tt
his nomination.
Seymour assures us that lie did not wlsl
to be nominated, but that he was sscaught VI
in n whirlwind" and couldn't help it. 4
whlrlwind is an unsafe thing for Seymour Il
ride upon. CHEERS and laughter.) Tn
prophet ''Elijah was taken up by a whirl
wind into heaven" and Seymour fancie'
that he was going to be taken up by TIL
but he will find it whirling down the othe
way with terrific speed about November.
Three days before the Convention me
Blair published his declaration Of principles
the sentiments of which, you all remember
His utterances were purely revolutionary
they promised lawless violence and wal
The letter suited the Convention exactly
Blair knew it would. No ballot was needle
for Blair. Blair was the son of Souther
stakeholder. Blair could be trusted. A rcbt
general rose and nominated Blair; and wit
loud acclaim amid widest enthusiasm, h
was selected. Seymour bowed down b
intellectual head before the rebel power, al
cepted platform which repudiated ever
| Just sentiment OF his recent speech, and,
/ friends report-went away sorrowful! lies
, him in reply to the tender OF his nomin
. tion g.
| 81 have been caught by the great tic
f that is swelling ON to victory, and am III
able to resist the pressure" This is Il
: tide which swept over Pennsylvania an
G Ohio the other day. (Great applause.) Sc
r mour foresaw it dimly, but he mistook !
+ character He thought 1t was one OF tho
G old democratic tides which ane-date Il
i war. His blinded eyes couldn't see that
: swelled out from millions of loyal heart
! heaving with honest love and solicitude f
the safety of their country. Cries
"Good." Old Democratic leaders for Il
Q last ten years have had no just sense OF pu
lie opinion. The same kind of democrat
: leaders lived eighteen hundred and for
years ago Christ said they were 9 foe
}, and blind that could not discern the signs
n the times"
i. Seymour continues in his acceptance a
e dress: s'You have also communicated
me the resolution ad lpted by that Conve
y tion. As its chairman am familiar wi
its language, and as a member OF that 20
e vention am party to its terms. aero
" with its views. / stand upon its position
70 this contest, and l shall strive hereaft
d whether in public or private life, to cal
lie them into effect.
These resolutions demand reputation
the nations faith and declare the solemn a
l. of Congress unconstitutional and vo
How do they read compared with
"A speeches? This is the first time in our i
~ tory that political convention has und
taken to declare what laws of Congress
os unconstitutional and void, and the first ii
ai that candidate for the Vice Presidei
has proposed to "trample into dust"
as statutes of Congress, which he admits t
On he could not get repealed. This platte
had the rebel General Wade Hampton as
les chief builder; with defiant boldness he gi
,er us its whole history.
When law of Congress is distasteful
-, rebels declare that il is unconstitutional,
" Blair proposes to "trample it into dl
," by military power. "The President ele
should it be Seymour, he tells us, must
OF this; he cannot even wait for the inaugl
IN tion. But if the constitution itself sta
i'll the wav what do you think is to be d
it's then? Why, declare it unconstitutional
at he sure. The fourteenth amendment
l,rg since adopted and has in due form
red declared part of the constitution. and
is ex-senator Pugh, Of Ohio, says
,ial ~ would not give them a three
postage stamp for their fourteenth amt
h.s nrnt. 1t is not part of the constitu
nuo 81 J,o 10 n 1ac frat1d