The Van Buren press., 1868-07-24
speech OF Gov, Seymour upon taking the
Chair as President Of the Democratic
National Contention.

National Convention.
GrNrIEMIS OF rnr Coyvys1rox-I
thank you for the honor Won have done
me IN making Inc your presiding officer
HI. convention IS made up Of large
number OF delegates from all parts of oul
broad land. To great degree we ar,
strangers TO each other, and view the
subjects which egitate our country from
dlierent stand'points. We cauno, 8,
once learn each others mode OF though.
9 grasp all the facts which bear upon the
mlnds Of others Yet our session must
be brief, ana we are TO inter voice with
out delay upon questions OF an exciting
character and of deep interest to oul
country To maintain order, TO restrain
all exhibition ofpassion, TO drive out OF
our minds all unknd suspicious, is, at ,b,
time, great duty. (Checrsl) I rely
upon your sense of this duty and not up
on my own ability to sustain me in ,h,
station in which am placed BY your kind
ps.tiality. Men never met Under create,
responsibilities than these which now
weigh upon US. Il is oo.a mere party
triumph we seek. We are trying to save
our country from tie dangers which over.
hang il. NE wish TO lin OF the perplexi.
ties and shscl;les which, in .Se shape 0.
bod laws and and Of crushing taxation,
now psrslyse the business and labor O!
our land cloud cheers.) We hope a,
least we can give order, prosperity and
happiness TO those sections Of our coup.
try which suffer so deeply today in thsi,
homes and in all the fields Of their indus.
try from the events Of the last eight years
trust our sction will show that we are
governed by earnest purposes to help all
classes Of our citizens. Avoiding harsL
invectves against men, we should kecr
the public mind fixed upon the queetion,
which must now be met and solved lie,
Us leave the past to the calm judgemen
q The future md confron, the perils OF
the day. (Cheers. ... -.. .......
We arc forced to meet the associations
brought forth by the late Republican Con
vention aver there is not in this body
one m.an who hasit in his heart TO excite
so much Of fangry feeling ag,irst the Re
publican party as must be stirred up ir
the minds OF those who read these decla.
rations in the light Of recent events, and
in view Of the condition of onr country
In the FIRST place they congratulate The
perplexcd man Of business, the burthered
tax payer. the lahorer whose hours OF
toll are heightened out by. the growing
cost Of tue nccessar.es OF life, UPON the
success ,of that reconstructior policy
which has brought ali these evils upon
them By the cost Of its military dcspot.
ism, and tho corruptions Of its bureau
agencies In one resolution they de.
nounoe all the forms Of Reputation AZ
nationsl crime. Then why did they pu'
upon the statute books of the nation th,
laws which invite the citizens who bor
row coin to force their creditors to tax,
debased paper, and thus wrong him GU,
Of n large share Of bis claim in violation
Of the most solemn compact7 Loud
cheering. frepudiationis nstiona
crime it is a crime to invite the citizen,
Of this country thus to repudiate their in
dividual promises. Applause Wasi,
not crime TO force the creditors OF thi.
and other States 10 take currency A,
times worth no more than forty cents on
the dollar in payment for the sterling
coin they gave to build roads and canals
which yield such ample returns Of wealth
and prosperity. Applause. "
g.. A oatp fhov q ne IL I. A.. tsz A. ~ !.
Of the nation that taxation should he
eqnalized. Then why did they make tax
alton unequal beyond the injustice o.
mating one class OF citizens pay for m
other the shares Of the costs Of schools
of roads, Of the local laws which protect
ed their lives and property 1t was ar
unwise and nnhurtful thing. II sank tht
credit Of the country, as unusual terms al
WAYS are hurtful to the credit of the Dor
rover They also declare the best policy
10 diminish our burden OF debt 10 90
hurtiul TO our credit that capitalists will
seek TO loan rs money at lower rates ol
interest than we nov pay and must con
t'nuc 70 pay 80 long as reputation is
threatened or suspected. Then why have
they used toll sb0o,Ooc, 600 of the ta.e,
drawn from hepsople Of this ooantrytc
UPHOLD Q despotio military autho rity, and
70 crush out the life Of States. when, Il
this money had been used to pay oul
debts, capitslis,s would now seek to lent
ma money at lower rates ofinterest7 Bu
for this covert reputation. our nsttona
credit would not be tainted in, the mark
cts Of the world, (Applausc.) .,..i
Again, they declare that OF all whc
were faithful in the trials Of the late war
there we're none entitled TO more especia
honor than tho brave soldiers and seaner
who endured tho hardships Of the cam
paign and cruise, and imperillcd thell
lives in the service OF the country: that
the hountics and pensions provided by
the laws for these brave defenders OF tbt
nation are oblgssons never to be forgot
ten. The widows and orphans OF the
gallant dead are the wards OF the peopl,
a sacred truat bcqueathed TO The na
: tons care. Have these sacred trust,
been performed SiAThey psy 70 the man
cd man. 10 the widow or to the orphan 8