The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-30
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
THE WORCESTER CONVENTION.
Speech Of Gen. Butler.

W WCCotcf CcpeNiipSi -fs ihS ioiiVNliit,
is General Buffers speech:
Gentlemen If lie Coment,op,--I suppose
it may not be uninteresting for you to know
what is my view of the result of to-day's
work, and if it plcases you that may state
it, feel myself bound so to do. [Cries Of
"Let us have :" $50 on.'l After the
retirement of Governor Claflin from the
canvass, l allowed my name to be put be-
fore the Commonwealth, and when |
Judged it necessary | followed with such
considerations as seemed to me fit, in
order to induce some reform in the Repub-
lican party, and especially upon the
local measures. How was met is mat
ter of history met by the press, met
by the organizations established by the pa
tronage Of the State government, met even
by the Senatorial delegations in Congress,
which descended into the arena of State pol
itics met even by some of my colleagues,
| endeavored to treat them each, one and
oil, as Republicans. | endeavored to hold
high the banner of the Republican party
endeavored, as far as in me lay, to so con-
duct the party as to lead to its greater use
fulness. | was then met by many men
who threatened to bolt the nomination of
the Republican party in case was nominal
ted. This would have justified me, in my
judgement, entirely in repudiating the ac-
ton of any convention in which men should
vote and declare these determinations be-
fore l submitted my claims to it. But
am better Republican than they are.
[Great applause.l
Having seen that this convention has been
conducted generally in the spirit of fairness !;
that there was as little of fraud and mis-
takes as can be incident to any convention,
and having fairly submitted my claims to it,
and not believing that the great heart ofthe
people of the Commonwealth ever agreed
for a moment to the declaration made bv
the jealous opponents, feel myself bound
by.its decisions as man of honor. APP
plause.] Perhaps with that | have said
enough; but there is one thing cannot for
get to say, and that is to give from the very
depths ofmy soul and heart my most CRATE
full thanks, thanks is cold word,) my
most grateful emotions, to the almost five
hundred men that stood true to me by day
and night, even in the midnight, against all
promises, threats, and Establishments what
ever-to you am grateful. Three cheers.l
No man ever had such friends before, and
not man will ever labor more to deserve
them than | will, and inside the Republican
party.
Inside, say, the fight shall go on for its
regeneration for its publication for the
advancement of labor; for the suppress
sion of vice, and for its great mission. |
summon my friends that, while we yield
entirely to the organization, as we are
bound to do, in that organization we go on
and labor still for the great principles for
which we started out, and as sure as there
is truth and justice in the people of the
Commonwealth, we shall attain them when
the men that opposed us learn, as you
have, what our motives are, and what our
actions will be, and the silence of reputa-
ton upon our slanderers is lived down, as
SANDER ever can be lived down by the good
and true.
Now, gentlemen of the convention, for
the uniform courtesy and kindness with
which | have been treated this day, allow
me to give you, each and all, my thanks
and hearty congratulations on your success,
which is not weakened by the fact of my
ill-success. There are things more to be
desired than public office, more to be
looked at than position, and the only thing
| carry with me is the kindness and fidelity
of my friends, and the courteous forbear-
ance of the great majority of my oppo-
nents and believe that, whatever may
have been the result of my own work, so
far as | am concerned the party with which
| act and have acted will undertake to re-
form its own bosom, as it ought to do I;
and let me now, in closing, ask each and
every one of the members of the Republic
can party, as represented in this conven-
ton, to go forward and do that, SO that
this Commonwealth may be in deed and
every minor particular what we all know
her to be--the great general exemplar of
States and the Commonwealth of the ma
ton and of the world. (Applause.l
Resolutions were adopted pledging sup
port to the Republican party in enforcing
all laws for protecting life and liberty in
every part Of our land, in the honest pay
ment of the national debt, in reducing taxa
ton and such reform in the civil service as
shall secure efficiency and honesty in every
department of the government, and COM
mending the administration, both national
and State. 1t was further resolved that the
shipping interests should receive the imme-
date consideration of Congress, and such
changes be made as would restore ship
building and owning to prosperity, and that
woman suffrage deserved attention. An
other resolution Endorsed the administration
of William Clatlin, and another promised
to endeayor to elevate the condition Of
working people by inquiry and legislation
according to discovered needs. The lastpre
sented the name of Hon. William B. WASH
burn with confidence in his integrity, abili-