Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-09-13
Some Of the Speeches Made at the
Louisville Convention,
COLONEL puNoAN's REMARK,.

COLONEL DUNCAN's REMARKl.
On calling the assemblage to order,
Colonel Blanton Duncan said
GENTLEMAN OF THE CONVENTION II is
my duty to call this assemblage to order.
Its objects are well known, and require no
explanations. We have been derlslyely call
ed boilers, mercenaries, ETC., by the editors
and politicians who have sought an alliance
with fraction of the Radical party, and who
have abandoned all the principles which
have hitherto characterized our organization.
IL Is not my province to cast reflections upon
the motives of the leaders in whose wisdom
and judgment the party unfortunately con-
flded. Their action Is invalid and void 1t
has no binding effect upon other individuals,
members OF the party, and 1t has slready
been repudiated by hundreds OF thousands.
No spirit Of presumptuous forwardn,ss in
duced the gentlemen who acted with me to
appeal to the American Democrats igainst
the fragrant violation Of party faith and the
utter negation of principle involved 10 the
nomination Of Mr.. Greeley. We did with
q higher and a nobler motive. We did 1t to
vlndicate truth and protest against the
offered reward for political treason 10 one
who had occupied lifetime In the biiterest
animadverslon OF those whose support he
now has sought. II our call had been a fail.
ure our duty would have been none
the less performed. But there was
sympathetic chord in the American
heart which responded in enthusiastic and
harmonious tones to the nusician,s
touch. There is love for honestyNa Ten6fa.
tion for principle, deep rooted desire for
reform, in the hearts of the Americal peo.
pie, and the assembly that l see before me
to-day evinces the earnest intention ID up
hold that banner which had fallen from
nerveless and incompetent hands, ard to
prove that the old organization was moi dead
but only sleeping. 1t has not died of its cor
luption, as the latter-day saints proclaim,
who are so eager for its destruction. II will
not hold out hopes Of reward for party trea
son, nor bribes to secure recruits from the
enemy's camp. The eyes of the whole coun-
try are directed to this Convention, and many
anxious hopes are to be verified or blasted,
according as wisdom or its negative shall be
the controlling spirit of our deliberations
We can make this body famous one In his.
tory, as the source from which our future
policy and destiny is to be shaped. We can
make 1t equally significant and destitute of
influence. We want no hydra headed plat
form, which can be construed according to
the wishes of the reader, for we have clear
and undoubted theories which can have but
one Interpretation, whether expounded IN the
North or in the South. We can have no in
tent to reopen the questions of the past
which the sword has so bloodily de-
cided. We will give no encourage
ment to aught that looks to-
ward revolution, nor can we, while sub
hitting to the invisible, and poweress to
reverse what had been accomplished, salts
fly ourselves by commentator OF the acts
performed i'm violation of the Constitution.
We must seek our alliance upon principle.
We must, If we can, impress upon the
minds of the laboring classes, who consti-
tute the vast majority of our population, a
full conviction OF our honesty and sincerity
IN helnlf of tending n lnppfit
them. We should prove our friendship by
actions which may appease the conflicts be-
tween capital and labor, through wise com
promises acceptable to both, and while cap.
ital has rights which we should seek not to
infringe upon, labor is entitled to earnest
consideration, for it is the parent of capi
tai, the bone and sinew of the land.
1t is labOriouS work to attempt the or
ganization Of party and to create its nee
essary machinery. For two months every
thought of my brain, every energy of my
mind and body, have been directed tc
the accomplishment of that object. The
sincerity OF my motives should avert criti
cism, and if there have been errors OF
omission or commission they should be
overlooked, for the spring of my action has
been an intent to do right, and TO aid in the
preservation OF the party and the perpetua
tion of its principles as the sole hope fol
the future of the country.
And now, gentlemen, weary MS / am in
mind and body, there is an absolute sensa
tion of relief that can terminals my self
imposed duties and abdicate my Sanctions
ltR. BURR's SPEECH.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: 1t is hardly right, or al
least fair, to call upon q man to make Q
speech when his heart and brain are both la
boring with great anxiety to conclude the
important deliberations of this Convention
But it does afford me at least pleasure to say
that, in twenty five years experience in at
tending Democratic Conventions, l have not
in this course of time looked upon con
vcntion Of men that | felt commanded more
the respect and confidence of honorable gen
tlemen than the body that is now before me
Applause. When gray-haired men, who
feel that in the course OF nature their lease
of life is almost ended, come to this Con
yention ut this hot season OF the year, 500 ol
LOCO miles, merely to enter their protest
against the surrender of the glorious OLE
party. lApplause,l 1t is, gentlemen, youi
Convention, composed of the very best citi
zens Of the United States; formed of wealth
and position; men who never asked an of
flee, and would not accept an office. ZAP
plause. To see these men coming here i.
enough to stir the heart of patriotism in m,
countrymen.
They call this side.show Well, gentle
men, 1t is about the largest side-show have
ever seen in my life, and, as compared viii
the Baltimore Convention in respectabiIit,
OF numbers and in the patriotism of its in
tentlons, they are body of men that are al
tOgetheras far beyond the Baltimore Con
vention as that COnventios was beyond tn,
capacity and respectability of a ward caucus
! Politicians i'll one of our large cite
don't want to say anything very bad abOu
| these men. j found when | looked upon tn,
faces OF those men comprising the Baltimore
! Convention that did not see 100 men that
| had ever seen before in the ranks of tn,
Democratic party. There were no old lead
ers who had entered into this bargain Il
| surrender our platform OF principles ant
our banners, and even our party name int,
the hands Of the most mveterate and fac
tious enemy of our party and country Yes
they were there, gentlemen, and you ar
| told there is no disturbance, that there i
no popular feeling against the indorsemen
of this surrender. Well, gentlemen, lool
at this protest to-day. Applause. Look a
the protest of the thousand delegates com
| ing here to enter their protest against thi
| abominable surrender.
| NOW, gentlemen, we are here to-day for al
! object as sacred as that which gathered on
fathers together once in Independence Hal
IN philadelphia. Applause. They Assem-
! Dled to declare Independence and liberty
You have come here TO- day to defend tn
| independence and liberty OF the land. ZAP
| Pl"usV'l lHHI lnuCpcnuence ana llOtfI
have fallen by the way into corrupt hands
! You have come here to reclaim the indie
| pendence and liberty, in the name of tn
Democratic party, of the American people
| lApplause.l
Gentlemen, have seen tears In many a.
old mans eye since / came to this COnver
| tion. What for? Tears shed in sorrow f.
our country. We have heard about thi
woodchopper OF Chappaqua. Laughter.
| While he is an old friend of mine in othe
matters, have never agreed with him O
| political questions. My relations with hr
have always been kindly, but when the
bring this woodchopper-though friend 0
mine-and allow him to cut down the tree o
Democracy, l must enter my protest, an
say, gentlemen, in the language of an oil
song, when All attempt is made to cut
down,
"Woodman, spare that reol
Touch not single bough,
In youth it sheltered me,
| And I'll protect ii now
IL was my fore-father's hand
That placed II near this spot;
! Then, woOdman, let II stand,
| Thy AK shall harm 1t not"
My heart strings round thee cling
| Close as the bark, old friend;
There shall the wild bird sing,
And still thy branches bend