The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-09-05
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 8.

The National Democratic Conven-
ton, met to-day, in the Common Pleas
Court room of the Court House. Pre-
vious to and during the assembling Of
the delegates, the Second Regiment
National Band, of Philadelphia, played
various airs.
At about l o'clock, Col. Duncan
called the Conyeption to order. Row
ID. Pratt addressed the throne Of Grace.
in an eloquent prayer for concord and
peace and freedom from sectional ieal-
ousy throughout the land. Col. Dun
can then spoke as follows: n
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION -
It is my duty to call this assemblage to
order; its objects are well known and
requires no explanation. We have
been derisiyely termed Boilers, mer-
cenaries,' &C., by the editors and politi-
clans who have sought an alliance with
a faction of the radical party and who
have abandoned all the principles
which have hitherto characterized our
organization. 1t is not my province to
cast reflections upon the motives of
those leaders, in whose wisdom and
Judgment, the party unfortunately con.
fidcd. Their action is invalid and void,
and has no binding effect upon other
individual members Of the party and
it has already been repudiated by
hundreds of thousands. No spirit Of
presumptuous forwardness induced
the gentlemen who united with me, 10
appeal to the American Democrats,
against the fragrant violation Of party
faith and utter negation of principle,
involved in the nominating of Mr..
Greeley. We did it with higher ana
a nobler motive. we did it to vindicate
the truth and protest against the offer
ed reward for political treason, to one
who had occupied a lifetime in the Bit
terest animadversions of those whose
support he now has sought. Ii our
call had been failure our duty would
have been none the less imperative !;
but there was sypathetic chord in the
American heart which responded in
enthusiastic and harmonious tones, to
the musical touch. There is love for
honesty q veneration for principle a
deep rooted desire for reform in the
heart Of the American people and the
day, evinces the earnest intention to
uphold that banner, which had fallen
from nerveless and incompetent hands,
and to prove that the old organization
was not dead, but only sleeping. 1t
has not died of its corruptions, as the
Latter-Day-Saints proclaim, who are
SO eager for its destruction. 1t will not
hold out hopes of reward for party
treason, nor brides to secure Generals,
from the enemy's camp"
The eyes of the whole country are
directed to the 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 history, as
the source from which the future pol
icy and destiny is to be shaped. We
can make it equally significant and
destitute of influence. We want no
hydra-headed platform, which can be
construed according to the wishes of
the reader, for we have clear and un-
doubted principles which can have but
one Interpretation, whether expounded
in the North or in the South we can
have no intent to reopen the question
of the past which the sword has SO
bloodily decided. We will give no
encouragement to aught that hooks to-
ward revolution, nor can we, whilst
submitting to the inevitable, and are
powerless to reverse what has been ac-
complished, satisfy ourselves by a
commentator of acts performed in
violation of the Constitution. We
must seek our alliances upon prin-
ciple.