The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-07-14
1Vs HAN vRUyA V4AAv NUR.vs.

I'LL unpISuILy hu'Gn 'Su HoS'J 1N'A"t
people in other portions Of the world
to do ubt its sincerity. I mean the sen
tcnce which declares that "all men ar
born free and equal, and are eudOwet
with certain iualienablc rights, among
which are life. liberty aud tho pur
suit of happiness" Judge Tucker
Yirginia's greatest law writer, whos'
words on tho subject aro familiar t
every student of the law, invcighed
with severity against this portion o.
the declaration when as hc writes,
hundreds Of thousands Of human
beings were denied tho very blessings
which appeared to be guaranteed to all
by tho Declaration ITSELF" ThOma!
Jefferson and Judge Tucker, together
with many Of Virgiuia's brightest
sons. early discovered tho curse Oi
slavery to tho country. They were
conservative men, and desired q grad
ual emancipation ; but when cmauci'
patton came, it came suddenly alG
with violence, and resulted in greaI
distress to many sections fthe country
But who will say, now that cmaucipa'
tion has been accomplished, that they
desire to re.cstablish tho system Of hu.
man slavery? Who will say that our
country is not better, our institution.
more permanent, our love Of freedom
greater than when We held four mil.
lions Of Gods creatures in bondage,
and at tho samo timo declared that
ours was free cOmtry-a home for
tho oppressed, and refuge from tho
tyrant? remember that I opposed
the measure myself, aud SEQ oil
around nc meu who thought as did
then; but experience, observation,
and tho liberal spiri! which now pro-
walls in our country, has led them to
think on this subject as I do now, and
to thank God that ours is o free coun.
try in fact, as well as in name; and
that under our starry flag. all men
breathe tho air Of freedom. When
President Lincoln issued bis emancipa.
ton proclamation, many Of US not only
doubted its good effects. but absolutely
and fiercely denounced it, but you will
recollcct that he closed it with these
memorable words: "And upon this
act, sincerely believed to be an ac! of
justice, I invoke the consideraso judg.
meut of mankind. and the gracious
favor of Almighty Cod" Was ever a
uoblcr thought conceived, or grauder
act performed in the history, not only
Of our coun.ry,but Of the world? I tell
you that tho morning Of tho first day
Of January, 1868, was
1.-THE glad morn SO long forctold;
Twas the glad morn whose early twilight
Washing ton saw in days of yore."
This great achievement verified and
carried out tho principles Of tho Dec
IaratiOn all Of us-I caro- not from
what cline we have sprung, or what
country gave US birth, ate in the Uni
ted States Of America tree.n'e@ Here
all are eligible to that greatest and
best Of oil patents Of nObIlity-sho
charter of American citizenship.
As another evidence of tho progress
and bcuefccnce Of our institutions, let
me call your attention TO tho great po-
litical struggle through which our
country passed during the last twelve
and remember that in this l
speak to you not as politician, but as
a citizen. Millions of voters a.rayed
themselves under tue banners Of the
rival candidates; tho contest was hot,
exciting and bitter; and when tho
smoke Of the battle rolled away, it cx-
hibited to tho country greater danger
than had ever before threatened it.
Tho vote was close. Both parties
claimed the honors. Rash men talked
Of war. Wise men and patriots said.
let us reason together. We have haHV
enough of bloOdshed and strife. Let
us settle this question pea cct@lly; and
it was done do not now venture to
say to you whether tho decision of the
Electoral Commission was righ! or
wrong. Wo may differ upon that
point. But in this We must all agree,
that tho peaceful solution Of u great
question, involving tho peace Of our
country and tho pcrmuneuco Of our
government. was the greatest and
graudest achievement Of modern states
munship. European countries watched
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