Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-24

to proceed to the naming of candidates as
moved by Breckenridge, was adopted.
The roll of States was then called accord
ingly for nominations.
NAME OF FIELD PRESENTED.
When California was reached, Judge Nc
Elrath took the platform and presented the
name of Judge Stephen j. Field with the fol-
lowing remarks;
TNoTE.-There is no McElrath in the Cali
fornia delegation-supposed to be teie-
graphic error for Metcalfe of San Francisco. ]
Mr.. President We have met on this occa-
sion. AN occasion to be forever memorable IN
the annals of the Democratic party, for the
purpose of nominating the next President OF
these United States. Ard why, let me ask,
is this vast hall filled with representatives OF
the people from all the States Is 1t not that
we NAV, by cur actions this day, preserve Tor
ourselves and our children, and transmit to a
distant posterity the priceless heritage OF no
ertv in this country? Isit not that which has
called us together? We are intensified IN our
purpose to accomplish the ends | have sug-
rested. because we are justified IN believing
that the policy of the Republican party, II
continued. will ultimately subvert the prlncl-
pies upon which our nation was founded, I'M
der which it has grown great and prosperous,
and by the maintenance of which it can alone
continue in its career of liberty and advance
ment. To achieve these results we must con-
tinue in the pathway OF the fathers VINO
founded the Republic. We want an indie
structible Union, composed of indestructible
States. We want General Government to
exercise only the powers that have been ex-
pressly delegated to it, and such 9TH
ers as by a fair construction OF the
Constitution are necessarily incident
to those expressly delegated within its
proper sphere. We want it honestly
administered. We shall never again suffer
the Legislature of sovereign State to be IN
vaded and its members arrested by military
despotism We would not have our Con-
gressmen implicated in corrupt schemes, nor
would we wish to elevate men to high posi-
lions who have been removed from public
office for the reform and publication of the
civil service. We want purity, Judicial
purity, in the executive department OF the
country. It has been said that westward the
star of empire takes its course, and now,
from beyond the Far West comes that great
country that lays between the summit OF the
Rocky Mountains and the calm waters OF the
Pacific-a country that Democratic admin
istration added to the Union-and presents
one of her best SONS to this Convention as
candidate for the highest Office on earth. New
England nurtured his infancy, and California
developed his manhood. Delegates OF Connec-
ticut. he is ason of your own soil. CallfornIans,
he is your Justinian. Virginians, sons OF the
Old Dominion, gentlemen of the suffering
South. he threw around you the protecting
shield of your country's Constitution. he
moving to California at time when that
great State was in its early infancy, ne gave
to her statutory and beneficial laws. 10 him
the poor man of the Pacific slope owes pro-
lection from a forced sale of the roof that
shelters his family, and the miner the protec-
ton of his pick from the rapacity OF his cred
itor. He has shaped the laws of those great
Territories in the West that are yet to be-
come radiant stars in the galaxy OF States.
He is not only the founder OF States, but
also the preseryer of States. Appointed to
the Supreme Court of the United States as
Democrat at time when the country was
in the desperate throes OF clVu war,
he holds commission from President
Lincoln as an evidence of his devotion
to the Union. On that bench he has been as
pure and upright as Lord Hale. He has ex-
bounded the law with the logic of Marshall,
and with style superior to that of Brough-
am, He has protected the lawyer IN his pro-
fession and the minister of religion in his
calling. Finally, Mr.. President, he imbibed
bis principles from the teachings OF that
great apostle Of Democracy who sleeps at
Monticello, and he promulgates them with
the energy and fearlessness of the Hermit
age. IL nominated by this Convention, he
will sweep over California like the irresistible
nor.hers that come from the snowy noun
tains. l have the honor to nominate for
President of the United States the Hon. Ste
phen J. Field of California. He is man
without fear and without reproach. Corinth-
ian column in the temple of Democracy one
who. il elected, will wipe out the only stain
upon the banner of the Democracy.
SPEECH OF srRiNGFELLow, sEcoNDING THE
NOMINATION OF FIELD.
Stringfellow of Virginia made the follow
ing speech seconding the nomination of
Field
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
yention; [ would not venture, at my own
instance to trespass upon your time and at
tention. and come in the discharge of the
duty which has been imposed upon me, to
some extent strengthened by the reflection
that in this council hall of the great Demo
cratic party | speak to men who, although
for four years fought in blue while L wore
the gray, viii listen to one who has with
them so many elements OF common sympa-
thy, common interests, common language,
one common blood-of men who are bound
OF the past and so many bright
authorizations of the future. that | can crave
your Indulgence when | ask for single mo-
ment to come in behalf of = large proportion
Of the delegation OF old Virginia to second the
nomination of California's distinguished son,
who has been in peace and in war trend
and defender Of that Constitution which old
Virginia contributed so greatly to form, and
which she means so honestly to defend for
10
tuition. the liberty and the laws Of the peo-
pie have enemies in peace - bitter, IS deadly
and As dangerous as the armed battahons
That marched against them when the bad
nassious and the interests and the lawless
ambition OF men made enemies OF nations
who had else ike kindred drops been
mingled into one. We no longer adhere
10 the right Of secession. Ina right Is no
LONGER debated or debatable. The question
whether this Union ia a compact between
sovereign States, with no arbiter between
them 10 determine when the compact Is
broke, or to enforce its observance, Il no
longer an open question. These issues were
practically settled by the stern arbitrament
of the sword ard in that decision the people
of the South right royalty acquiesced. When,
therefore. the Republicans charge that we are
still fighting for the doctrine of secession or
State rights, and timid men without the
Democratic party tell us InaJ Jle noualHdIiph
of Stephen j. Field would commit us to the
doctrines Of that party, | reply that TO this
extent the charge is true 1t Is true that
we are for the rights of the States
to preserve their own autonomy as gusran-
teed by the Constitution against every as
sault that would seek TO subyert our repub-
lican Government and convert it into a con-
solidated despotism. II is true that we are
for the rights Of the States by peaceable APP
peal to drive from power the men who have
dishonored them by corrupt, dishonest and
fraudulent practices. 1t is true that we are
for the right OF the State 10 preserve the lib
critics of the people against the assault OF
Senatorial triumvirates or the action ot.indi-
vidual men. Il is true that we are for the
rights Of the State, not to secede from, not
to impair. but to protect and defend an
indissoluble Union and indissoluble
States founded upon the Constitution
and the laws, and cemented by
the blood and the affections of the people.
On these points the South is indeed solid.
The South Is indeed solid in the belief that
this great nation is a trust that ought TO be
administered for the public good. The South
is solid in believing that its highest Offices
should be filed by men of ability and intel!l-
gence. I would not, gentlemen, depreciate
from the good name or the fair fame OF
any one of the illustrious citizens whose
names have been presented before you, and
vet | may say that sometimes nature seems
TO brush aside her apprentice hand, and tax
ing her place at the workshop begins to forge
=, tba ryorl,sbnD nj time character so grand