Year: 1861

coerced into Secession by the armed
Mamelukes of treason. believe, however, that
so soon as majority of the people Of that State
shall feel the protecting arm OF the general
Government around them, tney will bring her
back upon the side of the Constitution and the
Union. Scotts " Boa Constructor" is fast envel
oping the treason in its folds, and soon the fatal
coil will be drawn that shall strangle ITO death.
Behold in the not far off distance the mother OF
States and of statesmen returning with stately
step and loyal mein, bringing with her in her
train her errng sons back to their allegiance and
their duty. [Appause.1


Mr.. Edgerton proceeded to discuss Mt some
length the nature and theory of our Govern
ment We regret that want of space forbids our
giving even synopsis of his remarks in that
connection. Mr. Edgerton closed with the fol-
lowing remarks


When we contemplate the grandeur and
power Of the Republic; when we look back over
its brilliant race of glory-wheh we carry ouI oI
thoughts into the future and anticipate the sun
grander results that may yet be realized 10 civl-
lizaton and humanity, If we OF TINS generatioh
prove true to the trusts we hold, who OF us does
not feel that he can make no personal sacrifice
too great forthe preservation OF the Constitution
and the Union, as our fathers formed them.
Under the salutary influence of that Constitu-
ton, and of that Union, this proud city asrsen
from the earth and sea, as If by the stroke OF
some enchanter's wand. Here industry has
reared palatial homes; here religion has reared
its sacred temples; here education has dliluse d
its benefits and its blessings; hither the Star OF
Empire has taken its fastest western course, and
here may forever shine with cloudess radiance,
and illumine the sky with the mild and holy
lights of American Constitutional liberty, OF
Justice, of order, and of law. lTumultuous ap'
plause.l


The President announced that Mr. Whitman,
nominee of the party for Supreme Judge, had
arrived and would address the meeting lap
plause.l


SPEECH OF r. G. WHITMAN.


Mr.. WHITMAN came forward amid great ap-
plause and said


Mr. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF SAN
FRANCISCO For although live in one OF the
" cow" counties, in small village which once
to be sure, years ago. aspired to rival san Fran
cisco, yet have the right thus to address you
citizens as we are of q common State citizens
devoted now, as we are, to common cause
[Applause.l


regret that was expected here to speak 20
night, for on perusing the papers noticed that
the names of orators more distinguished than
myself were ann ounced, and had not been ad-
visod that should be required to address this
audience. | have not come here to make a
speech. You may very well ask then, what
did you come for? | came for this purpose ::
To reiterate my adhesion TO the platform ad
vanced by the Union Democratic party at its
late convention in Sacramento LApplauseI l
came here to San Francisco, which should be
the Mecca of all Unionloving pilgrims to
pledge anew my faith upon the altar of
my country. [Applause.l Time was, gem
tlemen, not long since, even in California,
when neighbor doubted neighbor, friend doubt
ed friend, and brother almost looked with an
Xious eye at brother, to know where that neigh
bor, friend or brother would take his stand. All
over this State anxiety was looming up, and the
dread cloud of distrust was fast settling down
upon US, when from this city nprose the voice
OF over 10000 men, declaiming for the Union
and the Constitution. [Applause. That voice
extended not only over Cal iiornas valleys and
mountain tops, but it crossed the sea and reach
ed the Atlantic slope; and perhaps few OF us can
Judge how many hearts were gladdened, how
many arms were nerved when they knew that
San Francisco, that California was safe for the
Union, the Constitution and the laws. Applause ]
1t was well that this should be 50. 1t was well
that we, who come from all classes, from all par
ties, and from every section Of the Union, should
send forth that declaration; for here IN Califor
mia, gathered together as we are from all parts
of our Union, and from every cline under the
sun, tho asperities which perhaps would charac
terize those of meaner experience have been
rubbed away, and we have learned to recognize
the good in every man. to pardon, forget and
overlook that which is bad. [Applause. 1t Is
in this spirit, gentlemen, that the Union Demo
cratic party have made their nominations. They
have met together, and, ignoring past party dif
ferences, have placed upon their ticket gem lie
men, some of whom in former times have acte
in opposition to one another; and they say tc
all, " 1e, who can stand upon our platform
come and be with us and be Of us. They do not
attempt, like some other pseudo Union parties
to say, '' You may come and vote for us, but the
giving Of your vote is all you can do, or shall
do; that is all you are worth" [Applause. j
Why, say some, should we have any other party
in this State during this canvass, save a party
that supports the Union unequivocally? | say
we should not have, but also say this: That the
Republican party not only support the Admins
tration and the Government, hut they do some
thing more. They not only support the Ad-
mnstratiOn now, but they pledge themselves to
the Administration in the fIt0re, no matter
whether that Administration be right or be
wrong. [Applause | say this fhat so long
as the Administration administers the Consttu-
tion and the laws; so long as the Administration
prosecutes to the utmost its attempts to pnt
down this most unholy rebellion, 50 long am 1
with the Administration; but do not bind my
self with shackles to bend my knee to that party
any other, during my life time, for am tree
man and believe now address congregation
of freemen. tApplause.1


Why should we not support that party with
out reserve in this canvass? | will tell you on,
reason why. Upon that party, to IL certain eX
tent, rests the stigma of the present unortu-
nate condition OF our affairs. Tremendous
applause1. will prove what say. The doe
trine of the Irrepressibls Conflict was inau
gurated by one OF the leaders of that party
[Applause.] Now, do you tell me that he
(Seward) who preached that doctrine, that the
party who followed him, who elevated him to a
high station and wonld have put him in a
higher, had policy so willed, did not believe it
Will you tell me that last winter they organized
Territories on the basis of our own platform
Then / answer you that if they did not believe
it, then they committed a more damnable and
heinous wrong than if they had believed every
word which they said in support of it. [NoCE
-" Good" Applausel il they merely raised
this cry as party hobby upon which to ride
into power, then, | say, upon them rests the
deeper stigma and the deeper stain. Ap
plause.l They may say The South
should not be alarmed Mt our doctrne
but if a man continually breaches to me doc
trne and asserts to me that he believes it, and
his acts seem to indicate that he intends to carry
out that doctrine may be to Il certain degree
reasonable if am weak enough 60 be alarmed
Therefore we represent the principles of the
party whose skirts are clear, whose hands are
pure, who have always cried aloud for the
Union. We have done everything that lay in
the power OF men to do, to save that Union; and
what was ourreward from this same present e X
cessive, Simon'pure, Pharisacal Union party
Why they called us UniOn-Iavers and Union
shrekers; they pointed the finger of scorn mt u'
because we dared to say to them: " Pause in you
mad career; for although, perhaps our South
ern brethren should not be alarmed at what yol
declare you intend to do and may not be, ye
there is danger and risk no danger where th'
Union is in question" [Appause.l


We stand now where we have always stood
We stand for the Constitution, and we recognize
no right of secession, no right of rebellion. And