Year: 1864

Honai Democratic Convention was called
to order by August Belmont, Chairman Of
the National Committee, who said.


GatScmen Of The Coayeatioa:


we are assembled here to-day as the
National Democratic Convention. under
the call OF the Democratic National Com
mlttee, for the purpose ofnominatinr can
d'datos for the Presidency and Vice Pres
dency OF the United States. This task ot


all times most difficult and arduons
one, has, by the sad events of our civil
war, assumed an importance and respon
siolIity OF the most fearful nature. Never
since the formation of our Government
has there been an assembage, the pro-
ceedlngs ot which were fraught with more
momentous and vital results, than those
which must flow from your action here
towards you, gentlemen, are directed Mt
this moment the anxious fears and dodbts
not only of millions of American citizens
but also of every lover of civil liberty
throughout the world. In YOUR hand,
rests, under the ruling Of an Alhige Prov
ldence, the future Of the Republic. Four
years OF rule by the sectional ianatical.
and corrupt party warns US of the disas-
tfous consequences which would befall Us
II Mr.. Llncoln's reelection should be made
! possible by our want of patriotism and
unity. The inevitable result of such n
calamity must be the utter disintegration
OF our whole political and social system
amid bloodshed and anarchy. with the
great problems of liberia! progress and self.
government jeopardized for generations
TO come.


The American people have at last awal.-
ened 10 the conviction that q change of
policy and administration can alone stay
our downward course, and they will rush
to the support Of your candidate and plat
FORM provided you will offer to their suf
trages tried patriot who has proved bis
devotion to the Union and Constitution
that you pledge him and ourselves to
maintain them by every effort and sacri-
lice in our power.


Let us, at the very onset Of our proceed
ings, bear in mind that the dissensions of
the last National Democratic Convention
were oneof the principal canses which
gave the reins of the Government into
the hands of our opponents, and let us
take care not to fall again into the same
fatal error ... ...
We must bring to the altar of our coun-
try the sacrifice of our prejudiees, opin-
ions and convictions, however dear and
long cherished they may be, from the mo-
ment they threaten the harmony and
unity OF action SO indispensable to our
success.


We are not here as War Democrats.
nor as peace Democrats, but as citizens of
this great Republic, which we will strive
and labor to The last to bring back to its
former greatness and prosperity without
one single star taken from the brilliant
constellation that once encircled its youth
ful brow


Let pure and disinterested patriotism,
tempered Dy moderation and forbearance
preside over our deliberations, and under
the blessings Of Almighty God the sacred
cause Of the Union, the Constitution and
the laws must prevail over ianaiicism and
treason


Mr.. Belmont was enthusiastically ap-
plauded during the delivery OF his address.


The Hon. VIM. BgIer, of Pennsylyania,
was chosen temporary Chairman ofihc
Convention, and upon taking the chair
made a brief address, expressing conf
deuce in the wise deliberations of The Con
venton and in the success of its nominee.


SPEECH OF EX-GOVERNOR DIGLER.


Gentlemen Of the Convention:


| am greatly honored in your selection
of me to preside over the preliminary de-
liberations of this body. Ny acknowledge
ments for the high compliment and for
the kind greeting ust extended to me by
this vast concourse of my fellow-ci,aens,
will be best manifested by the proper dis
charge of the duties OF the position Ia
which you have called ME. 1t is not ex-
pected, nor would it be ftting, in one as
suming mere temporary Presidency of
this Convention, that he should enter up
on any general discussion of the many
topics suggested by the unhappy coudi-
ton of our country. A brief allusion to
the occasion and purposes Of our assem-
blage is all that will be necessary. No sim
liar body ever assembled IN America with
mightier objects before, or to which such
a vast proportion OF the American people
looked with such profound solicitude for
measures to promote the welfare of the
country and advance their individual hap
piness. The termination Of Dem Ocratic
Iulc III Jllo CpuHNIyi WIS tuS eud OF ptbtB-
full relations between the States and the
people. The elevation Of sectional par
ty to authority at Washington, the calum-
NATION of long INDUCED, acrimonious
war, elimination and re-climination be-
tween extreme men at the North and
South, were promptly followed by dissolu-
ton and civil war and in the progress OF
that war even the foundations Of civil IL
berty have been inperilled and the whole
public brought to the very verge of des-
truction, and now, at the end of moro
than three years OF war unparalleled in
modern times for its magnitude and for
barbarous desolation, after more than two
millions of mon have been called into the
fed on our side alone, after the land has
been literally drenched in fraternal blood,
and wailings and lamentations are heard
in every corner of our common country,
the hopes OF the Union and our cherished
object are in no wise improved.


The men now in authority, through
ieud which they long maintained with vi