Year: 1861

had no power to propose union Of par
ties. They could only call Conven
ton TO nominate candidates. Your Stat,
Central Committee of the Republican
party did its duty in calling the part,
into general Convention. Shortly afte
that had been done, persons who claim
ed TO represent the Democratic party
whether truthfully or not l cannot say
called State Democratic Convention al
an earlier day than that for the assem-.
blage of the Republican Convention
Alter this call had been published, Ger.
tain other persons, desiring, as they
claimed, 10 give hearty support to the
prosecution of this war and the mainten
ance Of the Union, issued call for wha
they denominated Peoples or Union
Convention" and fixed the time for hold
ing the same either the day before or the
day after the Democratic Convention had
been called to assemble. They showed
no desire to affiliate with the Republican
Convention. They showed no disposi.
ton to act in any way with the Repubi-
can organization of the State. Now they
had their choice to determine whether
they would place their Convention in a
position to act with the Republican par
ly, or with any other. They chose the
other Convention, and attempted to act
in conjunction with it. They called their
Convention 10 meet the next day after
the Democratic Convention, which met a
al, pf ha ~c, IL,
Republican party. Both Conventions
were held, and no agreement between
them could be effected. Why the /" Peo.
pies" Party made that choice, thereby
placing it out Of their power to act with
the Republican organization. il is not for
me to say. They chose TO do it and did
it. They went TO the Mahony Conven-
ton for their allies. They would not nor
did not attempt to affiliate with the Re-
publican Convention. | was not here at
tie time, but understood that consu!ta
tions were had, and that no agreement
could be effected. The Democratic or
Mahonv Convention met, acted, and ad
journcd. They let the Republican Con-
vention meet and pass by, as they had a
right to do ; but they did not intimate to
them in any way whatever that they had
any desire to affiliate with them.


In the course of events; two more Con
ventions were held in your city last week
on tie one day Union Convention and
on the next Democratic Convention
Ii you can take their acts as indications.
my friends, our Democratic and Union
brethren have shown they were unwil
ling to act with the Republicans Twice
have they met in Convention on succeed
ing days and while they were willing
to thus act in conjunction, they were un-
willing to attempt to act with the Repub
lican organization.


What did the Republicans do when
they met in Convention Take their
platform and read it. Search through
it from beginning to end, and what is
there in it 10 drive from its support any
man who loves his country There j,
nothing =? Scrutinize it closely as you
please, and you will fnd no partizanshlE
there. You will find nothing there bu
devotion to the American Flag and love
for the American Union. | Applause.
The Republicans placed themselves in a
position TO affiliate with the patriotic por-
! ton of any party. or all parties, in the
State, Democrats or Union men, call
them what you please; but they were
silently passed by; no desire was shown
to have anything to do with them; and
relying upon the ustness of their cause
they threw their banner abroad, and ap
pealed to the people to rally around it
in maintenance Of the Federal Union and
the honor of the Federal Flag The
Republicans do not ask you, my Demo
cratic friends, TO give up any Of you,
preconceived notions on the subject o
Slavery. They don't ask you TO accept
their political faith or abandon yours
but AS the predominant party in thi:
State, ignoring for the time being all pas
political issues, they ask every man whC
is willing to rally around the flag TO steI
| forward to aid them in this patriotic
cause. Is il wrong in them to do this
Every Republican is Union man.
\ w III idiiu tdh you
one who is not ? They are. and for some
years have been the dominant party in
the State. They have placed themselves
as an organization. in position TO b.
consulte with by any party or any mel
who might be willing TO consult and ac
with them for The Union but had com
pletely, perhaps slndiously, been ignored
by all. They then for the sake of har
mony and good will, laid aside all party
issues, and all party tests, and simpl,
asked that all men Of all parties who lik'
themselves were devoted TO the Union
should step forward and act with them
not for party, but for the Union. !
seems 10 me that more could not have
been asked with fairness, nor yielde,
with seli-respect.


The other organization is divided. ]
is torn asunder. With the present con
dition Of the country, whoever is not II
favor of upholding the Government, j
against il. And my friends. il seems L
me that if we could once lay aside al
dssensions on this subject, aud as


united people rally around the Admins
tration. we could soon carry the war {
a successful issue and place the countr
in position such as il is entitled to oc
cunv