Year: 1862

believed that this was Convention of the


trne men of the country. Old party lines


and party distinctions and issues should


be set aside, and the only questions now


for us to ask of each other are, is your


heart right with my heart are we work.


ing together for the common good of the


whole country ? and are we shoulder to


shoulder in the work now in hand, to sup


press the rebellion and maintain the Con-


stitution and the Union I? In this spirit


he came here to-day, without any qualif-


cation, and with no other desire than to


work heartily with whoever was right


with him in the great contest now in hand.


He appreciated the honor that had been


conferred upon him by the Convention.


He felt somewhat as though he had on a


strange coat; he felt hampered but the


position in which he had been placed was


not one which he had sought, nor was it


one which he had any right to expect


but the manner in which it was made, he


trusted, evinced the confidence of the peo-
pie in him as man; and, appreciating
as he did the compliment which had been
paid him, he hoped the people of the
) State would find that they had not mis-
taken their man. He was entirely devo-
ted to the cause; and when the general


government shall call for regiment of
men of 65 years of age, he was ready to
volunteer. All that he possessed-him-
self, his children and his property-were


devoted to the cause. He stood here to-
day and accepted the honor that had been
conferred upon him, assuring the Conven-
tion that he would endeavor to do moth
; ing that would bring disgrace to the
. State. That he might make mistakes
: was quite probable, but his endeavors
should be to serve the people faithfully in
0 every respect.


As to party politics, Mr. D. said that
e since the first gun was fired upon Fort
o Sumpter, he knew no party but devotion
4 to his country. He had heretofore been a
e Democrat; but if to-day he wore the name
n of Democrat, il is not as it has been tar.
e nished by sympathizers with secession
e He came up to the Convention to-day be-
h cause he considered himself invited as ont
" of the supporters of the Administration
% He was bound to the administration j
= was his; and while some might think i
If erred in some things, he should stand b,
J. it. President Lincoln had done all tina
1t his best friends could ask, and even more
% He has evinced great sagacity to NEE
lie the issue of the day; and if he was not
vt statesman, we must at least admit that h
S. was possessed of sagacity that amounte
h to great craftsmanship. We are passin
lie through trying times, and long school
L ing in craftsmanship could not bette
If prepare President Lincoln for the emer
n gency in which he is placed. He ha,
= come absolutely to love "Honest Oh,
7; Abe" and he prayed that he might out
d live this rebellion, and that the remainde
le of his administration may be as successful
y as its beginning. He knew nothing 0
II politics save that whose sole object was t
n restore the Union. When the lost State
q come back, they have constitutional right
le which must and would be accorded t
le them; but they must come back, and upo


themselves must rest the consequence Q
u the rebellion. lie did not trouble him
d self about the negroes; God would tax
y care of the question of slavery; if it stoo
y in the way of the suppression Of the re
le bellion let it 60 down; if nothing bu
IS force could end the war, push on the aoa'
'r and all that stands in the way must pei
+ ish but until the rebellion was crushe
T. out forever, farewell to all minor que:
~ tions. He approved of the acts for emar
/ cipation Of slaves in the District of Co
10 umbia, the granting of aid by Governmen
N for the emancipation of slaves in th
ie States; he approved of the policy of th
~ Administration in its treatment of thes
IS questions, and further than this he care
q not to speculate. We must come back
al first principles, and the government mus
IN be administered in accordance with tn
ie principles of the fathers, and then sha
TX ,yo boyo n r,ovarpnant n G firm 40 tba ova,