Year: 1864

| ueSS vi uOiHtS anu pciSOuo again TespScleO,
and an insulted judiciary would again ad
minister the laws of the land Let not
the ruin of our country be charged to our
soldiers 1t is not due to their teachings
or TO their fanaticism. In my constant
official intercourse with them, have new
er heard uttered one sentiment Of hatred
towards the people of the South. Beyond
all men they value the blessings of peace
and the virtues of mercy, gentIeness and
of charity, while many who stay a. home
cry havoc, and demand tha: no mercy
shall be shown. The bigotry of fanatics
aud the ntrigues Of placemen have made
the bloody pages of the history of the
past three years.


But if the administration cannot save
this Union, We CAT. Loud applause.
Mr. Lincoln values many things above the
Union we put it first of all. [Continued
cheering. lie thinks proclamation
worth more than peace; we think the
blood of our people more precious :han
the edicts Of the President. Cheers.
There are no hindrances in our pathways
to Union and to peace. We demand DO
conditions for the restoration of our
Union; we are shackled with DO hates, no
prejudices, no passions. We wish for
fralernal relationship with the people of
the south. [Applause. We demand for
them what we demand for lves-the
full recognition of the right of states
We mean that every star on our nations
banner shall shine with an equal lustre
In the coming election men must decide
with which of the two parties, into which
our people are divided, they will act If
thew wish fof Union they will act with
that party which does now and aiway did
love and reverence that Union. If they
wish for peace, they will act with those
now seek to restore good will and harmony
among all sections of our country. If
they care for their rights as persons and
the sacredness of their homes, they will
act with those who have stood up to resist
arbitrary arrests despotic legislation, and
the overthrow of the Judiciary. Loud
and continued applause IT, upon the
other hand, they are willing to continue
the present policy of government and con-
dition of affairs, let them act with th at
organization which made the present con
dition Of our country. Ard there are
many good mer who will be led to do this
by their passions and prejudices; and our
land swarms with placeman who will hold
upon power and plunder with deadly
grasp. But as for us, we are resolved
that the party who have made the history
of our country since their advent TO power
seem like some unnatural and terrible
dream shall be oyerthrcwn. Applause.
Four years ago it had its birth upon this
spot. Let US see, by our action, that it
shall die here where it was born. Loud
and continued cheering.


In the political contest in which we are
now engaged, we 60 not seek partisan ad-
vantages. We are battling for the rights
of those who belong to all political orga-
nizations. We mean that their rights of
speech shall be unimpared, although that
right may be used 20 denouncs US. We
intend that rights of conscience shall be
protected, although mistaken views OF
duty may turn the temples of religion into
theatres for partisan denunciator. We
mean that home rights and the sacredness
Of the freside shall be respected BY those
in authority, no matter what political
views may be held by those who sit be-
meath their roof>trees When the demo
cratic party shall have gained power, we
shall pot be less, but more tenacious upon
these subjects We have forborne much
because those who are now charged with
the conduct of public affairs knew but lit
tie about the principles Of our govern
ment. We were unwilling to present an
appearance of factious opposition. Blu,
when we shall have gained power, that
official who shall violate Ole principle O
law, one single right Of the humblest NJ ar
in our land, shall be punished by the fui
rigor of the law it matters not if be sits
in tue presidential chair or holds hum
bic Office under our government
(Cheers.)


We have had upon this floor touch
ing and significant proof Of the folly o
this administration, who have driven
from It's support those upon whom it chic
iiv leaned at the outset of this rebellion
When their hopes, even for their own per
sonal safety, hung upon the noble men o
the border states, Cloud and continued
cheering,) who, under circumstances mos
trying, severed family relations and an,
cient associations, to uphold the flag O
our Union. Many of these men are mem
bers of this convention. They bear, i'm
pressed upon their countenances, and man
ifest in their persons, the high and gener-
Gus purposes which animates them and
yet it is true, (great God, that it sLouo
be true,) that they are stung with sense
Of the injustice and ingratitude Of low anc
unworthy men, who have insuted anC
w-oDged them, their families and THEN
rights, by vindictive legislation or through
the agency of miserable, dishonest subor
dinates. (Cheers.)


Gentlemen, trust that our proceeding
will be marked by harmony. believ'
we shall all be animated BY the greatness
of this occasion. 1t may be--in all prob
ability it is true-that the future Gestinie
: OF our country hangs upon our action
Let this consideration inspire us with
spirit Of harmony. God of our father
r bless us nov fill us with just sense o
the great responsibilities which rest upol
us, and give again TO our land its Union
; its peace, and its liberty.