Year: 1864

/ AT THE NATL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
+ Gentlemen Of tie Coauealioa:--I can
not forecast the resolutions and action o


this Convention, but I can say that eve
: ry member Of it loves the Union, desires
peace and will uphold Constitutions
freedom. While the resolutions and ao


ton of this Convention are of the utmost
] Importance, there ar. reasons why thC
I Democratic party should be restored tc


power, and they are great reasons: The
4 Democratic party will restore the Union.
because it longs for its restoration. Il


will bring peace, because it loves peace.


It will bring back liberty to our land,
| because it loves liberty. It will put


down dospotism, because it hates the ig-
noble tyranny which now dogrades the
American people Four years ago a
Convention met in this ei1y, when cur
country was peaceful, prosperous and
united. Its delegates did not mean to
destroy our Government, to overwhelm
US with debt OF to drench our land with
blood but they were animated by intOl-
eranee and fanatieism, and blinded by an
ignorance Of the spirit of our Institutions,
the character Of our people and the con
dition Of our land. They Thought they
might safely indulge their passions, and
they concluded to do so. They would
not heed the warning Of our fathers
Their passions have wrought out their
natural results. They were inpelled to
spurn all measures of compromise. Step
by step they have marched on to results
which at the onset they would have
shrunk with horror from, and even now,
when war has desolated our land, has
laidits heavy burthens upon labor, and
when bankruptcy and ruin overhang us,
they will not have the Union restored ex-
cept on conditions unknown to our Con
stitution. They will not let the she'd
ding of blood cease even for a little
time, to see if christian charity or the
wisdom of craftsmanship may not work
out method to save our country. Nay,
more than this they will not listen to
proposal for peace which does not offer
that which this government has 10 right
to ask. This Administration cannot
save the Union if it would. It has by
its proclamations, by its vindictive legis-
ton and by displays of hate aad passion,
placed obstacles in its own pathway that
it cannot overcome. It has hampered its


own freedom of action BY uneonstitution-


alities. It cannot be said that the fail


ute of its policy is due to the want of
courage and devotion on the part of our
armies Never in the history of the
world have soldiers given up their lives
more freely than have those of the az


mics which have battled for the flag our
Union in the Southern States. The


world will hold that they have done all
that arms can do, and had wise states
manship secured the fruits of their VIC
tories, to-day there would have been
peace in our land. But while our sol
diers have desperately struggled to carry
our banners southwark to the Gulf of
Mexico, even now the Government de-
elares in the edict Of General that re-
bellious discomfort has worked northWard
to the shores of the great lakes. The
guaranteed right of the people to bear
arms mas been trampled under foot, up to
the very borders Of Canada: so that
American seryitude is put in bold con-
trast with British liberty. The Admin
istration thus declares to the world that
it has no faith in the people of the States
whose votes placed it in power. It also
admits, by such an edict, that the people
have no faith in this Administration.


While those in power without rcmorse
sacrifice the blood and treasure of our
people, they will not give up their own
passions for the public good. This I'm
ion is not held asunder by military ambi-
tion. If sur political troubles could be
referred to the peaceful arbitrament of
the contending armies in the field, our
Union would be restored, the rights Of
States would be guaranteed, the sacred
ness Of homes and persons be again re-
spoctod, and an insultod Judiciary would
again administer 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 their fanaticism.-
In my constant official intercourse with
them, I have never heard uttered one
sentiment Of hatred towards the people
Of the South. Beyond all men, they
value the blessings Of peace and :ho viz