Year: 1868

Esteem them. Mans opinion


Neither conferred. nor can recall,


This man's dominion.


Speech Of General Palmer, of


Illinois, at the National Re


publican Convention.


On motion of 2 delegate from Ken
lucky, the soldier, statesman and
patriot, General John II. Palmer, was
called out and received with much
enthusiasm. He spoke as follows: Mr..
President and gentlemen of the Re-
publican Conventional attended this
Convention to witness and observe its
earnest action, without any disposition
on my part to contribute to the volume
of words that usually attend assem5la-
ges like this. As you Will see l have
outlived in a great measure the estimate
that young men. place upon mere
speech. Laughter, applause and cries
Of "Good."1 Years ago Chen the
great questions before the country were
matters of argument and deliberation,
l endeavored, as best could, to con-
tribute my share to their peacaful solu-
ton. In 1861 it was resolved By q
portion of the people of this country
that the problems of the hour were to
be settled IN a more stern and decisive
manner. In my ways to the extent OF
the power l possessed, I contributed to
the settlement of those problems. Ap-
plause. 1t seemed to me at the close
of the war, and it seems to me now,
that the matters of dispute between
the different sections of the country
were settled upon the battle field; and
all that have desired since that time
is that the logic of the battle field
should be recognized and the decision
there made should be carried into
effect. Applause. Years ago, in the
beginning of the controversy, the ques-
ton was whether men in all parts of
the republic should be allowed tospeak.
/ valued freedom of speech-not much
speech, but free speech. Laughter
and applause. Whist 1 commanded
no large share of the popular gift, l do
insist thaf they that loved speaking
should be allowed to do it. 1t was
denied not only in the South but IN
many districts in the North. At that
time II was insisted not only that men
should speak as they please and for
themselves, but men should work for
themselves and own themselves. Ap-
plause. / believe that while every
man should be allowed to speak freely
and speak for himself, that all men
should be allowed to act freely and to
act for themselves; that every man
should be allowed to own himself. He
should be allowed 70 own not only
himself, but 20 own his own wife and
his own children. Applause This
question has been decided by the
arbitrament of the sword, and not only
was that great fundamental essential
doctrine established, but it was also
settled as conclusively as any question
could be settled, that hereafter men
should not only be free IN their own
persons, but should be also free and
equal before the law everywhere in this
great Republic, applause and the
issue of the Republican party to-day IS
not TO discuss theories but to give
practical effect to the doctrines estab-
iished upon the battle field applause
not for the loyal men alone, not for
the North, not for the South, but for
men everywhere within the limits OF
the Republic: not for white men, not
for red men, not for black men but for
all men. t'That's So" and applause;)
and we supposed that the voice of the
American people during the PROCESS
of the war and and at the close of
the war seemed to indicate that here
after there would be no difficulty; that
these doctrines Woald be accepted at
least by the Republican party every
where. Six months ago what man sup
posed that there remained any further
obstruction, to the execution OF the
popular will: that we were still to strag-
Gle on in vindication Of these great
PRINCIPLES. We had triumphed during
the var at the Presidential election of
1864. at the close of the war. and in
the greater conflict Of 1866 when John
son appealed from Congress 10 the peo-
pie, and the people reiterated their de-
termination that these great doctrines
should be hereafter American doc
trines everywhere. Cheers. The
public voice was spoken in language
not 10 be misunderstood. 1t was sup
posed then that every man who accep-
:ed the name of Republican, recognised
this great essential doctrines, and that
thev were hereafter not to be resisted
at least by members of the Republican
party. There was but one thing then
in the pathway of the people. In 1864,
by one Of those signal blunders which
seemed like dispensation of the AL
mighty in his wrath, we elected An
drew johnson Vice President. Thought
less men may characterize it as blum
der but thoughtful men may well won
der whether what we seemed a mis-
take was not The judgement of the Al
mighty inflicted upon the country for
some sin, and certainly, except
the war itself, no curse could be
heavier than the election of Andrew
johnson. Cheers. In 1866 the dis
tinct issue was presented to the Ameri-
can people, whether that curse should
be removed. The people of Illinois, by
a majority unhesrd OF in our history
instructed its representatives upon that
question. Iowa spoke out; Kansas
spoke out other States spoke out up
on the question. There was no posi-
bic room for mistaking the will Of the
people of the country. There was but
one way by which all departments of
government could be brought in har-
mony. A demand was made to i'm
peach the President but it has failed.
1t is not for me to speak of the reasons
of that failure. 1t is enough for me to
deplore that result. The removal of
Andrew johnson was demanded by the
national safety. We may talk about
it; we may discuss it as a judicial or 8
a politicsl question, but as question Of
common sense it is that Andrew John
son stood in the way of the peace of the
country, and ought to have been re-