Year: 1864




ton, and when He hung upon the cross


when priests and pharisces Knocked his
suforipgs, a soldier alone discovered His


divinity, when he heard Him pour forth
a,prayor for mercy and forgiveness foI
the authors Of his sufFerings.


The Administration cannot save this
Union. We can. Mr.. Lincoln values
many things above the Union. We put
it first Of all. He thinks a proclamation
worth more than peace. We think the
blood of our people more precious than
The edicts of the President.


There are no hindranees in our path
way to union and to peace We demand
mo conditions for the restoration Of our
Union. We are shackled with no hates,
no prejudicos, no passions. We wish for
fraternal relationships with the people Of
the South. We demand for them what
he demand for ourselves; the full recog-
milton of the rights Of States. We mean
that every star on our nations banner
shall shine with an equal lustre.


In the coming election men must de-
eide with which of the two parties into
which our people are divided, they viii
act. If they wish for Union, they viii
act with that party which does now and
always did love and reverence that IN
ion. If they wish for peace, they will
act with those who sought to avert this
war, aud who now seek to restore good
will and harmony among all sections Of
our country. If they care for the rights
of persons and the sacrodness Of their
homes, they viii act with those who have
stood up to resist arbitrary arrests, des-
pOtic legislation and the overthrow of
the Judiciary. If, upon the other hand,
they are willing to continue the present
policy of the Government and condition
Of affairs, let them act with that organi-
zation which made the present condition
Of our eOtntry; and there are many good
men who will be led to do this by their
passions and prejudices, and our land
swarms with placemen who will hold up
on power and pIunder with a 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 overthrow. -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.


We desire Union and peace. The Ad-
ministration deny US Union and peace,
for they demand conditions and exact
price which they know will prolong the
war, and war undtly prolonged becomes
disunion. Wise craftsmanship can now
bring this war to a close upon the terms
solemnly set forth by the Government at
the outset Of the contest. In the polit-
ical contest in which we are engaged we
do not seek partisan advantages. We
are battling for the rights of those who
belong to all political organizations.-I
We mean that the rights of speech shall
be unimpaired, although the right may
be used to denounce us. We intend that
the rights of conscience shall be protect
ed, although mistaken views of duty may
turn the temples of religion into theaters
for party denunciation. We mean that
home rights and the sacredness of the
freedom of the press shall be respected
by those in authority, no matter what
political views may be held by those who
sit beneath this roof.


When the Democratic party shall have
gained power, we shall not be less, but
more tenacious upon these subjects. We
have forborne much, because those who
are now charged with the conduct of
public affairs know but little about the
principles Of our government. We were
unwilling to present an appearance of
opposition. When We shall have gained
power, that official who shall violate one
principle Of law, one single right Of the
humblcst man in the land, shall be pun
ished by the full rigors of the law, it
matters not if he sits in the Presidential
chair, or holds the humblest Office under
cur government.


We have had upon this floor a touch
ing and significant proof of the folly of
this administration, which has driven
from its support those upon whom they
chiefly leaned at the outset of the rebellion.
Then their hopes, even their own person
al safety, we're upon the noble men in
the border States who, under circumstan-
ces the most trying, severed family rela-
tionship and ancient associations to up
hold the flag of our country. Many of
these men arc now members of this Con
vcntion. They bear the impress on their
couptpuaucGa and manifest in their pres