Year: 1872




MEN OF WEsTMoRELAND: / como 10
you to night to give to you as would
to the people of my own district the
reasons that impel mo TO the support
of the principles and the candidates
of the Baltimore convention and TO
learn here in the Star of the West
whether the pulses of the Democratic
heart tbrob as do mine in earnest
sympathy with and cordial support OF
the ticket nominated at Reading.


The preservation and perpetuity Of
that complex and magnificent form of
government which is embodied in tho
Constitution of tho United States, and
through and under which tho rights
of the people, the rights of the States
aud the duties Of the federal govern.
ment are protected and defined have
ever been the leading ideas of that vast
body of men heretofore and now
known as tho Democratic party. A
strict construction of the fedora con.
stitution, the possession by the State
governments Of every governmental
function not granted by express words
or necessary Implication to,the federal
government; the rights of the people
paramount over all, and their protec
ton the guiding star in construction
ofevery granted or implied power, have
been and are now the very essence of
the iaith vi more than three millions
of the voters OF the republic. When
their representatives welded the pow
er and directed the energies Of the re.
public it was in strict accordance with
these principles, and when their an.
tagonists assumed control and expert.
mented upon tho reversal of these
cardinal tcnets, their election from
power and from place soon followed
When the civil war seemed to shake
to its very foundation the government.
al structure, these were the rallying
cries with which the Democracy of the
north yielding cordial support to the
government, gathered tho true men
of the republic for tho protection and
preservation of the great principles OF
free government, and these were the
magnets that attracted the love, the
respect and the earnest devotion Of
the millions of men, who, during do
cade of opprobrium and calumny have
followed the flag and shared the for
tunes of the Democratic party. Tn,
preservation of the principles OF fres
government and tho maintenace in
violate Of the rights of the States
within their just sphere, wero the OBJ
jecis TO which our organization wal
dedicated, and robed in the panoply
of these great purposes it has compel
led the respect of its adversaries, it ha
kept alive the spirit of liberty, and !
to day presents itself living, progres
sive, conquering. For the advance
ment of these great ends 1t now show
TO the world its abnegation of sell, it
ability to grasp with vigor the oppor
: tunities of tho present, and its fines
to deal with the grave questions o
the immediate future. Its enemie
have often alleged its death; they nov
assert its decease and burial, but if !
ever was mortal il now demonstrate
its immortality by its acceptance o
tho infusion of n new element tha
shall reinvigorate its frame and quick
!. on the pulses of its tremendous power
! As in the days when the purer part
Of the old whig organization came I
our aid in support Of the articles G
our faith, so now the purest clemen,
the very brain and marrow of the Re
publican organization, accepts ou
doctrines, and unites with us for th
attainment OF our leading objects.


| want no more complete enuncia
ton of the political faith TO which


have always yielded assent than ! fin


in the words of the Cincinnati Balt


more platform:


"The public welfare requires the ST
premaoy Of the civil over tho militar


authority and freedom of person unde
(, the protection of the hdbeds corpus =


We demand for the individual Oh
;. largest liberty consistent with publ
order, for the State sclLgovernmer


and for the nation a return to th


methods of peace and the constitution


al limitations Of power n


And in the words Of the candidat


for President, in his letter Of acceI


tance: rr.r. tf.... r..tt u. 81


"That, subject to our solemn COZ


stitutional obligations TO maintain II
q, equal rights of all citizens our polio
Q, shonld aim ut local self govornmet
Is aud not at Capitalization; that u


civil authority should be supreme ov'


the military; that tho writ of hdbe'
corpus should DO jealously upheld


the safeguard of personal freedom


that the individual citizen should ~
y joy the largest liberty consistent vii


public order, and that there shall


no federal subverson of the internI


polity Of tho several States and nun
u cipalitics, but that each shall be le
i. free to enforce tho rights and promo


the well being Of jts Inhabitants !