So1d at 13 1Park Row, New York, and- at all Democratic Newspaper Orffies, at $1 per 1,000 pages. Campaign Document, No. 9. SPEECIHI OF HON. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, AT THE Great Ratification Meeting in Union Square, New York, SEPTEMBER 17, 1864. I THANK yOU. fellow-citizens, for this the request of your Committee of Arfriendly and flattering reception. I rangements, seconded as it was by an thank your honored President for the old and valued friend, whom I knew kind words in which he has presented so long ago as the tried and trusted me to you. I feel glad ill being here friend of Daniel Webster, that I would tnder the lead of one who, as the gen- at least be present as a witness of this tieman who called the meeting to order great demonstration. Nor, being here, well said, has added new honor to a can I refuse to respond to the call name that was already associated with which has been made on me by your so much true and tried patriotism, with honored President, and to bear my so much of spotless integrity, and with humble testimoay to the cause in so much of financial and commercial which you are engaged. Itwas promwisdom. You know me, men of New ised me that I should see the greatest Yordk —if I may presume to imagine meeting ever held in America; and no that you know me at all-as a member one can doubt, I think, that the promof the old Whig party of the Union, ise is fulfilled. It is, indeed, a glorias long as that party had any organiza- ous sight, this vast assemblage of tion or existence. (Cheers.), And I American citizens, unseduced by patcannot help recalling the fact, on this ronage, unawed by power, in the occasion, that among my earliest pc- great commercial metropolis of the iitical efforts, nearly thirty years ago, Union, —itself one of the noblest prowas a speech in this city against the ducts of that Union,-all rallying beDemocratic candidates of that day. neath a common banner, all animated (Applause.) I fear that my faculty of by a, common resolve; that banner inking a speech, or certainly, n open- the Stars and Stripes-that resolve, to air speech, is somewhat impaired by do all that in us lies for the rescue of the lapse of years; but such as I can our country from the dangers by which make is heartily at the service of the it is encompassed. (Cheers.) You are Democratic candidates of to-day. I assembled in Union Square, and I am could not find it in my heart to refuse glad to know that you all intend to stand square on the platform of the manders. We all remember, with Union. (Laughter and applause.) grateful admiration, the splendid vicYou are assembled on the anniversary tories which have been won, on the of the day on which the Constitution land and on the sea, by Meade and of the United States received the at- Grant and Sherman, by Porter and testing signatures of its framers; and I Kearsarge Winslow and the heroic rejoice to be assured that you are all Farragut, and by so many others of resolved to uphold the authority and our generals and admirals. All honor vindicate the supremacy of that Con- to the heroes of Vicksburg and Chatstitution. (Applause.) Yes, my friends, tanooga, of Gettysburg and Atlanta, in yonder city of Philadelphia, which of Mobile Bay, and of the blessed wawe are glad to remember, in this con- ters, whatever they are called, which nection, was also the birthplace of at last ingulfed the Alabama; and all George B. McClellan, (Cheers,) on gratitude to the soldiers and sailors, the 17th day of September, 1787, that by whose brave hearts and stout arms sacred instrument was perfected, which those victories were achieved! But has secured union and peace to our noneof themhave-eclipsed, oreven dimland for more than seventy years past, med, the brilliant record of the Army and which, if this day's ratification of the Potomac and its leader during shall be successfully carried out, may those eventful days which ended at still, I fondly hope and believe, secure South Mountain and Antietam. For union and peace to our land for seven that gallant leader it is glory enough times, or even for seventy-times seventy that it may be said of him, as the reyears to come. (Applause.) You are suit of that brief but almost miracuassembled, too, on the anniversary of lous campaign, that, born in the birththe day, when the noble candidate, place of the Constitution, he was privwhose nomination you are about to ileged, by an auspicious and beautiful ratify, completed his great work of coincidence, to commemorate its sevrescuing the capital of his country enty-fifth birthday, by saving the capifrom the Confederate hosts by the glo- tal of his country. But who of us is rious victory of Antietam. You have not ready to accept the omen, that it is not forgotten those memorable days of still reserved for him who saved the September,'62, when the fate of our Capital on that day, to save the counRepublic seemed just trembling in the try itself at this? (Loud applause.) scales, when almost all men's hearts And now, fellow-citizens, you have were failing them for fear, and when not forgotten that this was the last milthe gallant McClellan, forgetting the itary service which General McCllellan unmerited indignities to which he had was permitted to perform in the dejust been subjected, -forgetting every- fence of the Union. You have not thing but his country's dangers and forgotten that only a few weeks afterhis own determination to stand or fall ward he was summarily deprived of with its flag, - and responding without his command and sent into that retirea murmur, or a moment's delay, to the ment frcom which no patriotic offers of personal appeal of the President, gath- his own, and no persistent solicitations ered up the scattered fragments of his of his friends, have prevailed on the brave but broken army, reorganized Administration to recall him. But the their shattered battalions as by the day is at length at hand when the peowaving of a magician's wand, drove ple of the United States have the Conback the invaders across the Potomac, stitutional opportunity and the Constiand once more secured the safety of tutional right to revise and reverse the Washington and of the Government. decrees of the Administration; and (Loud cheers.) I would not disparage most heartily do I hope that this one the successes which have been achieved of their decrees, if no other, will be on other days and under other com- revised and will be reversed. Most 3 heartily do I hope, that disregarding all in my own and in other parts of the consideration of parties and platforms, land, with whom I have heretofore and with the single and simple view of delighted to take counsel in private restoring Union and Peace to our dis- and in public affairs, have come to tracted land, the people of the loyal different conclusions from my own. States will resolve, by their votes in But I have not been able to resist the November next, to take up upon their conviction, my friends, that the best own shoulders this leader whom the interests of the country, and the best rulers have rejected, and to-bear him hopes of restoring the Union of the triumphantly into that same White country, emphatically and urgently House from which the rejection has demand a change of administration at emanated. That, as I understand it, the approaching Presidential election. is the proposition before this meeting; (Cheers.) I cannot rcsist the convicand for one, certainly, I gladly avail tion, - or certainly the deep and earnmyself of the earliest opportunity which nest apprehension, — that, if the policy has been presented to me to express adopted and pursued by President Lirnmy approval of it. 2jYoung men of coln and his supporters during the last New York, and of the nation, will you two years is'to be persisted in for four not take. it in special charge, and see years to come, we shall find ourselves to it that this is done? The candidate plunged irretrievably into the fearfiul whom we support is eminently a young and fathomless abyss of disunion. I men's candidate, - the youngest in can enter into no detailed discussion years, I believe, that was ever normina- of that policy on this occasion, nor can ted for the Presidency; but who it wiselybe discussed on any occasion, has won laurels in the field, and in the hearing of our Southern eneshown a discretion and a wisdom in mies. I can only say, that in mly civil affairs, which would have done humble judgment it has been a policy honor to the oldest. It ought to be calculated to divide and weaken the the pride of Young America not only counsels of the North, and to unite and to see that he has fair play and a gen- concentrate the energies of the South; erous support, but to secure him an and, beyond all question, it has acopportunity of showing what young complished that result, if no other. men can do, and are destined to do, in Why, my friends, the all-important the high places of the land, as well as end of reestablishing the Union has on the field of battle. (Loud ap- been almost shut out of sight, so plause.) mixed up and complicated has it been. And yet let me not seem for a mo- with schemes of philanthropy on the mont, fellow-citizens, to put the great one side, and with schemes of conissues of the approaching election on fiscation, subjugation, and extermiany personal grounds. The question nation on the other. Instead of the before us is not about candidates, but one great Constitutional idea of restoabout our country; not about the ration, we have been treated to all relative claims or merits of Abraham manner of projects and theories of Lincoln and George B. McClellan, but reconstruction. There would almost about the nation's welfare and the seem to have been a willingness, in nation's life. (Three cheers for Me- some quarters, to vie with our eneClellan.) In whose hands will that mies themselves in discarding and precious life be safest? That is the destroying the old Constitution of our question; and I do not forget that it fathers. At one time we have had solis a question of opinion, on which emn propositions for annihilating whole every man lhas a right to form, and States, whole systems of States, and every man has a right to follow, his blotting out their stars from the national own opinion. I d(o' not forget, either, banner. At another we have heardopea how many honest and excellent men, declarations from the high places of the 4 land, that we never again were to be we all know that the whole North permitted to have' the Constitution rose nobly up, as one man, without as it is and the Union as it was." Good distinction of party, to repel that asHeavens, what else are we fighting for? sault; and that they have sustained What other Union are we striving to the Government, — Democrats, Reestablish? What other Constitution publicans, and Conservatives alike,are we struggling to vindicate? What with all their hearts and hands, pouring other Constitution are our rulers and out their blood and money like water, legislators solemnly sworn to support? from that day to this. And the loyal We mightexpect suchdeclarations from States will continue to sustain the Rebels in arms against the Govern- "1 powers that be " in all their constitu. ment; but who can listen to them tional action, until the end of their from loyal lips, without recalling the term, whatever r may be the result, warning words of a great English of the pending election —not all of statesman and orator, when he bade them, by any means, as approving thle us "look with horror on those chil- policy of the Administration, but all dren of their country who are prompt of them as recognizing its rightful rashly to hack that aged parent to possession of the authority of the pieces, and put him into the kettle of Governimnent. But no considerations magicians, in hopes that by their of loyalty or of patriotism call upon poisonous weeds and wild incantations them to go further. ("No," and they may regenerate the paternal Con- cheers.) No considerations of loyalty stitution and renovate their father's call upon us to prolong the supremacy life"! Heaven save us from any such of a party whose art and part it has so regeneration and renovation as that. eminently been to extinguish almost (Great applause.) every spark of Union sentiment in the Fellow-citizens, we all know that it So-uthern breast, and to implant there was -the success of the Republican in its stead a desperate and defiant party, with its sectional organization determination never to be reconciled, and its alleged sectional objects, which never to submit or yield, never agail fiunished the original occasion, four to come under rulers, whom, reasonyears ago, for that atrocious and un- ably, or unreasonably, they have godly assault upon our Government, learned so thoroughly to hate. No conwhich inaugurated this gigantic civil siderations of patriotism call upon us to war. ( "That's so!" Applause.) We renew the official term of an Adminisall know that the secession leaders of tration, whose peculiar policy, by inspirthe South, who had so long been medi- ing this spirit of desperationi and hatred,.tating the movement in vain, exulted has rendered the victories of our in the election of Abraham Lincoln at armies a hundred-fold, harder to that day,- as I fiully believe they will achieve, and has robbed them of so exult again, if he is: re-chosen in No- many of their legitimate results after veober, — because it supplied the very they have been achieved. For never, fitel which was needed for kindling my friends, do victories cost so much, this awful conflagration. That assault and. come to so little, as when they Iupon the Government can never be are wrung from a foe who has been claracterized in terms of too severe goaded antd maddened to despair. condelmnation; and, if railing at the This sort of goading and maddenilng rebellion or its authors would do any process may answer well enough for good this evening, if it would be increasing the sport at a bull-fight, anything better than baying at yonder but it has certainly involved us in at moon,-I would join with you in least one Bull Run. (" Good," laughdenouncing it until the vocabulary of ter and cheers.) And I fear the day is condemnaation was exhausted. But still distant when it will secure us that sort of victory which we can a condition which discomfited his best reasonably hope to see followed by friends, and rendered all such efforts Union and Peace. hopeless. Nothing could be further from my Fellow-citizens, we need a change of purpose, in these remarks, than to counsels. ("That's true." Applause.) cast the slightest imputation upon the We need a change of counsellors. We patriotism of President Lincoln, or need a return to the policy on which anybody else. No one canl doubt that the loyal States first rallied so unanihe wishes to write his name on the mously to the suppression of the reroll of history as the restorer of the bellion. We must go back to the American Union. It is a title which principles embodied in the resolution might satisfy the most exalted ambi- adopted by the Congress of the United tion.'He may well be excused for States, not far from the 4th day of his eagerness to remain in office until July, 1861, and worthy to have been he has accomplished the work. He adopted on that hallowed anniversary may almost be pardoned for wielding itself, - adopted in the Senate on the the enormous patronage and power motion of Andrew Johnson, and adoptwhich belongs to the Executive in a ed in the House of Representatives onf war like this, for securing his own the motion of the lamented Crittenden. nomination and his own election, if he That terrible repulse at Bull's Run had really believes that lihe can accomplish then just taught us wisdom. Would it. And those who are of opinion -that to heaven that we had not so soon forlibe is just about to succeed —whether gotten that lesson! If we had never within sixty days or niniety days - departed from that resolution-if" ease before Christmas or after - are right had never recanted vows made in pain" to give him their support. We would -I firmly believe that Union and Peace all support him if we were of their would have been our blessed portion at opinion, for we want the country this moment. You all remember that saved, no matter who is to have the resolution. It embodied the simple glory. But President Lincoln is evi- policy of a vigorous prosecution of the dently looking forward to another war for no purpose of subjugation or title in the history of the future. He aggression, in no spirit of revenge or desires to be enrolled as the great Lib- hatred, with no disposition to destroy or erator of the African race — a glori- impair the constitutional rights of any ous title, also, if it could be legiti- State or any section, but for the sole mately obtained. But I greatly fear end of vindicating the Constitution and that ill aiming at the second, he has reestablishing the Union. (Cheers.) lost the first. No man, I think, canl That was the policy which would have help perceiving, that he is so embar- divided the South, and which ought to rassed and entangled by his proclama- have satisfied and united the North. tions and commitmneits and pledges Let me rather say that it was, and is in regard to slavery, as to be almost still, the policy, which steadily pursuincapacitated for bringingl this terrible ed, under the lead of men against struggle to an early and successfull whom the whole Southern heart and termilnation. He has contrived to mind and soul have not become hopeweave a Gordian knot, which he hin- lessly embittered and poisoned -under self is unable to untie, and which the the lead of men, too, who are not bravest and sharpest swords seem thus. ashamed to avow that readiness forirecfar powerless to cut asunder. No one onciliation which is the highest ornacall have forgotten, certainly, that re- ment of the Christian character, andl cenlt and most extraordinary manifesto withlout which we cannot rely on ithe "To Whom it may Concern", in which blessi ng of God- this, I say, is theT polin reply to the very first sugges- icy which thus pursued will again, if tious of peace, he felt obliged to insert anything earthly ever will, tunite both North and South in the bonds of Con- as soon think of the brave Army of the stitutional fellowship, and exhibit our Potomac having been frightened from country and its flag once more in the following their gallant leader to thy face of all the world, with " a star for field by the Quaker guns on the roadevery State, and a State for every star." side, as of his supporters for the PresiAnd what a glorious day that will be, dency being scared from their position my countrymen, for us and for all man- by any paper pellets of the brain, wise kind! If to yearn for it, and pant for or otherwise, which ever came from it, and pray for it, be a subject for re- the midnight sessions of a Resolution proach, as exhibiting too great a will- Committee in the hurly-bulrly of a inlgness for peace, I am the guiltiest National Convention. (Cheers.) man alive. (Cheers.) And how can General McClellan, I repeat, has we hasten that day more. effectively made his own platform, which ought than by supporting the candidate who to be satisfactory to everybody. His is the very impersonation of the policy letter of acceptance, especially, ought I have described? Our noble candidate to be hailed with delight and with grathas enforced and illustrated it a thou- itude even by those who are too far sand-fold better than any one else can committed in other directions to give do, in his memorable despatch from him their support. (Applause.) It is Harrison's Landing, in his brilliant worth an army with banners to tile oration at West Point, and still more cause of the Union. It has the clarion recently in his admirable letter accept- ring to rally a nation to the rescue. It ing the Nomination we are assembled speaks, too, in trumpet-tones to our to ratify. (Three cheers for General deluded brethren in rebellion, warning M3cClellan.) These are the true plat- them that there is to be no cessation of forms for the hour; and not for the hostilities upon any other basis than hour only, but for all time. (" That's that of Union, but proclaiming to them so.") We need no other, and some that the door of reconciliation and of us, certainly, can recognize no peace is open on their resuming their other. (" They're good enough.") I allegiance to the Constitution and laws rejoice to see so many of their noble of the United States. And, certainly, sentiments and golden sentences era- my friends, that letter of acceptance blazoned on the countless banners and has turned the flank of his revilers as illuminations around me. Let us cher- handsomely as the gallant Sherman ish them in all our memories and write has turned the flank of Hood at Atlanta. them on all our hearts. (Laughter and applause.) It has Yes, my friends, if anybody is dispos- taken away every pretext for those ed to cavil with you about your plat- indecent and unjust insinuations against form, tell him that Gen. McClellan has the patriotism and loyalty of all the made his own platform, and that it opponents of the Administration, which is broad enough and comprehensive have fallen from so many ruthless enough for every patriot in the land to partisan pens, and from so many reckstand upon. Tell him that you should less partisan tongues. It has destroyed as soon think of holding Gen. McClel- every pretence for the imputation, that lan responsible fornottaking Richmond, there is a party at the North, ready for when he was so rashly interfered with, a precipitate and ignominious abandonand so cruelly stripped of his troops ment of the great struggle in which we on the right hand and -on the left, as are engaged, and willing to entertain you should think of holding him re- propositions incompatible with the ressponsible for any equivocal, or any un- toration of the Constitution and the equivocal,words of Chicago Conventions Union. The Union —'" the Uniion at or of any other conventions, which mali- all hazards " — is as distinctly the whole cious partisans may attempt to pervert import of George B. McClellan's letter to his injury. Tell him that you should of the 8th of September, as "' the Union in any event" was of that Farewell free people. (Voice -" We mean to Address of George Washington, whose be.") Let us bring no railing accusapromulgation is so nearly associated tions against the patriotism of others, with the day on which we are as- and let us treat all which are brought sembled. "The Union, - it must be against our own patriotism with'the preserved" — is as clearly the maxim contempt and scorn which they deof McClellan in 1864 as it was of An- serve. Let us furnish all the men and drew Jackson in 1832. A Democratic all the money which are required for President saved the Union then, and I the aid of our gallant defenders in the believe a Democratic President can field, and bear the welfare of our solsave the Union now. Let us rally, diers and sailors ever uppermost in our then, to the support of that great prin- hearts. And as we throw out our Mcciple of unconditional Unionism, which Clellan banners to thle breeze, let the is common to Washington, Jackson, and word still and ever be, alike to friend McClellan. Let us go bor the flag, the and foe: " The Union is the one condiwhole flag, and nothing but the flag. tion of peace. We ask no more. But (Cheers.) Let us vindicate the rights the Union must be preserved at all hazof free opinion, of free speech, of a free ards." press, and of free and unawed elec- Mr. Winthrop closed amid loud aptions (loud cheering), even in a time plause, followed by "three cheers for of civil war, and show to all the world the speaker." that we are, and still mean to be, a HENR Y CR AY. EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH OF THE HON. HENRY CLAY, IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, ON THE SUBJECT OF ABOLfITION PETITIONS, FEBRUARY 7, 1839. "'SI, -- I am not in the habit of mosities which ever degraded or despeaking lightly of the possibility of dis- formed human nature. A virtual dissosolving this happy Union. The Senate lution of the Union will have already knows that I have deprecated allusions, taken place, whilst the form of its existon ordinary occasions, to that direful ence remains. The most valuable eleevent. The country will testify, that, if ment of union, mutual kindness, the feelthere be anything in the history of my ings of sympathy, the fraternal bonds, public career worthy of recollection, it is which now happily unite us, will have the truth and sincerity of my ardent de- been extinguished forever. One section votion to its lasting preservation. But will stand in menacing and hostile array we should be false in our allegiance to it against the other. The collision of if we did not discriminate between the opinion will be quickly followed by imaginary and the real dangers by which the clash of arms. I will not attempt to it may be assisted. Abolition should no describe scenes which now lie happily longer be regarded as an imaginary dan- concealed from our view. Abolitionists ger. The Abolitionists, let me suppose, themselves would shrink back in dismay succeed in their present aims of uniting and horror at the contemplation of desthe inhabitants of the Free States as one olated fields, conflagrated cities, murman, against the inhabitants of the Slave dered inhabitants, and the overthrow of States. Union on the one side will be- the fairest fabric of human government get union on the other.. And this process that ever rose to animate the hopes of o>f reciprocal consolidation will be at- civilized man. Nor should these Abolitended with all the violent prejudices, tionists flatter themselves, that, if they imbittered passions and implacable ani- can succeed in their object of uniting 8 the Free States, they will enter the con- regarded as neighborly, and friendly, test with a numerical superiority that and consistent with the fraternal sentimust insure victory. All history and ments whicli hould ever be chelished experience proves the hazard and uncer- by one portion of the Union towards tainty of war; and we are admonished another? Would they excite no emoby Holy Writ, "that the race is not to tion, occasion no manifestations of disthe swift, nor the battle to the strong." satisfaction, nor lead to any acts of iePut if they were to conquer, whom taliatory violence?' But the supposed would they conquer? A foreign foe? case falls far short of the actual one, in one that had invaded our shores, in- a most essential circumstance. In no salted our flag, and laid our country contingency could these capitals, manuwaste? No, sir; no, sir. It would be factories, and ships rise in rebellion and a contest without laurels, without glory, massacre inhabitants of the Northern — a self, a suicidal conquest, —a con- States. quest of brothers over brothers, - "I am, Mr. President, no friend of achieved by one over another portion slavery. The Searcher of all hearts of the descendants of common ancestors, knows that every pulsation of mine beats who, nobly pledging their lives, their high and strong in the cause of civil fortunes, and their sacred honor, had liberty. Whenever it is safe and practifought and bled, side by side, in many a cable I desire to see every portion of the hard battle on land and ocean, severed human family inl the enjoyment of it. our country from the British crown, and But I prefer the liberty of my own established our national independence. country to that of any other people; The inhabitants of the Slave States and the liberty of my own race to that are sometime accused by their Northern of any other race. The liberty of the brethren with displaying too much rash- descendants of Africa in the United ness and sensibility to the operations States is incompatible with the safety and proceedings of Abolitionists. But, and liberty of the European descendbefore they can be lightly judged, there ants. Their slavery forms-an exception should be a reversal of conditions. Let — an exception resulting from a stern me suppose that the people of the Slave and inexorable necessity — to the genStates were to form societies, subsidize eral liberty in the United States. We presses, make large pecuniary contribu- did not originate, nor are we responsible tions, send forth numerous missionaries for, this necessity. Their liberty, if it throughout all their own borders, and were possible, could only be established enter into machinations to burn the beau- by violating the incontestable powers of tiful capitals, destroy the productive the States, and subverting the Union. manufactories, and sink into the ocean And beneath the ruins of the Union the gallant ships of the Northern States. woucrd be buried, sooner or later, the Would these incendiary proceedings be liberty of both races." WATECHWORDS lFOlR PATRIOTS. Mottoes for the Campaign, selected from General McClellan's Writings. If it is not deemed best to intrust me with the command even of my own army, I simply ask to be permitted to share their fate on the field of battle. - Despatch to General Halleckc, August 30, 1862. By pursuing the political course I have always advised, it is possible to bring about a permanent restoration of the Union- a re-union by which the rights of both sections shall be preserved, and by which both parties shall preserve their self-respect, while they respect each other.- General McClellan's Report. I am devoutly grateful to God that my last campaign was crowned with a victory which saved the nation from the greatest peril it had then undergone. - General McClellan's Report. At such a time as this, and in such a struggle, political partisanship should be merged in a true and brave patriotism, which thinks only of the good of the whole country. - General McClellan's West Point Oration.