States met together to consult as brethren, to see whether they
could agree as well upon the candidate as upon the creed, and it was
apparent that division had entered into our ranks. After days of
discussion, we saw that party convention broken. We saw the enemies of
Democracy waiting to be invited to its funeral, and jestingly looking
into the blank faces of those of us to whom the telegraph brought the
sad intelligence. I hope this is, however, but the mist of the morning.
I have faith in the Democracy, and that it still lives. I have faith in
the patriotism and in the good sense of the Democracy, that they will
assert the truth, boldly pronounce it, meet the issue, and I trust in
the good sense and patriotism of the people for their success.
In this connection, it may be permissible to review our present party
condition. For a long time two parties divided the people of the United
States. The controversy was mainly upon questions of expediency;
sometimes of constitutionality. They divided men in all of the States.
The contest was sometimes won by one, and sometimes by the other. The
Whig party lives now but in history, yet it has a history of which any
of its members may be proud. It bore the high but not successful part of
stemming the tide of popular impulse, and thus failed to attain the
highest power. Differing from them upon the points at issue, I offer the
homage of my respect to those who, adhering to what they believed to be
true, go down sooner than find success in the abandonment of principle.
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