lican  party  from  the  ineffaceable  stigma  of  that  sectional  Convention,  that
sectional  nomination,  and  that  sectional  candidate  for  the  suffrages  of  the
United  States. That  party  itself  has  placed  npon  its  back  that  shirt  of
Nessus  which  clings  to  it  and  stings  it  to  death. I  repeat,  then,  and  I  say
it  in  confidence  and  vindication,  in  so  far  as  regards  my  own  belief,  I  say  it
in  all  good  spirit  toward  multitudes  of  men  in  this  Commonwealth  of  the
Whig  and  American  parties  in  their  heretofore  organization ;  I  say  it  to
multitudes  of  men  who  have  been  betrayed  by  the  passions  of  the  hour  into
joining  the  sectional  combinations  of  the  Republican  party ;  I  say  that  in
the  Democratic  party  and  in  that  alone  is  the  tower  of  strength  for  the
liberties,  the  position,  and  the  honor  of  the  United  States. But  why  need
I  indulge  in  these  reflections  in  proof  of  my  proposition  ?  Gentlemen,  we
have  here  this  evening  the  living  proof,  the  visible,  tangible,  audible,  incon-
testable, immortal  proof,  that  the  position  of  the  Democratic  party,  in  the
existing  organization  of  parties,  is  the  national,  constitutional  party  of  the
United  States. 