Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-09-04


sincerely rejoice 20 meet you.here nDd I rs.
cure You that have never come before you
pndcf circumstances more pleasant sod sat.
lslacicfy @ myself personally, For thirty.
ain years / have been politician but, du-
ring ab that time, 1 have never aiteudud
q Nominating Convention, until now, and
shond not o. this time bnt for The purpose
Ut assisting if the consccration Of ny sue.
cessor 70 the holy wors you have SGT be.
foro him. know the pleasure he must feel
IN having received Tho expression Of your
confidence. pnd in taking at your hands the
important trust Of being your Representa-
tive, and acting for you II tllc great work
pf National reform. ] fully symphatlze
with him in the qualification he must cx-
perience, for I myself have travelled the
eame road From 1922, for sixteen years
tke people Of our District sustained my
predecessor, {Mr. Whittlesey), and for
twenty years I have received its approval
There are men in my County, (Ashtatulal },
who are ffty-sevcn years Of age, who have
never voted for more than two men to serve
shcm IN Congress speak OF my county,
Cor The counties Of Trumbuil and MahOu-
ing by change ia the District, were scpara.
ted from our District for ten years This
stability Of puFpose is unparalleled in any
Free State aud IN but one District Of the
Slave States. II has rendered us bistori
cal and given US position in the nation,
equal 20 thai Of the people Of any other.
What have contributed 20 this, is not for
me TO say; but ] may remark that the great
responsibility which has for twenty long
years. borae NE dowa, hss often rendered
my nights sleeplcSs and my days anxious, is
now in part rolled off, ] feel the relief, and
neveF have addressed you with lighter
heart But this vast responsibility is now
10 rest on my friead whom y0l have non-
mated. He is soon to bear aloft the r.
publican banner, and in the name OF our
constituency / charge him to see that it be
not lowered, that it never trail in the dust.
A word as to myself. Having so long
represented this District know that was
in peculiar position, and felt myself sur
rounded by so.ne df1i al Us viii h could
not but occasion me some perplexiiy ia de-
termining what should do at this time
It is new thing for me 10 attend Nolni-
Mating Cousention, and it is now because |
have wished to show yon the motives which
have induced me in consenting to cutter this
canvass, thas am here.
Many friends urged me to decline being
a candidate before You. ! may be per-
mitted to say to you also, that many friends
in The District aud from every quarter out
side the district, wished me to continue in
Congress, aud they urged that had no
right TO Withdraw from the canvass, how
ever much might desire to do so. Men
of distinction, men whom | love in cih,r
States, insisted that had commenced the
agitation in Congress, Of the great ques-
ton whether the constitutional powers Of
the Federal Government shall be put forth
and exerted for justice and liberty Instead
of slavery. That / had so long 'aborcd
for it that had become identified with il.
That my present influence was greater than
at any former period; aud that l had no
right to decline.
| assured them l was not ambitious to
die in Congress, but was willing to do SO ii
necessary for the good Of the caase. That
my own self respect would not permit me to
ask or strive for nomination. That it
was the duty Of the people TO dominate
such individual as would most tficielty
carry forward the great reformation now in
progress, and / would leave the matter
with them silently submitting il to the peo-
Die whose interests and honor were most
concerned. / coDeurred with them that
my position before the Nation would not
permit me TO decline nomination if ten
dered me, and proposed avoiding Fespon-
sibility in the matter, leaving that responSi-
bilty where it naturally rests.
l wished to place myself on the record
that might be understood before aud af
ter the nomination. / desired to say to
20 the Slave Holders, did not yelnuIari-
" withdraw from the contest, that the pei
ple selected better and an ADLER mau TO
aid 10 carrying forward the great subject
which now absorbs the popular mind; that
he in the full tide of ambitious manhood
will lend greater energy to the eanse than
can; am / right : { A genera! response
in the affirmative La that feeling apd
object heartily agree. In that selection
feel myself 8 thousand times more hoI.-
ored than l could has b e by refusal
to be a candidate. i have no interest a.
side from this cause. | have no honor sep
Grated from that Of our district and of
mankind; with this cause | would stand or
fall, and you having selected al agent who
win lend It more efficient support than !
could, i shall feel more auxious 10 sustain
lim thaa to be sustained
/ want to say to my friend Mr.. ii }
and TO you thar this fght is not yet ended
There are difficult passes 10 be taken, and
hard contested fields yet to be won, and
from the position which the people Of this
district have occupied in the fight, the eye
OF the nation viii be npcn my successor I
This district has occupied higher position
than any other In the land, aud yoar acts
and your representatives, acts are markp'',
would not presume to adv.se him, but
were ] to volunteer a single caution, |
would charge him TO maintain that pat
furm which he himself aided IN forming at
Philadelphia. Let no modification be in
tcrpalated; regard il as the faith delivered
10 the Republican Saints, to be maintained
10 all its dignity.
Fellow citizens. Our friend sill now en-
ter a new sphere Of political action; trials
and dilIiealties await bin, severe Ia a,oF, in-
ccssnnt toll will be his position, and when
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