Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-03-20
cARL. scHuRz oNITHE PRESIDENCY

CARL sCHURz ONITHE PRESIDENCY.
The following is the speech of Carl
Schurz, in the Wisconsin Republican
Convention, upon being elected delegate
from the State at large to the Chicago
Conventions:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN
1 accept this appointment deeply sensi-
BILE, not only Of the honor it confers, but
also of the responsibility it imposes upon
me. If [ do not mistake the signs of
the times, the history of this Republic
has arrived at turning point. l think
not that slavery, as a matter of principle
or 0 f practice, has ever been different
from what it is now; but do think that
recent events have shown more clearly
than ever before, the entire incompati-
bility of slavery as a political power
with the Republican spirit of our insti-
tutions.
The annexation of Texas, making the
foreign policy Of our government sub
servient to slavery; the resistance of the
slave power to the admission Of Califor-
mia as Free State; the passage of the
Fugitive Slave Law; the enactment of
the Nebraska bill; all these were mat
ters of discussion before the great
Presidential struggle of1S56. But since
then, we have the Dred Scott decision,
declaring that slavery is national in
stitution, and that it exists of right
wherever the flag of the United States
floats. Applause We have still
more. The South has demanded the
unconditional submission of the North
to its dictation, and five refuse, threaten
the dissolution of the Confederacy.-
And still more. a Democratic Senator
of the North, who claims to be the
representative of liberal Democracy, has
advocated in his place in Congress the
passage of bill, which, if it becomes a
law, will place the shareholders police
at every door. Then the sleepless fears
of tyranny will watch you with never
tiripg suspicion, and wherever two or
three of you are assembled, there will be
the black spirit of slavery despotism
lowering over you. [Cheers.]
The issue is manifest consolidated
political despotism on one side, and a libe-
raj, enlightened, progressive government
on the other, Great applause. There
is no difference of opinion about the OBJ
iect to be attained in the ranks Of the
Republican party, but there seems to be
a difference of opinion about the means
by which to attain them.
There are those who think the right
way to succeed is to comprise principles
for the purpose of uniting incongruous
elements, and to gain votes outside of
the Republican party by artificial com
binations. And on the other side there
are those who mean to carry the day by
bold, open, straightforward appeal to
the popular sense of right and wrong
Gentlemen, I am in favor of opening the
doors Of the Republicad party as widely
as consistent with its principles, in order
to let in all those who wish to put
themselves on our platform; but [ am
not in favor of throwing open the doors
Of the Republican party SO widely that
Republicanism itself will escape through
them. Prolonged applause.
l am willing to vote for any man who
will place himself fairly'upon our plat
form-but the best way to find him is
not to seek him without the pale Of our
own organization. [ think the Repub-
licans of this State are not willing to
become parties to an agreement accord
ing to the terms of which the latter day
Old Line Wings, the Old Line Ameri-
cans, and who knows what other Old
Lines, will furnish the platform and
candidates, while the Republicans will
have to furnish the votes. Great cheer
ing. l do not think we stand in ncrd
of the services of those accommodating
gentlemen, who will most graciously
condescend to become Republicans upon
the condition that We make them Presi-
dent at once. Prolonged and deafening
applause. In this way we might, in
deed, catch the votes of some of the
ancient mariners of exploded parties,
who, with desperate tenacity, cling to
the wrecks of their shattered crafts; but
we would lose our great element of sue
cess-the honest enthusiasm of the peo-
pie. In this way we might, perhaps,
make some of the doubtful States sure,
but would make some of the sure States
doubtful. [Cheers.
There is one thing more to be dreaded
than defeat in an election, and that is
failure in an administration. We do
not want a second edition of the Fillmore
administration which began under anti
slavery auspices and resulted in the
Fugite Slave Law. Applause. We
should not like again to hear of painful
duties relunctantly performed Special
applause. If | understand the people
they want man whose past furnishes a
guaranty for his future. Great APP
plause. | believe in the irresistible
force Of truth l believe in the irwin
cible power of right and justice over the
minds of men I believe in the ire
pressible assault Of reason upon the hu
man understanding. | believe in an
open, bold and straightforward appeal
to the popular heart. These ideas |
shall take with me to the Chicago Con-
vention. These ideas if realized will
rally the Republican party in an unbro
ken column under the good old banner;
and our victory will verify the great
world of gallant old Ben. Wade, ofOhio,
which he hurled in the face of the South
ern disunionists: eff yon want to lis
solve the Union, gentlemen, you may
besure that the day after the Presidential
election will be just one day too late. -
Prolonged and enthusiastic cheering.
From the Cleveland Herald.l
EXTR AFFAIR AT THE
NEwBURGH, O., LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Among the inmates Of the Northern
Ohio Lunatic Asylum is a person named
Wheedon, once highly respectable
citizen in good circumstances, and said
to have been a member of the former