Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-08-22
SPEECH OF MR.. nrTcnIxs.
Very truly,
J. 4. GIDDINGS.


Mr.. President
and Geatlemca Of the Convention:
To nc this is no ordinary occasion. The
Committee, appointed by you, has inform
ed me that by reclamation, youhaye placed
me in nomination as the candidate of the
people whom You represent, for election to
the 37th Congress. This marked evidence
of YOUR confidence and of your endorsement,
if you were the Only source of it, would be
gratifying to me; but when l consider that
you have announced the verdict Of the peO-
pie of this intelligent district, fairly ex-
pressed in their. primary assemblies. L am
filed with grateful emotions which the
poverty Of language cannot express.
| thank you, and through you, the peo-
pie, whose agents YOU are, for this fatter-
inc nomination. | accept it; and if the
action of this convention shall be ratified
by the people, az the October election. and
l am permitted to enter upon the discharge
of those duties which that action will i'm
pose upon INC, whatever may be the per
sonal Inconvenience or danger to whhich
they may expose me, l shall be ncrved to
their faithful discharge oy this marked
cTr--tssie& ~ your confidence. This result
is Grateful to me because it is an endorse
ment Of my course as the Representative of
this district, during the LIST session of the
36th Congress. If life and health be spar
ed to me, | shall return to Washington in
December next, with renewed zeal to watch
the great interests, which by the suffragcS
of the frcemen Of the district. two years
ago, were entrusted t. me. / have before
me the resolutions You have to-day adopt
cd, and have hurricdly read them, and so
far as they assert the principles upon which
the Republican party is based, l give them
nv assent, and will to tie extent of my
ability. in ana out of Congress-, carry them
out. l recognize any man as a Republi-
can, who stands upon the platform adopted
at Chicago. and Will support the candidates
there nominated.
There is not time, and this is no fitting
occasion, to make a speech on general pol
tics Iexpect to be heard generally through
the district before the November election.
l congratulate you on the state of the Re
publican party, its principles, its candi-
dates, and its prospect Of success. l enter
tain no reasonable doubt Of the election of
Lincoln and Hamlin, as President and Vice
President, in November, and 4 dissolution
of the Union will not follow. The Repub-
lican party is the only party in this nation
which proposes, as the basis of its political
action. the principles Of a sound Christian
morality. 1t asserts slavery to be wrong,
inconsistent with the theory of a Republi-
can form of government, and therefore it
proposes to exercise all legal and constitu-
tional means to prevent its increase and
extension, and to abolish it where it can.
legally and rightfully. In its legislation,
the Republican party proposes to be just to
all classes, and to all sections of the Union.
BY 4 just and liberal homestead policy and
kindred measures. it proposes to prevent
Spectators from absorbing the public lands.
and to secure them TO actual settlers. 1t
proposes the Immediate admission of Kan
sas .into the Union, with q free Constitu-
tpr. IN raising annually, a sufficient rev.
enue for an economical administration of
the Government, the Republican party pro-
poses such discriminating duties on foreign
goods, as will encourage and protect cur
domestic industry and develop our vast re-
sources. To the principles and policy Of
Che Republican party, stand opposed, By
their platforms and recent action in Con
gress, both factions and fractions Of the
Democratic party. United it could not
stand; divided, it must jail. The great
Democratic house, founded on the sand Of
slavery, gives unmistakable signs of dilap-
idation and decay, and it will fall before
the Northern brcezes Of November. and Z
free people will rejoice at the fall thereof.