The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-08-06
Judge Ranney's Speech.

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The following is the speech delivered by
Hon. RUFUS P. RANNEY, before the great
Democratic State Convention which was
held in this city on the Fourth of July,
1862, as reported for the Dayton Empire:
Geatlensen--It has just occurred to me
that when [ appeared here little while
ago to ask favor of you viz: To take my
name from the list of your nominees, was
unciyil in not thanking you for the parti
ality you manifested in giving me the NOM
nation unasked for While, my friends,
[ do not want your Office, still esteem the
favor.5 cast my lot with the Democratic
party of this State before I was voter, in
the good old days of Jackson. / have seen
a great deal of the party since that time.
1t has been kind to me; it has done me
thousand fold more than justice on all oc-
casions, and beg leaveto say that return
you my sincere and unfeigned thanks for
this repeated confidence in me- | had
hoped, and it is,a cause of sincere regret
shat it is otherwise, that could have been
left Tree from any connection with the
ticket to be elected this fall. Three years
ago you made it my duty, by designating
me as your candidate for Governor, to visit
many ofthe eouIties of the State. | have
not seen many OF you since; but you will
reniember that warned you that fanaticism
at tsboth ends OF the Union was dragging
you on to civil war, blood shed and des-
traction. The terrible realization has
come upon us: we are in the midst of a
horrible war. The startling fact stares Us
n the face, that hundreds and thousands
OF cur friends On the field Of battle-not
less tai n one ha. dsed thousand, have gone
to that tolrne fion whence no traveller
returns. One un lred thousand fresides
have had the pail of death drawn over
themG Ii we may place confidence in the
Statement the Chairman OF the committee
of Ways and Means In the House of Rep
resentatives, we are in debt already more
than. one th6usenl nail ions of dollars.
With the INCREASED debt ef Ohio, and our
share Of the National debt, a mortgage is
resting upon the property OF the State of
not loss than one e0hundred ,.AF;Elions OF dol
lars. Is it not tide for freeman to ask
those in power, w atchman what of the
night. Is there treason in tha2 Let me
say TO yoa. my fellow citizens, that great
as these sacrifices are, ana wonderful as
they are if they are made for the sole pur-
pose ofiiIpholding that glorious fabric Of
eovernalent to which Washington put his
u:;ine, they are not too mach If on the
contrary, this enormous expense is made,
and thea blood flows, to under mine that
glorious old fabric, then every drop Of
blood polite; and every dollar thatis con.
'7ributed gees TO forge the chains of your
selves and svpr chilsh en-, What then is
o,r plain duly? An EAeeut ve Is in power
that we did not contribute TO elect; but he
is none tie les our Executive; he wie!ds
,he power of Government. and it is our
! sGovernnel4t thank God, " can all prove
tit,e, it II I Was to run back my title
fdee;ls, could go to Bunker Hill and show
my ans cestors in the. FIRST contest for inde-
pehdence What tken have we a right to
demand? Plainty and simply that the
| tiuinpes ilow shall give no un, ,ertain sound
and th.,t the Executiye shall lit aloft the
i banner Of the Constitution, and 90 before
! us, as he WAS elected to do. Plainly and
!, .nply We have right to demand the pillar
4of cloud by day sssd offire by night, ,tha
may lead us to the ftarbor OF safety. We
have right to know whether the Govern
! ment is wig ng tllisswar to uphold the Con
stitution and. the laws. and to perpetuatt
the Government our. f;tthers gave us; or
whether It be waseds on the, other hand
for the purpose ot' overturning. the insti
] tutionsi g. the States, and FOR the pnrposs
| Of apnuiling those guarantees of libert.
/ that odr. fathers Inserted in Chat instru
bmeiit ,"