The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-05-31

9Th do Col. s. Pike, Highland.
9TH do NJ. l.. Bryan, Madison.
Sth do j. S. Grail, Richland.
9th do . Thos. Coughlin, Crawford.
10th do W. L. Glessner, Lucas.
l1th do G. D. Wilhelm, SciOto.
18th do A. II. Van Cleaf Pickaway.
18th do Sam. Adams, Nuskingum.
14th do A. X. Wiley Ashland. ~
18th do j. Williams, Monroe.
10th do c. III. Mathews, Tuscarawas.
18th do c. n. Allen, jefferson.
18th do Jas. Henderson, Cuyahoga.
10th do II. j. Carlin, Ashtabula.
Hon. A. G. Thurman was con-
Quoted to the Platform, and being
introduced to the Convention, by
the Chairman, Mr.. Jewett, made
the following address:
Speech of Hon. Az Thurman.
Gentlemen of the Convention: |
am very sensible of the honor con-
ferred upon me by being called up
on to preside over your delibera-
tions. And l am the more bound
to make my acknowledgements,
that it comes unsolicited and with
out even a wish on my part. l re-
turn my thanks to you, gentlemen,
and will endeavor to merit the con-
fidence you have reposed in me-
And to do so, | am sure, will not
be a difficult task for never did
greater harmony prevail in our
grand and time-honored party, and
never did its Delegates assemble
in Convention with more fraternal
feeling or with a firmer resolution
to stand by the principles that have
made the name of the party a sym
onym of whatever expresses good
government, and that will in the
future secure to our organization
an existence as enduring as time.
Where all are actuated by the same
noble motives, and neither envy,
jealousy or selfshness finds a place,
the duties of presiding officer are
so simple that it is scarcely posi-
BILE to err.
Gentlemen, we have very often
met in Convention before and un-
der the most various circumstances
at times when all was so bright
around us that the most far-sighted
and distrustful could perceive no
speck of danger in our political
sky; and again, when that sky was
SO overcast and menacing that
even the most lion-hearted and
hopeful could scarce refrain from
despair. We have seen our coun-
try, under Democratic rule, the
abode of the most free, prosperous
and happy people on earth; and,
again, we have seen it, under the
dominion of our opponents, prey
to all that human nature has ever
developed of despotism, horror and
calamity.
But, whether in sunshine or in
darkness, in calm or in tempest,
our party has ever followed the
path of duty according to its hon
est convictions. To say that ithas
never erred would be to claim for
it more than human intelligence.
To say that it has seldom erred and
never Intentionally, is but to speak
the verdict of history. 1t is 10
years since the Inauguration OF Mr..
Jefferson. During 4S years of this
period, the Government was in the
hands of the Democratic party
During nearly eight of the remain
ing seventeen years, though presi-
ded over by Presidents not Of our
choice, it was administered, in the
main, upon Democratic principles.
In this long lapse of time there
was witnessed, what had never
been witnessed before, total alb
sence of civil connections, and a
profound peace for fifty out of fif-
ty six years. And not peace alone,
but also, unexampled freedom,
growth, prosperity and happiness.
No man ever lost life, liberty or
property, for political ofense,
under Democratic administration.
No man was ever deprived by such
an administration, of life, liberty
or property, without due process Of
law. No political bastile ever then
darkened and disgraced the face of
the land. No prison doors were
ever then closed against the sacred
writ of habeas corpus. No militia
ry commission, organized to con-
vict, ever then usurped the func-
tions of the law-maker and of the
civil courts. No tongue or press
.s. o,,o, ba,, c;lanoo htY. orhitro