The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-03-09
THE PREsIDENT,s PLEDGE WHEN
HE ACCEPrEU THE MOLINA
WON EOR NIGE PnESInENT.

u
on Tho 9Th Of June, 1864, the day succeed.
ing fhe adjournment Of tho Convention that
gave him the nomination Of Vice President.
TIE speech was made after the announce.
ment was made to him by telegraph Of his
nomination. Under tho pledges beld out
by him in ths speech he was elected. II
was q covenant made by him to the mil.
lions Of loyal people who gave him their
voto aud their iuduence---a coyonant IN
which le dare. not and cannot escape. with
cut bringing upon him the odinm and con.
tempt which the civilized world heap upon
the recreant and apostate. lie himself con-
sidered the pledges made by him in that
speech as obligatory, in the event of his
election, for in his formal lcttcr Of accept.
ahcc he says:
"a reply on my part had been previously made
| 90 tho action Of the convcn ion In presenting my
name In speech delivered Ia this city Nashville,
| Tennessee on tho evening succeeding tho day OF
Adjournment OF the convention, fthe 9th Of June,
| 1894, In which indicated my acceptance Of the
distinguished honor conferred by that body, and
defined Ae grounds Aicl Gat acceptance based
sabstdatdWg saying uhdi Hoi0 hare 10 say. ~, NJ
hs comments made upon that spccct by ne Udriom
Hecspapcrs Of he eonptry, 10 ithich my attention has
bean direcisd, CONSIDERED Pr' TO BE RE-
dARDED AS A FULL ACCEPTANCE"
lie is as much bound by these pledges IS
President of the United Stotcs, as when ho
was Vice President. The Washing ton
Chr0nicie truly says; In this FULL formal,
hearty aud noble language We read the
death-warrant Of his whole present pro-
grammc OF roirogrcssion. His denunoiation
of Senators as traitors his open cousulta.
ton with disoyal politicians his plea for
the admission Of doubtful men into Con-
gress aud above all, his demand that the
rebel States shall be instantly rehaLiitated,
are hcre 80 overwhelmingly put to shame,
that we stand amazed at the spirit which
has forgotten or dsrogarded pledges 30
distinct and principles 30 sacred"
Here are his pledges :
The question is whether man ia capable
of solf-govcrnmeut thod with Jefferson
that government was made for the conven-
ieucs of man, aud not man for government
The laws aud constitutions were designed
as instruments to promote his welfare
dHd hence from this principle, I conclude
that Governments can d7d ought TO be
changed AMI amended 10 conform 10 the
guats, ~ me requirements and progress of
The people, and he enlightened spirit of the
age Loud applause. Now it any of
your secessionists have lost faith in man q
copablty for selEgovernment, and feel un-
liz for tho exercise of this great right, 90
straight 10 rebehtom, tdkd Jef Ddpis, Beau
regard, and Bragg (or y0W masters, and
put MeU collars on g0uF Rechs,
Aud lot me say that 'iou is The time 10
secure these Fundamental principles, while
the laud is rent with anarchy and upheaves
with tho throes OF mighty revolution,
While society is in this dsorde.ed state
and we ore seeking security, lei us to Me
Foundations of The Government on princi-
pies Of eteiTal jnstics ohich wiH endure for
all time. There is an element in ourmidst
who are for perpotuating the institution OF
slavery. Let me say to you, fennesseeans
aud mon from the Northern States, that
slavery ID dead. II was not murdered by
me. told you long ago what the result
would bc if you endoavored TO 20 out Of
the Union to save slavery and that the le-
suit would bo bloodshod, rapiue, devastated
folds, plundered villages and cities, and,
therefore, urged you to remain in the
Uuion la trying to save slavery YOU killed
it, and lost your own freedom. Your slav.
CRY is dead, but did not murder il. As
Macbeth said to BInquo's blondy ghost;
"Nevcr shake thy CORY locks at mo;
Thou canst not say did It,"
Slavery is dead, and you must par1o
me il do not mourn over its dead body,
you eau bury ii out Of sight, Ia restoring
tho State, leave out that disturbing and
dangerous element aud use only those
parts Of the machinery which will move in
| harmony.
But IN calling aconvo1tlon 10 restore tho
! State, who shall restore aud re.establish it?
/ Shall tho man who gave his Influence aud
1 his means TO destroy the Government? Is
/ he to participate in the great work of reor-
( gapiLOtion Shall he who brought this
misery upon the State be permitted to con-
/ troll its destHies
IL rus DE 30, THEN ALL THIS PRECIOUS
nLoOp or OUR BRAVE soJDIERs AND oFfIcERs
so FREELY POURED our WILL NAVE BEEN WAN
| ToNLY SPILLED,
ALI rHE GLORIOUS VICTORIES WON ny ouR
NOBLE ARMIES WILL 90 ron HAUaaT, AND ALI
! THE BATTLE, FIELDS WHICH HAVE BEkS suwS
WITH DRAp HEROES DURING Tng REBELLION
WILL HAVE nEEN MADE MEaoRABLs IN VAIN.
I Why ali this carnage aud devastation
1t wac that treason might be put down aEd
traitors punished Therefore say that
TRAITORS SHOULD TAKE A BACH
SEAT IN THE WORK OF REST0RA-
WON,
Ii there loo but 1--WE thous aud men IL
Tennessee loyal to tho Constitution, loya
to Freedom, loyal to Justice, those true and
faithful lnen should control the work of re
organization aud reformation absolutely
4 Lond and prolonged applause,] sa.
that the traitor has ceased TO be u citizen
and in joining the rebellion has become
public enemy.
Ho forfeited his right TO vote with loya
meu when he renowned his citizenship au'
sought to destroy our Government,
We say to the most honest aud indus
trious foreigner who comes from EuglAn,
or Germany to dwell among us, aud to adj
to the wealth of the country, Before yo
} can be u citizen, you n,ust stay here Tor hv
years II we are so cautious about for
eigners, who voluntarily reuounce thei
homes 10 live with us, what should we ga
to tho traitor, who, although born an
, reared among us, has raised p0ricidV
hand against the Government which alway
: protected him My Judgment is that h
should bo subjected to u severe ordeal b'
fore he is restored To citizenship. A felo'
who takes the oath merely to save his prop
: erty, and denies the validity of the oath,
|, periured man, aud not TO be trusted,
Before these repentlng rebels can h