Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-06
THE s P.EE:.oH y
HIIINl[. HIIINl[ lIJEGl {. THURMAN IN


Monday August 9Th, 1867, will long
be remembered with pride by the De-
mecracy and Conservative men Jof Pike
county. They met emphaticalIy en- mdsse
at wayerly, to listen to Hon. ALLEN G.
FHURa1AN, the Democratic candidate for
Governorswho tbirty-three years before,
then a beardless youth. had in that county
made his first political speech, and to other
distinguished Democrats who had been an
uounced to speak. The meeting was a
great success Early In hesmorniBg BAN
ners were flung to the breeze and flags
floated from sundry fiag-staffs in the town,
causing it to wear .. gala-day appearance,
as itreally was. - - . ss@
,ThesWaEerly Band enlivened the morn
ing with their delightful music. AS early
as eight o'clock, delegations began tocome
into the town,Cand by nine o'clock one con-
tinuous stream seemed to pour in from all
quarters. It was a little after this time
that the Ross county Delegation, led by
the Chillicothe Band, arrived. To over
flowing the town was filled. At about one
O'Clock the meeting was called to order in
the magnificent grove near by. The scene
was electrical and enthusiasm became in
fictitious and tumultuous, when Judge H.
HEMpsTEAD Che having been born during
the administration of WASHINGTON, and
was resident Of Pike county at the time
of its creation into a county, and who was
a conspicuous member Of the Whig party
during its existence, and thenceforward
until recently was Jealous member of the
Republican party), took the stand as the
President of that vast meeting. Why he has
abandoned the Republican party and why
he now labors and .prays for the sue
.eess Of the Democratic party, he very
plainly and. very, forciblys set forth in
the letter accepting the invitation of the
Democratic Central Committee of Pike
county to preside at this meeting, which
we here insert, and commend It to the pc
rusal of Republicans as well as Democrats:
: JUDGE h. HEMPsTEAD's LETTER.
Democratic Central Committee of Pike County,
GENTLEMEN Your kind invitation to
be present and preside at the opening of
the campaign at Waverly, Aug. 9th, has
been received.
Permit me to express to you, and those
you represent, my thanks for this mark of
your confidence.
Owing to the impaired state of my health
under ordinary circumstances / could not
sccede to your request. But 1 feel that at
this important crisis in our affairs no one
should refuse to labor in any direction that
good can be accomplished. MsNfks
You have assumed to judge for me
in the premises, and shall therefore accept
/ feel grateful to you for year very COM
plimentary expressions. as to my past and
present position politically, and indulge
in the hope that those with whom have
heretofore been associated politically will
generally award to me the same degree of
sincerity.
Having been what might very properly
be termed an ardent Republican, from the
time of the organization of that party up to
the time, that / conceived to be its de-
parture from the principles upon which it
was founded. in assuming my present posi-
my former political friends refuse to ac-
Knowledge the sincerity of my convictions
as to what deem necessary to perpetuate
our free institutions.
Until assumed my present position,
could not realize the tendency of many of
my political associates to intolerance, and
Ihaye deemed it but justice to myself and
my friends to avail myself of this oppor-
tunitY of expressing briefly my reasons for
opposing the men and measures of the Re-
publican party.
You are aware, gentlemen, that was
resident of this locality at the time of the
formation of this county. and by the kind
ness aud partiality Of the people have been
permitted to act in an official capacity the
greater portion of my lite.
During all this time tried to divest my
self of partisan prejudices and adopt that
lifieaof policy which T deemed best calcu-
lluted to- secure happiness and prosperity
tor the people, and moreover endeavored
to bea close observer of the practical work.
fngs of our Governmentean and whilst acting
as a Jealous partizan of the Wing
and Republican parties always endeavored
to accord the same sIncereity to my friends
and neighbors that / claimed for myself.
And now having arrived at the period in
my life where personal aspirations are at
An end, 7 deem it no assumption In me to
4ssert, that all the ambition now have Is
to transmit to posterity the Government of
our Fathers IN like form that it was be-
stoved d upunstls.f q II tfasee
cannot accede to the politicians of the
day superior wisdom to those who
formed our Government, and administered
~ IL 80 sticceSsfully. On the contrary the in