Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-05-28
Grant and Colfax.

TOE Mongrels Of Washington. including a
large sprinklng Of Swampoodle negroes, gave
a serenale on Friday night to the Radical nomi-
nees Tor President and Vice President Gen.
Grant was introduced by Boutwell,, one of the
Impc1chcrs, and made the following brief res
porsc:
GENTI ENES: Being entirely unaccustomed
o public speaking, and without any desire 70
cultivate that power. laughter,l 1t Is impoSsi-
b,e f1r me 10 fnd appropriate language 70
thank YOU for this demonstration. All that /
can saw is. that % whatever position | may DC
called bvvourwill I shall eudeavor 70 discharge
lis dnties with fidelity and honesty Of purpose.
OF INV rcctitulc ia the performance OF public
duties Won will have % Judge for yourselves by
NV record before Won.
TIE General spoke in a low tone and, as
he turned to 20 into the house, be remarked,
d" / DO not SNOW whether they heard that or
not.
Speaker Collax was introduced by Mr. Pike,
Of Maine, in characteristic style, and responded
as follows:
My FEIENDS ! thank YOU with all the
emotions Of a grateful heart for this Aattering
manifestation of your confidence and regard
l congratulate You ON the suspicious opening
Of the eyen.ful campaign On which we are en-
teriug.
I'm the Chicago Convention, representing the
entire continental area of the Republic, every
State. every Territory, every district, and every
delc-atc. from ocean 20 ocean, declared that
their first and only choice for President was
ULYSSES s. Grant Brave and yet unassumiug +;
rct.tent. and vet, when necessary, firm rs the
eternal hills, with every thought and hope,
aud aspiration for his country, with modeSty
only eQuailed by bis merits, it is not extrava-
CANT for me to shy that he is is to-day, of all
other men in the land, first In war, first in
peace. and first in the hearts Of lis country
men.
His name is The very synonym Of victory
and he vii. lead the Union hosts to triumph at
the polls as surely as he led the Union armies
TO triumph in the field. But greater even than
the couquerer Of Vicksburg and the destroyer
Of the rebellion is the glorious inspiration of
our noble principles. Animated by the sub
lime principles Of the Declaration Of ludepen-
Geuce. our banner bears an inscription more
magnetic than the names of its Staudard-hear-
ers. which the whole world can see as it floats
% the breeze, Liberty aud Loyalty, Justice
and Public Safety"
Defying an prejudice VIC are for uplifting
/ the l0wly and protecting the oppressed. His
I tory records TO the immortal honor of our or
/ gau,atiou that IL saved q nation and emanci-
pated a race. We struck the letters from the
limbs of the slave and lifted millions into the
/ glorious sunlight Of liberty. We placed the
ewaucipltci slave on bis feet as a man. and
put into bis right hand the ballot 10 protect bis
manhood and his rights We stakei our po-
I liccal existence ON the reconstruction Of the
I rev0.,cd States on the sure and eternal corner
/ stone Of loyalty, and we shall triumph.
I know there is no holiday contest before us,
I but with energy and zeal, with the principles
that humanity approves, and that believe
/ God will bless, we shall 90 through the contest
/ c1Dqueriug and 10 conquer; and on the 4th OF
/ March next thcpeople's champion vii. be borne
/ by the peoples votes to wonder White House
I that regret % say is now djshonored by its
unworthy occupant Then. with peace and
confidence we may expect our beloved coun-
/ try % enter upon a career Of prosperity which
shall eclipse the most brilliant annals Of our
+ past / lid You God speed in this work, and
! now good night
The speech was at almost every sentence in
/ corrupted by cheers after which the throng
dispersed
President johnson is on trial for indecorum
Of speech IN regard to Congress. Let the rea-
der note the indecent reference by Colhx to
the occupant of the White House, aud judge
whether the slang-whacker who daily grius
from the Speakers chair is a suitable censor Of
manners and conduct.