Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-12-31
speeeh blythe vice-Presfdent elect NJ
PhfIadelphfa.

messed for the last time.
speech blythe viee-President elect nj
Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, Dec.
About one hundred members of the
Union League Club sat down with the
Hon. Schuyler Colfax on Saturday eve,
ming. The solid men of the city, repre-.
sentfne the learned professions, and
every class of industrial pursuits were
among the banqueters. Gen. sickles
Gen. Meade, ex-Gov. Curtin, and Gov.
Geary were honored guests. The Hon
Morton McMichael, Mayor of the City,
presided. After sumptuous bill OF fare
had been discussed, Mayor McMichae
proposed the health of the distinguished
guest, the Hon. Schuyler Clofax, at the
same time delivering short speech
sparkling throughout with eioquence.-
The presiding officer reviewed the pub
lie services of Mr.. Colfax truly portrayed
his character, and assigned as the sole
groundwork of his success the sterling
personal qualities of the man, and the
conservation Of his life to the cause OF
human rights. In response TO this most
truthful and highly complimentary
speech, and to the vehement applause
with Which he was greeted, Mr.. Colfax
said:
1 Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE UNION LEAGUE: 1t is no ordinary
II ri rlsra..
honor to enjoy the hOspitalities of all or
ganization so jnstly famec for its good
words and work during all the years of
its existence. Ever on the side of the
| nation and the nations interest-ever
outspoken for Liberty, Loyalty, and
Law-its trumpet has never given forth
an uncertain sound, and its members
have never wearied in well-doing. There
is majesty i'm the voice of a great peo-
pie, speaking through its aggregated
millions of ballots, far more potential
than the DEGREES from a throne. 1t is
! like the voice OF many waters, drown
ing all other sounds. 1t is like the
thunder, rolling along the sky, which
purifies the atmosphere. 1t is the cIDl-
nadad of nation, which all within its
| limits must heed and respect. What
| that utterance of the third of November
means it is not difficult to understand
It ratified the platform of principles
enunciated at Chicago, and which had
been cordially indorsed by both of your
candidates In their letters of acceptance.
But, more than this, to all who denoun-
ced the Reconstruction measures of Con-
gress as unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void-to all who suggested their re-
peal by the bayonet-to all who had
dishonored the country by countless
murder of defenseless men for their love
of the Union-to all who bOasted of de-
votion to 'the Lost Causep-it spoke
with the commanding voice Of author
ity. "PEACE, BE STILL But, with
the peace which il thus demands, it
brings prosperity. With the laws of the
land respected and obeyed, with protec-
tion to all assured, and with confidence
thus restored, immigration and capital
will open new and brighter era to the
enfranehised and regenerated South;
and with her great staples and genial
lime, she will join with the East, the
North, and the West in the triqmphal
marchof National progress and power
! Nor was this all, The voice of the peo-
pie proclaimed anew that the paramount
duty of Government was to secure the
Life, Liberty, and Rights Of all its eiti
zens, even to the humblest, and that
American citizenship must protect all
entitled to its protection, at home and
abroad 1t reaffirmed Ito quote the lam
guage of the Chicago resolutiOns) the
great principles of impartial justice and
equal rights laid down in the immortal
Declaration of Independence as the true
foundation of democratic government,
hailing with gladness every effort to-
ward making these principles living
reality on every inch of American soil,
and, with wise and generous magma
nimity, too little appreciated heretofore
by those responsible for the bloodshed
and anguish of our late war, it declared
i'm favor of the removal of all disqualifi-
cations In the same measure as the spirit
of disloyality may die out, and as may
be consistent with the safety of the 10y
al people. But beside this the voice of
the people, thus spoken, imposed grave
duties and responsibilities on all whom
it clothed with public trusts. 1t demands
the most searching retrenchment, like
that which signalized the administra-
ticn, by its President-elect, of one of the |
Government Departments which was
intrusted to bis hands. 1t demands
honesty and efficiency, aud higher char
acter of all who are to be connected
with the public service, that the honest
tax payer may no longer be required to
bear the burdens of the dishonest as
well as his own. With a President
whose cardinal principle is that the law
of the land must be obeyed, and not
thwarted or nullified, the nation may
hope that his subordinates will exhibit
fidelity to duty akin to their chief. It.
demands a strict and rigid guardianship
of the Nations Treasury against all un- |
wise and extravagant schemes. 1t de-
mands financial policy which shall
maintain, unimpaired and untarnished,
our credit, the right arm of the country
in times of peril, which shall appreciate
our currency, and which shall finally
place us on the firm rock of specie pay
ments. With all this secured by the
of the great commander
whom the people have called to govern
the land which, under Providence, he
saved, not only shall we fortify and con-
time the political ascendency which
the people bave decreed, but all parties
and all sections will be able to rejoice as
our Republic takes that foremost place
the nations of the earth to which
our free institutions, our vast resources,
and our unparalleld,indus advance
ment now beckon US.