The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-10-01
SPEECH OF GEN. sWEiTZEP.
He WANTS TO VOTE AS HE FOUGHT
AND THEREFORE, THOUGH A DEM
OCRAT, CANNOT VOTE FOR sEY-
MOUR AND FRANK BLAIR.

y. Is. SWeltzer, OF PlttSbur@, at meetinS
of the Soldiers and Sailors of Alleghany'
county held in that city on the 10th uit.,
is commended to the careful perusal OF the
Boys in Blue, of whatever politics, The
General served calamity throughout the
war He was Democrat till the snomi-
nation of Seymour and Blair, when he saw
that the success of those candidates must
inevitably lead to another rebellion, and,
like true patriot, lie came out from among
the foul party and ranged himself under
the banner of Grant and Colfax. He ewas
elected chairman of the meeting, and spoke
as follows =
Felloao Citizens, Soldiers Of the Repub-
Tic, Comrades IN arms: Words can scarce
ly express my appreciation of the honor
you have done me, as well by your cordial
greeting as in calling me to preside over
your deliberations 1t IS an honor to be
called to preside over an ordinary meeting
! of citizens of this free country, where the
people think and act for themselves, and
how much greater the honor when the
assemblage is composed, as this is, OF the
heroes of an hundred battle-felds-of the
defenders of their country, its honor, and
glory, and of those who for FIVE long years
| followed the fortunes of the old flag, under
defeat and III victory, until it waved trl-
umphant over our vanquished enemies.
Fellow soldiers, we have met tonight
for purpose that is clearly set forth in
the call for this meeting. We have met
to organize for another campaign under
our old leader. We have met to testify
our confidence in him. He led us to vic
tory in the field and he will lead us to
victory at the ballot-box over those who
seek again to bring about confusion, an
arehy, and war.
That such is the design of those who
support the opposing candidate for the
Presidency, is no idle fancy. 1t is decla-
red in their platform ; was declared pre-
vious to the nomination in the letter of
their candidate for the Vice Presidency,
and there Is every reason to believe that
, this declaration caused him to be selected
What, under these circumstances, is ouI
: duty? Is it net our duty to use every
honorable means in cur power to avert the
threatening danger Have not those we
fought in the field organized under the
leadership cf the Democratic candidate,
and is it not therefore our duty to organ
ize and ':fall in" under the leadership of
our old commander
1t may be said we can do our duty as
citizens at the ballot-box without such or
ganization. But, nay friends, is that our
whole duty? Have we not further duty
to perform than to merely vote ? Any
person can do that, though he can do
something more. We can testify to those
who speak so Rippantly, yet confidently, Of
notification by force, first, that we intend
to avoid, if possible, any such calamity by
elovating to the highest Office in our gift
the soldier who desires peace, who viii
preserve it if it can be done consistently
with the national honor; and secondly,
if war must come, that we will stand by
him and have him to lead US.
Now, my fellow soldiers, allow me to
say that [ do not stand before you as a
mere partisan, and to convince you Of the
truth of what say, l was Wing as long
as the Whig party existed During the
administration Of Taylor and Fillmore.
when the famous compromise measures
were passed, [ was United States District
Attorney here, and as an officer of the
law, it became my duty to execute the
Fugitive Slave Law, and l did it, regard
less OF consequences to myself and Of the
opinions of those who opposed it. [ did
this because | considered it the duty of all
good citizens to obey the law so long as it
remained on the statute book. however
much it conficted with their individual
opinions, and / considered it my duty. as
a sworn officer of the law, to execute it.
repulsive as it was to me and my feelings
as a man. From that time down to the
commencement of the war, | did every
thing in my power to keep the peace with
the people of the South. In the language
Of General Grant, / was not an abolition
list; | was not even an anti-slayery man.
| did not Join the Republican party. I
did not vote for Lincoln. | voted for Doug
las and Breckenridge, the union ticket. |
thought | had done about all they could
ask of me- felt conscious of having done
nothing to stir Up war. Nevertheless.
nothing but war would satisfy them and.
fellow soldiers, much as ] abhorred war
fratricidal war; could not forget nv
duty as a citizen, and like many of YOU.
went voluntarily into the field and contrib
uted to the extent of my ability and
strength to maintain the honor Of nv
country and my flag. In 1864. [ voted
for General Mcclellan. / was in the Ar
my of the Potomac from its organization
had confidence In him | thought he
had been hardly treated, and when he had
been nominated at Chicago, | voted fo1