Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-07-16
Ratification Meeting in New York.
Accsptance Speeches oftae Nominees.

Acceptance Speeches Of the Nominees.
There was large and enthusiastic mass
ratification meeting at Tammany Hall on last
Friday night. SamuelJ J. Tilden presided. In
reply to the chairman of the committee ap-
pointed by the National Convention to inform
him of his nomination, Mr.. Seymour spoke as
follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Com
mittee: thank you for the courteous terms IN
which you have communicated IN me the action
of the Democratic National Convention. l
have no words adequate to express my graft
tude for the goodwill and kindness which that
body has shown 10 me. Its nomination was
unsought and unexpected. 1t was my ambi-
ton to take an sctive part, from which am
now excluded. 10 the great struggle going on
for the restoration Of good government and
prosperity to our country, lgreat cheering;]
hut have been caught by the overwhelming
tide that is bearing us on 10 a great political
change, and find myself unable to resist its
pressure. loud cheers.
You have also given to me copy Of the re-
solutions pnt forth by the Convention. show
ing its position upon all the great questions
which now agitate the country. AS the presi-
ding officer Of that Convention, am familiar
with their scope and import-as one OF its
members am party to their terms. They
accord with my views and stand upon them
in the contest upon which we are now enter
ing. shall strive to carry them out in full
wherever may be placed, in public or private
life. [Cheers.l
! congratulate you and all conservative men
who seek to restore order, prosperity and good
government TO our land upon the evidence
everywhere shown that we are to triumph at
the next election. rProlonged cheers.
Those who are politically opposed To rs fiat
tered themselves that there would he Giscords
in our councils. They miStook the uncertain
ties Of our views as to the hest methods of car
rying out our purposes for difference of opin-
ion with regard to those purposes. They mis-
took an intense anxiety 10 do no acts which
should not he wise and judcions for spirit Of
dscord. But during the heightened proceed-
ings and earnest discussions Of the convention
there has prevailed an entire harmony of inter-
course. patient forbearance and self-sacri-
fcing' spirit which are the sure tokens Of a
coming victory Accept for Yourselves gen.
tlemen. my wishes for your future welfare and
happiness. TCheers In few days | will
answer the communication you have Just hand
cd me, in letter, as is the customary form.
SPEECH OF GEN. BLAIR.
The following are the remarks Of Gen. Blair
on the occasions:
al accept the platform and the resolutions
passed by the late Democratic Convention, and
accept their nomination with feelings Of the
most profound gratitude. CApplause.l And,
sir. thank you for the very kind manner in
which you have conveyed to me the decision
Of the Democratic Convention. | accept the
nomination with the feeling that your nomiua-
ton for the Presidency is one which will carry
MS to certain victory-[applause l-hecause
believe the nomination is the most appropriate
that could &c made by the democratic party.
The contest which we wage is for the restpra-
tion of constitutional government. Applause
and cheers And it is proper that we should
make this contest under the lead Of one who
has given his life 10 the maintenance Of conSti-
tutional government. We make this contest
for the restoration Of those great principles Of
government which belong to our race, and, my
fellow-citizens, it is most appropriate that we
should select for our leader man not from
military life, hut one who has devoted himself
to civil pursuits, one who has given himself to
study and the understanding of our conStitu-
ton and its maintenance, with all the force Of
l-'s's-ss, scisl idcsrau' rApI.l~usa-1
My fellow-citizens, have said the contest
before us was one for the restoration of our GO
vernment. II is also for the restoration of our
race. prolonged applause and cheers. 1t
is to prevent the people Of our race from being
exiled from their homes; hear, hear and APP
pause ! exiled from the government which
they created for themselves and for their chill
dren, and to prevent them from being driven
out into exile, or trodden under foot by an in
ferior and sem-barbarous race Applause !
In this contest we shall have the sympathy Of
every man who is worthy to belong to the white
race. What civilized people on earth would
refuse to associate with themselves under all
the rights, houorS and dignities Of their country
such men as Lee and Johnston? Cries Of
"No one y What civilized country on earth
would fail to do honor TO those who, fighting
for an erroneous cause, vet distinguished them
selves by gallautry never surpassed, in that
contest for which they are sought 10 be dsiran-
chised and exiled from their homes; in that
contest they proved themselves worthy to he
our peers. [Applause.1 My fellow-citizens
it is not my purpose TO make any address, but
simply to express my gratitude for the great,
distinguished honor which has been conferred
on me. And now from my heart rciterate
the words tina: fell from my lips when be-
gan"