The New York herald., 1868-08-18
VIEWS OF PR0NlyEyT POLITICIANS.

&. q. IansdOn.
G. @. Langdon, OF Alabama spoke as follows at
the democratic ratification meeting in Mobile on the
14th INSTANT
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CiTIzENs--I thank you from
my inmost soul thank you, for this KIND and hat
teripg reception. 1t has been eight years-eght sad
and gloomy years-since ! had the pleasure OF
making you political speech but previously, during
period extending back to 1888, often, very often,
was it my province to address you. You know what
were my sentiments then aud with what zeal l de-
Tended them. We were divided into partie5-nearly
equally divded-and the conflicts between wings
and Democrats were warm and earDest-often bitter
and excited And now, when l look back upon
those party CONFLICTS and think how little OF principle
there really was at issue between the contending
artes compared with the momentous issues
involved in the contest OF the present day,
how utterly insignificant do they appear. But
those times are past those struggles are ended The
terrible events OF the last eight years have obterated
all the landmarks Of Old parties. Common sunerings
In common cause; common oppression, common
insults and common prosecutions have made US
united people, and We find ourselves here tonight
actuated by common impulse-with one mind and
one heart-rallyng together under the broad banner
of the national democracy, as our only nope OF de-
liverance from worse than Egyptian bondage; as
the only means Of restoring violated constitution,
and preserving the principles OF constitutional libcr
ty. 'rhe political contest on which we are now
| entering Is one OF transcendent interest and
Importance to the people Of the South. Never
before did people have SO much at stake. IL
Involves our very existence, for If radical poll
cy Is to be perpetuatcd white men cannot live
In the South. We shall have no home no
I'VE we sa Se e. eHeS bs ~ 5ne w ana 81 oof
be beaten. We cannot endure even four more years
Of radical rule We must succeed In the coming
election, or all Is lost And now you Will naturally
inquire what are the prospectsS ls there hopef
had the honor to be your representative IN the re-
cent Democratic Convention at New York, and in
giving account OF my stewardship am happy to
feel authorized to announce to you that there is
aSa We .ha aSs' s sc Ge
But In order to insure success the people, every
where, must labor earnestly and continually from
this time until the arrival of the day that il TO decide
the contest. And Of the South must act well
part in the great struggle. we have important du.
to you particularly tonight shall talk
to you plainly, candidly, and In all hon
ssS ors snd few words to the Se%
York Convention. Previous to Its assembling many
persons disrusted the democracy OF the North ana
were, therefore, opposed TO sending delegates. For
my part am free to say, had no feeling Of dis
trust. mad watched closely, and with intense
their state Legislatures and in the halls Of Congress-
and felt that could doubt the sincerity OF
| their professions. l cOnhded In them tine true
frIepds OF the South and the honest advocates OF
restored constitution, and ! am happy to say my
confidence was not misplaced, as attested by the
noble platform adopted unanimously by the Conven.
ton And say to you tonight that the democratic
party is the only party to which Of the South can
eau rely for the perpetuity OF republican instl.
| tutIons That New York Convention was re-
apd TERRITORY, but every Congressiona district
| In every State fully and directly represented.
| The delegates from the North received us OF the
| and throughout the whole proceedings we were
| treated with marked kindness and consideration.
We felt that 1t good to be there and that far
| az the democratic party was concerned the Union
was restored. had the honor Of representing Ala
S on meeS~ s Of the ne was ccca
pied reading the various resolutions that had been
| referred TO the committee and In discussing the
points that should be Incorporated In the platform.
In these discussions the Southern delegates took
part. Their silence attracted the attention OF the
| delegates from the North, and at length Mr..
| Stuart, from Michigan, rose and made feeling
appeal to his Southern friends to give the committee
tie benefit Of their counsel. lie said he desired
his southern friends to feel and know that
| with the democratic party there was no such
thing as inequality & IN the thirty seven states
| and he begged that the South should not withhold
its counsel IN this important crisis In public affairs.
| States which were responded to by different men,
| bers rom the North and West In terms the most
for Alabama that desired an unequlvoca declara-
| tion upon two polnts-one was that to the states
alone belongs the rignt to regulate suffrage, and
that consequently all the legislation OF Congress re-
latng TO suffrage within the states was In violation
OF the constitution. And the other was that all the
were unconstitutional aud void. Ali promptly yielded
their assent and declared their entire Willingness to
the south desired. A subcommittee was appointed
TO put the resolutions In form and report the
| lowing evening. At the second meeting the SUBJ
| committee made Its report, the consideration
| OF which occupied the entire night. Upon recon.
siruction and surage the resolutions were sum-
cieny strong and explicit to meet the views OF the
Southern delegates. This fact was FIRST noticed by
Mr. Fitch from Georgia, who made an earnest ap-
neal 20 the committee In behalf OF the South. Gem
eral Hampton, OF South Carolina followed, and In
the course OF his rcrDarks depicted the condition
OF his state. The simple story OF her wrongs ana her
humations, presented as II was In language chaste
and manner sincere, produced deep impression
upon the committee. Every eye was suirtised with
tears And here followed scene that shall never
forget General Preston, OF Kentucky, followed In
few words Of transceDdent eloquence. Delegate
after delegate from the East, North and West re-
spopded In turn each aud ali xpressiDg their deepest
aympathy In the condition OF their lelowctizens Of
the South and each giving the earnest aud solemn
assurance that no matter what might be the
language OF the platform, their southern friends
might rest assured that II the democratic party was
successful, the odious and unconstitutional measures
of which they complained should be set aside and
the Southern states all be restored TO equal rights
in the Union. Mr.. stuart Of Michigan, then proposed
10 insert the words that 'the reconstruction acts
hre unconstitutional, revolutionary and void" and
ask ed his southern friends II that would be satisfac-