Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-07-30
In the evening, aftersthe adjourn.

- ~
the 18th inst, at Portsmouth, O
very large meeting was held at the
Market House, to ratify the nomina.
tions of Seymour and Blair. The
notice given was very brief, but
aall were there rejoicing"
withstanding the 'raging hot at
mosphere-all full of enthusiasm
The occasion was made more cheer.
ful by music and the firing of the
cannon.
The meetingwas organized by call
ing Col. J. A. Turley to the Chair,
who, upon taking the Chair, made
a few pleasing remarks. Stirring
and effective speeches were then
made by DIR. l. T. Monahan oi
jackson, Hon. WI. Flaggof Scioto
0. T. Cunning of Vinton, Capt.
David Thomas of Adams, Irvine
DUNCAN Of Jackson; and the "ben-
ediction" was pronounced by Hon.
Ralph Leet of Lawrence.
The meeting did not adjourn till
a late hour in the night. All the
speakers made eloquent appeals to
those present in behalf of Demo.
cratic principles-their utterances
being applauded throughout most
vehemently. Useless Grant and
Cold Facts don't take down there!
We have been furnished with q
synopsis Of the opening speech
delivered by DR.. Manahan at the
meeting, as follows;
kr President and FeI,Ov. C,tizens:
II would not be prudent to occupy your
time tonight in discussing the various
issues that must be discussed during the
campaign. | will only therefore, offer
my views in regard to what consider the
real issues to be. That there are momen-
toua questions before the American peo.
pie, at this time, which you and and
every individual in the land are deeply
interested in, is not for a moment TO be
doubted. The contest between the two
mn rIipa af iha nrasark g;roa 10 ~ o,d;.o,-
contest, 1t is not a political, but gov.
ernmental contest. II is not conflict t.
decide who shall administer the Govern
ment, but 1t is q co0fict to decide whether
the system or form Of Government adopted
and made by our patriotic fathers shall be
abrogated or overthrow, and q new sys-
lem or form Of Government subs; ituted
1t ia q conflict to decide whether the Mil
ltary power ana arbitrary rule shall pre-.
dominate, and bring the Civil power into
subordination, or whether the Civil shall
exis. aa heretofore. II is contest TO de.
eide whether the General Government
shall exercise complete control over SOW
ereign States, without delegated authority
or whether each and every State shall ex
ercise it's sovereignty according to The
written law, with all its rights uBimpair.
ed, II is not contest simply who shall
be President or who shall be Congress
men. 1t is not q contest between men OF
even between opinions or measures, but il
is conflict Of IDEAS irrecOncilably op.
posed TO each other. II is dire collision
between two systems of Government that
cannot be compromised or move in the
same sphere. 1t is not lighI-hearled
contest which looks only to the spoils, or
to the advancement Of any particular in
dividual, on account of personal consid-
prations. The black flag is hoisted and
If Radicalism, with oil its frauds, hy-
pccrisy and evil designs prevails, our sys
ten Of Government, under which we lived,
prOspered and became o mighty people, is
forever destroyed; but if Radicalism goes
down, it falls, like Lucifer, never TO rise
again. These are propositions which,
upon moments reflection, must be patent
TO every mind and can II be possible,
feeling and appreciating these startling
facts that we will neglect our duty and
fail to meet our opponents at every point2
All, no, Mr.. President, know that you
and /, with great mass of the people
are ready and willing to do our whole
'luty--are ready and willing to make d
vigorous effort to preserve the fundamen-
tai principles upon which this government
was founded. We are not willing that
the memories Of tbe past should sink into
oblivion, or the heroic deeds of our fathers
who fought, bled, and died to establish
eternal principles shall soon be forgotten.
We are not willing that the peace, happi.
mesa and prosperity Of our country shall
he jeopsrdized longer. We are not will
ing that Negroes shall be made masters
and White men slaves. We are not will
ing that bond-holders shall be made rich
at the expense of the toiling millions.
We are not willing that the blood split on
the plains of Missouri, in the swamps OF
the Mississippi and in the valley of Vir-
siuia shall be split in vain. We are not
willing that negroes shall be enfranchissd
and white men disfranchised. We are not
willing that the old constitution, the
charter by which our Liberty was estab-
lished aud to which we look for security
in the future from all usurpations, shall
be trampled under foot by reckless mob.
Let US then, my friends, contend for
principles and not men and thotgh we
may feel disappointed because we could
not have our choice in the Convention
held at New York although we cannot
have the pleasure of having the Young
Eagle of the West as cur siandard-bearer
in the coming campaign, let us not des
pair but fight the more valliahtly, 10 all
may be for the best. Although Blair may
not be our first choice we must and will
support him. His letter to the Conveu.
tion is o sufficient guarantee that he is
sound on the most important plank in the
platform and that is that the monstrous
acts Of Congress, called reconstruction
are null and void. / like that plank in
the platform shove all others.
Let us then, fellow citizens, bear these
facts In mind ind manfully contend for
our rights.
repeat that the coming campaign is
not contest between Grant and Seymour,
or between Republicanism and Democracy
It is o war TO the knife between constitu
tional government and arbitrary will
hat vaon fhn vtmhk ~ thn nao,,la 4 n xova,r |