The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-05-12


and are Republicans, and the further
fact that they are my friends, is not a
sufficient ground for their removal by
a Republican President, himself a SOL
der. If he ostracises them from per-
sonal Pique, or to crafty the animosi-
ty OF others, he does no honor to him
self, and no service to the country and
L, as their friend and comrade, will not
stand by and ac9uiesce in it from any
considerations of personal interest or
hope of executive favor.
These men are among the country's
heroes. The President, with the con-
sent of the Senate, NAV take from
them the petty Offices by which they
hoped to exc out a subsistence until
the grave shall close over the last of
their discriminating numbers, but
he cannot take from them their right
to recognition and favor because of
their service, nor their power to vindi-
cate that right by their and their chill
dren's ballots. And any Administra-
ton which degrades that right to or
below the level of mere party or per-
sonal claims, will be taught its folly
by those ballots.
MIR. President, for twenty years it
has been my pleasure, though not
my profit, to belong to that advanc-
ed corps of politicians now known as
Radical Republicans. Nc man Joined
with more earnest zeal and hopeful
ness in urging upon the Republican
party, long before the assembling of
its general convention, the nomination
ofthe distinguished chief who is now
our national Executiver No man
looked forward with more painful APP
%prehension to the possible success of
his rival candidate NJ man more
clearly foresaw than L, that in the then
disturbed relations of the Republican
party, the name Of General Grant
would be to us a pillar of fire which
would lead us to victory and save the
country from impending disaster. ]
so thought then, and 1 so think now.
He is now the President, and the
country is saved and / think 1 may
say without fear of contradiction by
the judgment of the near future, that
no man endured so much as /, from
the revilings and maledictions of dis
appointed partisans, to secure that re-
suit.
But I have no regrets, but rather
graduation that it was so. We had
fallen upon evil times, when none but
a great master mind in the executive
chair, such as 1 hoped and believed
his would prove to be, could extricate
US from the tolls into which incon-
petents and malcontents drawn had
us. That hope and belief, though
shaken by recent devel-
opments, are not destroyed. expect
to sustain the Administration and
the party which it represents, with. be-
coming zeal, and with such ability as
1 possess, because I yet have faith in
their wisdom and their justice. But
the support which I have given to my
party or to its acknowledged or official
leaders has never been, and never
shall be, a blind, interest, OF subservi-
.nt support. 1 have obeyed my 0
v~ictions of duty heretofore, and shall
do so henceforth. A combination OF
my colleagues from Kansas in Con-
gress has been form to drive me from
political life because l have dared to
defy the dictation of party when l be-
lieved that other objects than the coun-
try's good were sought to be suhserv-
ed thereby, and I fear the President
has been deceived into giving that
his powerful aid. Hence
the sweeping and unjust removals OF
oficeholders, chiefly Republicans and
soldiers, threatened or accomplished,
merely because they are my friends,
and as an important part of that par
ty machinery which is being USED for
my destruction.
Mr.. President, I neither court nor
shun that contest / have a danger
before without loss of nerve or self-re-
spect, or the good opinion of those
whose Judgment / regard. l will not
Try for quarter or lick the feet ofpow-
er, or abate one jot of heart or hope,
however fierce the attacks upon me. /
will support the Administration ju t
20 long as it commands my confidence
Is a representative of the free princi-
pies I have sustained from bohyo d
through good report. Whether the
Administration goes right or wrong.
I will adhere to the great patriotic Re
publican party, in station or out OF Sta
ion, so long as it adheres to its life
ong championship of freedom and
equal justice to all; and I will criticise
md oppose all acts of the Administra,
ion or the party, which I believe to
De unjust to my comrades and friends,
Dr. destructive of the interests of the
country, to which I owe my first allegi-