Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-10-22
GrccIey'S letter Of Acceptance.
NEW YoRK. Octohcr 0. 1891

NEW DIRK, October ~ 1SU0.
To Hon. Hamilton Harris and associates Republi.
can state Committee; ..-.
GENTLEMEN Absence in the interior
OF the State precludcd u prompt response
To the nomination you have seen fit To ten
der me- | improve the earliest moment
to reply TO your kind notification.
You do not need to bc told that | did
not want the nomination any more than
expected It, and that do not desire the
Office, But clearly comprehend that 20.
litical life has its responsibilities and its
duties rs well rs its opportunities and it's
honors, and accept without hesitation,
thanking you for the faith you have
evinced in my devotion tO the Republican
cause. 1 trust that some friend may he
able to say with truth ut my grave that my
political friends never were asked by me
iur any favor, and never required of me
any honefablo service that did not cheer.
fully render
There are those who would persuade us
that the Republican party has finished its
work, and should now dissolve and pass
away. They say this in full Wow of the
Fifteenth Amendment, whereof the ratih
cation by the States is still pending, and by
no means assured. They say It in defiance
Of the tact that we are called TO vote this
fall directly To abolish or retain the prop.
erly qualification whereby u part or our
own citizens, who were required to serve,
and did serve, in the armies of the Union,
are yet denied the right of suffrage Four
colorcd men from the township adjoining
mine fell dead on the single field of Olustcc,
lighting brvely for freedom and their
country; and now their sons are denied "A
voice in the government of that country
10y the efforts and votes of men who have
no more property and no better education
than they, and who took excellent care
never to risk their lives in defense of the
Union. If there be one Union soldier
even one--whO votes To deny the right OF
suffrage tn the sons of those whufe' fight
ing Tor the Republic, must believe that
he was impcllcd to enlist rather by love of
bounty than love of country.
For myself, having all my life done
what could to secure legal and practical
recognition of the equal rights of Ameri,
can citizens, having ON two occasions stood
at the polls, as | usually do ON election
days, and distributed ballots in favor of
aholishing this most invidious and inioui
touS property qualification, | rejoice i'm
the third opportunity now afforded me for
so doing, and shall thankfully improve il.
In the course of nature, | cannot EXPECT
10 live many years longer; but | hope To
he spared long enough to see this relic of
slavery erased from the fundamental law
of our State. II unsuccessful now, |
shall urge reSuhmiSsion of the question
at the earliest day, and so again and again
| until sham Democracy shall be- wcaried or
Shamed into saying, like its prototype the
Unjust Judge of old, "ThOugh | fear not
| God, neither regard man, vet will | do
| justice 10 this poor Suitor, lest by continual
coming he weary me- In no State with.
in my knowledge has this question of i'm.
| partial suffrage been repeatedly submitted
| that large gain of votes To the right side
was not realized at each successive trial
until victory crowned the eNertions of the
champions of equal rights. Let us never
doubt that such will be TIE result in our
State, and with steadGst faith in the ulli.
mate triumph OF justice, let us thank God
and take courage.
This is the otl'year in politics Men
whose patriotism barely suffice To take
them 10 the polls when u President, OF
when At least Governor and members q
| Congress, are to be chosen, will not come
out this fall. The great army of disap
pointed oilice.seekerS and selfish aspimnt,
to live OIL the public viii also contribut,
vastly 10 the legiOns OF sulky stay AT homes
I N'NAs NAhN' " AaN hAhS WV ihAAaANihNN power
which fed multitudcs 10 repletion ON a few
small loayes and fishes has offended thes,
patriots beyond the hope OF present for
giytneSs. Let me, therefore, entreat then
to go to the polls, and there work and vot,
simply for the constitutional amendment
securing impartial suffrage They viii
thus proclaim that their personal disap
pointments have not affected their prlnci
| pies, and that their paSt professions OF Re
pnolconism We're not lnsinCere. They
shall be most welcome 10 vote against me
aud slil claim to be better Republican,
than ! am, II they will thus eYince un
abated devotion Ia the cause.
congratulate you ON The ASSUMED tri
umph oI equal rights reganlless of colol
| in future by no means Remote The gen
cral adhesion uf the South 10 this prinCipl,
insurcs It's success, There viii he, AS ther,
has been, a great party throughout the
South which calls itself Conservative and