New-York tribune., 1872-09-13
eprrCu OF p. NJ. T. HUNTER.

Depew and OF Greeley and Brown. lAppauseI
SPEECH OF r. NJ. T. HUNTER.
IN Fuu-If Tammany Hail.
II any man had told me three months ago that shond
be here to-day to address public meeting on political
affairs. I should have replied that whatever might
be his other gifts that OF prophecy was not among
them so completely have withdrawn from any acu'o
partcipation in public Affairs that the on ana tul
of party strife scarcely reach me in my retirement u
less there be some jar in tho machinery OF soce9 '
To others younger than myself and whose previous ie
can hiring up no bitter Tecoecons, and none Of the
nreiudices engendered by former differences ana 10
those who have the hopes and aspirations that give e
ergy to public men, which have long since ned rom o'
have thought Il leave the active cOhduct ol Po
ltical affairs and into their hands freely resign "naE
ever share may have had in them. But when came
70 reflect upon the consequences Of refusing this invita-
on IL struck me that it might be attributed to an IN
difference TO the welfare Of the country which am very
far from feeling. On the contrary, desire most sih
cerely TO reune citizens in sympathy ana aneCuon
without which the tic Of citizenship ceases to be com
mon bond and no longer implies n mutual support
among its members. But these are feehDgs WHICH io
ouire rcciprocaon TO thrive and cannot flourish win
one party if met by neglect and persecution by the DINER
had vet another motive for coming i believe that
There are words of warning necessary to be spoken 10
the country and know Of no one in Detter sVuauoh
than myself 70 utter hem without suspicion OF sehsh
and personal designs. Dls2led by the Constitution
from boId,n any office and retired from all active par
cination i'm pblic affairs can have but little personal
tins and desire for tile welfare of the country and
nv friends alone can move me. My interests arc OnJ
Win The candidates whose cause I support have no
personal acquaintance. never exchanged WOrd OF
line with either of them in my life. In times past Mr'
GTeIev and nave differed on nearly oil the great pub
10 netions which have divided parties in their pOlltl-
cal action As understand II, these differences sun cA-
Ist He is Republican, and Democrat, neither hay,
red uTOeSScQ 10 cnane6 Oh 'uylS'O'' VI
division And yet sincerely desire ms eIsctloI any @
stand here to aid far as can HIS trends nave pd
him i'm he lead in the great of National Harmony
and In the important issue between pop sVS ~
and the coming empire; he Is the stanodrU-pVhld "
those who maintain tho popular supremacy. FOR tue
sake of these great issues he Will Command my earnest
support in their sacred names VIII IOll0W hlm %
long as he leads us faithfully and his n0eny 10 ms
pledges on these issues has ever doubted For
the present will bury all consideration OF the qlSsuOns
upon which we may differ, for the sake OF ms ad upon
those which hold to be Of transeendant Importance
Indeed could make no issue upon these other questions
IL desired IL Upon them his opponent Is as lnuch Op
posed he is but VIII not ioIDeaI 10 90 tlg m
good which possibly may do because cannot eheet an
that Would Let secure peace not pTelellleu, Dul
real between all the sections ana people OF tns eI
country and arrest the rapid progress OF the centTaI
ton of an power in the General Government so as 10
check the advent OF despOtsm ana we VIII iOOA aA'o4
ward to other and minor causes OF dlyislOh'
TIE PARTY OF SECTIONAL HATE
Questions OF finance, of currency, of commerce, are
worthy of all attention, but in importance they
sink far below those which concern the
social life itself. To infuse social synfpathes
and affections among all the sections OF tbs
great people is a mighty task and the man who leads
ana succeeds in it viii deserve the Presidency i0r ths
II for nothing else And yet, fellow-czens there is
large party in this country seeking TO build up It's power
foundation OF sectional hatred among lts people
Whatever be said or done 10 Keep up thls DltteI
feeling said done by this party under the nope or
finding with the majority as being the best instru-
ments for the punishment OF those they dislike
In this way, they md impuny for their encroach-
ments upon the Constitution, which are pardoned be-
Of their immediate eects upah the SOUTH WhVu1
consideration Of their ultimate results upon the North
10 nfuse suspicion Of the feelings ana purposes O the
Southern whites. aud to represent Ihem as ueluS nose
10 the Government and the former free states seems 70
be a fayorte object with that party us by means ot
these suspicious that they command support from tfe
Northern people for their Kukux laws, and for TN,
support OF the carpetDag Governments il all thelr
enOTDities. The war has been ended now fOf seven
wears on more and yet If listen 10 this party tho see
lions are hostile ever. Al the very last session OF
Congress- the President was not ashamed 10 ask I0r o
privilege proclaim martial law IN the SOuth, ana tlus
In effect enable him TO exercise supreme power In that
prosecuted region say, 10 exercise supreme pVMoI
under that pretext for believe with the Duke Of Wei
hngton that establish martial law is TO say that
shall be no law but TO leave he commander OF the
military without check or regulation III tins request
had been granted by Congress the President would
have regulated all inc southern e!ecuOhS' Mlth
this power he had only 10 threaten them
with the application of the ku-klux law
10 their cases and what so tempting as 10 escape he sus
pciOn by voting for his party. That such an enect OF
the powers vested by the law in the President has been
produced in North Carolina we have all seen chargeu
with how much truth know not but the possibility Vi
such application Of tins power is obvious TO all The
whole course OF this party u the South has proved the
bitterness OF their hostility. To keep up inveterate OPP
position between the two races and TO subject the white
to their former slaves with passions excited by
those whose duty 1t TO have promoted peace and
encouraged justice in the administration OF the power OF
the Government 10 have been the especial object
of their policy. States formerly distinguished Tor
Omy under their white rulers have been plunged into
unOus load OF debt under the government Of corrupt
crpetbaggers and ignorant negro rulers The OF
justice have been hlled by persons disqualified by gnO
rance and character for sue1 places The experienced
Of society and those used TO the task gov
erning and trusted by the people for long time
great extent disqualified. and the rule OF the worst
n ftll
sword The result OF all this Just what might have
been expected from previous experience Corruption,
debt and oppression the part OF the ruling class
whites show dissatisfaction at such of thin Ks
they accused Of disOyty and in danger OF being
transported from their sunny homes " break stone IN
some Northern prison.
THE DIGNITY OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
FelOwcitizens, Of all trusts that DO committed to
human beings that Of Government has always seemed TO
be the highest and solemn and such has
he general sentiment Of mankind. Kings have been
called the vcegerents OF God of the sacred ma
OF their trust and it has always been esteemed the
highest duty of the governor 20 maintain the cause OF
good morals, and TO distribute even-handed justice
among the people. For the first time, believe IN the
history OF the world and now IN the hight OF Christian
tho worst elements Of society have been
ought 10 be placed IN the rule. The punishment chosen
people has been ~ afiet them with bad govern
nent and decentralization. Deliberately 10 place intel
igent people under ignorant and corrupt
choose the most efficient OF ali known means de-
yrade and demOraZe them. You may history In
rain for precedent for such conduct part the
governing power. The GOths and the Vandals estab- |
lshed Their own governments in place OF those which
hey overthrew, and DarDerOs nations have done
he same. But Il done 10 secure tine fruits OF their
conquest, and not 10 degrade or punish those |
whom they had BuDdued by Inflcting upon
hem bad government. TO punish a people by
orcing upon them government Tor tho purpose OF