The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-08-27
Observation-Disclosures.
VIZ. Greeley's speecb at Portland.
The Words of an Honest and True
Man.

the 14th inst, lie made the following
speech:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: 1t is certain
ly true that throughout the course Of my
life, as far as | have been connected
with public affairs, have struggled with
such capacity as Ged has given me for,
first, impartial and universal liberty; sec
ond, for the unity and greatness of our
common country; third, and by no
means least, when the former end WIS
attained, for early and hearty recoucilia-
rion and peace among our countrymen.
For these great ends | have struggled,
and hope the issue Of the third is not
doubtful. ! thoroughly comprehend that
no personal consideration has drawn to-
gether this vast assembly Other, high
er, and grander considerations have col
lected you around me to-day. Cheers !
Mr. Chairman, il is part of the un-
written law Of our country that candi-
date for President may not make speech
es in vinaication and commentators of
the principles whereupon he is support
ed, nor the measures which his election
is intended to promote, though candi-
date for Vice President is under no such
inhibition. not merely acQuesce in
the restriction, recognize and afiirtA its
propriety The temptation to misreport
and misrepresent candidate for the
higher post is so great, the means of cir
culating such perversions among people
who will never see word Of their refu-
tation are so vast, that candidate has
no moral I; chit to subject his friends to
the perils he must brave, if not invite, by
taking part in the canvass, { Cheers.
Y ct there is truth to be uttered in he
half of those who have placed me before
the American people in my present atti
tude, which does them such honor that
l claim the privilege of stating it here,
and now
This is that truth; No person has ever
yet made The fact that he proposed to
support, or actually did support, my
nomination, whether at Cincinnati or
Baltimore, or in the action which result
ed in sending delegates to either Ccnven-
ton, the basis of claim TO office at nv
hand. No one who favored my nomi
nation before either Convention, or at
either Convention, has sought office at
my hands, either for himself or any one
else; nor has any one suggested to me
that might strengthen myself as can.
didate by promising to appoint any one
to any important office whatever. Loud
cheers In few instances-less than
a dozen, | am sure-certain of the small
ler fry Of politicians have, since my
double nomination, limited to me by let
ter that | might increase my chance of
election by promising a post.office or
some other place TO my volunteer cor
respondents, resp, ctireI Y. | have not
usually responded to these overtures,
but | now give general notice that,
should l be elected, will consider the
claims of these untimely aspirants after
those of the more modest and reticent
shall have been fully satisfied. Loud
cheers.
In Two or three instances I have been
asked to say whether l would or would
not, if elected, conine my appointments
to Republicans. l answer these by
pointing to that plank OF the Cincinnati
platform wherein all who concur in the
principles therein set forth are cordially
invited to participate in their establish
ment and vindication | never vet heard
of man who invited his neiohbors to
help him raise a house end PROCEED 10
kick them out of il 30 soon as tue roof
was fairly over his head. For my own
part, recognize every honest man who
approves and adheres to the Cincinnati
platform as my political brother, and as
such fully entitled to my confidence and
friendly regard. TCheers. .
One other point demands a word,
Those adverse to me ask what pledges
have given to those lately hostile to the
Union to secure their favor and support.
| answer: No man or woman in all the
South ever asked Of me, whether direct.
ly or through another, any other pledge
than is given in all my acts and words
from the hour of Lees surrender down
| to this moment. No Southern man has
ever hinted to me an expectation, hope,
or wish that the rebel debt, whether Con-
federate or State, should be assumed or
paid by the Union, and no Southern man
who could be elected to q Legislature OF
made Colonel of a militia regiment ever
suggested the pensioning of rebel sol.
| IL Of nto
possibility. All who nominated me are
perfectIy,aware that had upheld and
justified Federal legislation to suppress
the Ku Klux conspiracy and outrages,
though | had long ago insisted as siren.
uously rs | now do that complete am.
nesty and genuine oblivion of the
bloody, hateful past would do more fol
the suppression and utter extinction Of
such outrages than all the force bills and
suspensions of habeds corpus ever de
vised by man Wrong and crime must
he suppressed and punished, but far wiser
and nobIer is the legislation, the policy.
by which they are prevented, Loud
cheering.
From those who support me in the
South | have heard but ore demand
Justice; one desire--reconciliation They
wish 10 he heartily reunited and at peace
with the North, on any terms which dc
not involve surrender Of their man.
hood They ask that they shall he re.
garded and treated by the Federal au-
thorties as citizens, not culprits. so long
as they obey and uphold every law con.
sistent with equity and right They de-
sire rale which, alike for, white and
black, shall encourage industry and
thrift, and discourage rabacitv and vii
lainy They cherish joyful hope, in
which fully concur, that between the
9TH of November and the 4th of March
next quite number of the Governors
and other digntaries who, in the abused
names Of Republicansm and loyalty,
have for years been pjling debts and tax
es upon their war-wasted States, will
follow the wholesome example of Bul-
lock, of Georgia, and seek the shades of
private life. The darker and denser those