The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-08-24
Greeley.
Portland, Aug 15.-The follow.
ing speech was made by Mr..
Greeley at bis reception:
BIB. GREELEY SAID.

'Ieei1y aI MS reception:
s1R. GREELEY SAID:
L nave struggled throughout
my life for, first, impartial uni
versal liberty; second, for the
unity and greatness of the com
mon country; third, and by no
means the least, when the former
end was attained, for an early
treaty of reconciliation for peace
among our countrymen. | rec
ogniZe the propriety of candid
ate for the Presidency making no
speeches, yet there is truth to be
uttered in behalf of those who
have placed me before the Aneri
can people in my present attitude,
which does them such honor that
/ claim the privilege of stating it
here. Now, this is the truth: No
person has ever yet made it
fact that he proposed to support,
or that he actually did support
my nomination, whether at the
Cincinnati or Baltimore COnven-
ton, which resulted in sending
delegates to either convention,
upon the basis of "A claim for
office. No one who favored my
nomination before either conven-
ton has sought Office at my hand,
either himself or any one else,
nor has any one suggested TO me
that | might strengthen my self
as a candidate by promising to.
appoint any one TO Office whatever.
In every instance l am certain
that the smaller fry Of politicians
have since my double nomination,
limited TO me by letter that |
might increase my chances by
promising the PoStOfice. or some
Snch place. To my volunteer cor
respondece respectively. have
not usually responded to those
overtureS. But 1 now give gen
eral notice, that should | be elect
cd / will consider the claims Of
those un!imely aspirantS after
I those more modest and reticent
shall have been fully satisfied.
Applause. In two or three in
I stances l have been asked 10 say
/ whether would not, if elected,
/ contine my appointments TO Re
puOhcans. answer these 10y
pointing to that plank in the Gin
clnnati Platform wherein all who
concur in the principles therein
set forth are cordially invited to.
participate in their establishment
and vindication. | never heard
1 of the man who Invited his neigh
boTS to raise a hOnSe and then
proceeded TO kick Them out of it
as soon as the roof Was fairly over
his head. For my owl part |
recognize every honest man who
approves adherence to the Gin
clnnatl platform as my political
brother, and as Such is fully en-
titled TO my confidence and friend
~ regards. One other point de-
mands word. Those adverse to
me ask what pledges [ have Civ
Ell to those lately hostile TO the
Union to secure their favor ana
support. answer, no man or
woman in all the South ever ASK
ed of me, whether directly or
through another, any other pledge
than is given through all my acts
from the honr of Lees surrender
down 10 this moment. No South
ern man ever limited to me any
expectation hope or wish that the
rebellion debt, whether Conteder
ate or State, should be assumed
/ or paid by the Union. No South
cru man who could be elected to
the Legislature or made Colonel
of a militia regiment, ever SuggeS-
ted the penSioning of rebel sol.
dierS, or any of them as remote
possibility. All who nominated
me were perfectly aware that
had upheld and justified Federal
legislation to repreSS the kuklux
conspiracy outrage, though L had
long ago insisted as stremulously
as l now do, that complete am
neSty and genuine oblivion of the
bloody, hateful past would do
more forthe suppression and ut
ter extinction of snch outrages,
than all the force bills and sus-
pension of the habeas corpus ever
devised by men. Wrong and
crime must be suppressed and
punished, but far wiser and noblpr
is the legislation and policy 10y
which they are prevented. From
those who support ME in the