Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-15
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE GAzETT1
MIR. Greeley's Address.


city as God has given me for, first impartial
and universal liberty, second for the Union and
greatness of our common country and third
and by no means least, when the former end
was attained for early and hearty reconciliation
and peace among our countrymen. For these
great ends peace struggled, and hope the is
sue of the Sd is not doubtful. | thougherly COM
prehend that no personal consideration has
drawn this vast assembly together. Other
higher and grander considerations have COLLECT
ed you around me to-day.
1t is part Of the unWritten law of our country
that candidate for the Presidency may not
make speeches in vindication and commenda-
ton of the principles whereupon he is supper
ted or the measures which his election is in-
tended to promote, though candidate for
Vice President is under no such Inhibition.
[ not merely acquiesce in the restriction. l
recognize and affirm its propriety. The temp
tation to misinterpret and misrepresent q can
didate for the higher posts is SO great, the
means Of circulating such perverslons among
people who never see word OF their reputa-
ton are so vast that candidate has no moral
right to subject his friends to the perils he
must brave, if not invite, by taking part 10 the
canvass. Yet there is truth to be uttered in
behalf of those who have placed me before the
American people IN my present attitude
which does them such honor that | claim the
privilege of stating it here and now.
This is that truth No person has ever yet
made the fact known that he proposed to sup
port or active did support my nomination.
whether at Cincinnati, at Baltimore, or in any
action which resulted in sending delegates to
either Convention-as the basis OF a claim for
office at my hands; no one who favored my
nomination before either convention or at eth
er 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 candidate by promising to appoint
any one to any important Office whatever. In
very few instanccs-(less than a dozen, / am
certain), some of the smaller fry of politicians
have, since my double nomination, limited to
me by letter that | might increase my
chances of election by promising postotfice or
some such place to my volunteer correspondents
respec lively. have not usually responded to
these overtuers; but | now give general notice
that should | be elected, | will consider the
claims of these uutimely aspirants after those
of the more modest and reticent shall have
been fully satisfied. Applause
10 two or three instances | have been asked
to say whether | would or would not, if
elected, confne my appointments to Republi-
cans. | answer these by pointing to the plank
in the Cincinnati platform wherein all who
concur in the principles therein set forth are
cordially invited to participate in their estab
lishment and vindication. | never yet heard
ofa man who invited his neighbors to help him
raise house and proceeded to kick
them out of it as soon as the 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,
aud as such fully entitled to my confidence and
friendly regard.
One other point demands aword. Those ad-
verse to me ask what pledges have given to
those lately hostile to the Union to secure
their favor and support. l answer, no
man or woman in all the South ever asked
of me, either directly 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 ever limited to me an expectation, hope or
wish that the rebel debt, whether Confederate
or State, should be assumed or paid by the
Union and no Southern man who could be
elected to Legislature, or made Colonel of
militia regiment ever suggested the pensioning
of all the rebel soldiers or any of them, even as
q remote pUSSlDlHly. AN WIN uoluiudlOu lS
were perfectly aware that upheld and iustl-
conspiracy and outrages, though had long ago
insisted as strenuousiy as I now do, that com
plete amnesty and general oblivion of the
bloody, hateful past would do more for the sup.
preston and utter extinction of such outrages
than all the force bills and suspensions of ha-
beas corpus ever devised by man. Wrong and
crime suppressed and punished but far wiser
and nsbler is the legislation-the policy by
which they arc prevented. From those who
support me In the South have heard but one
demand, Justice but one desire, -rcconcilia-
ton. They wish to be heartily reunited and
al. peace with the North 90 any terms which
do not involve the surrender of their manhood.
They ask that they should be regarded and
treated by any Federal authority as citizens,
not culprits, so long as they obey and uphold
every law consistent with equality and right.
They desire rule, which, alike for white and
black, shall encourage industry and thrift, and
discourage rapacity and viainy. They cher
ish joyful hope, in which fully CONCUR, that
between the 5th of November, and the 4th Of
March next. quite a number Of governors
and other dignitaries who, in the absurd name
of Repubicanism and Loyalty, have for years
been piling debts and taxes upon their war
wasted States, will follow the wholesome ex-
ample of Bullock, Of Georgia, and seek the
shades of private life. The darker and deeper
those shades the better for themselves and for
mankind and the hope that my election may
hasten the much. desired hegira of thieving
has reconciled to the necessity
of supporting me, many who would otherwise
have hesitated and probably refused.
Fellow citizens, the deposed and partially
exiled Tammany Ring has stolen about $780,,
600, 900, from the city Of New York, That
was most gigantic robbery, and hurled its
ooutrivcrs and abetors from power and spen
dor to impotency and infamy but the thiev-
ing carpet. baggers have stolen at least three
times that amount stolen it from people al.
ready impoverished and needy,-and they still
Haunt their prosperous villaipy in the highest
places of the land and are addressed as Hon.
orable'' and "Excellency. Applause: l
think I hear voice from the honest people of
all the States declaring that their iniquity shall
be gainful and insolent no longer, at the farth-
est, than the 4th of March next. By that time
a national verdict will be pronounced that will
cause them to ''fold their tents like the Arabs