The Placer herald., 1872-09-07
SPEECH OF HORACE GREELEY AT
PORTLAND, MAINE.

| ianu, Maine, Oh lnc l4In lnst, III WHICH bc
said:
LADIES AND GESnEMEs-It is certain
throughout he course osmy lie, as far as !
have been connected with public affairs, !
have struggled with such capacity as God
has given me- for, first, impartial and uni
versaI liberty; second, the unity aud great
ness of our common country; third, and by
no means least, when the former end was at
tanned, for an early and hearty reconcilat alton
and peace among all our countrymer. For
these great ends | have struggled and /
hope the issue is not doubtful. thoiorghly
comprehend that no personal consideration
has drawn this vast assembly; other higher
and grander considerations have collected
you around me together.
1t is a part of the unwritten law Of our
country that candidate for President may
not make speeches in vindication and COM
mendation of the principles whereupon he Is
supported, or of the measures which his cleo
ton is intended to promote, though a candi-
date for Vice President is under 10 such in
bibiton | acquiesce in this restriction;
recognize and affirm its proprlety. The
temptation to misreport and msrepresent a
candidate for the higher post is so great, the
means cf circulating such perverslon among
people who will never see word OF their
sesutation, are so vast that a candidate has
no mortal right to subject bis friends to the
pers he must brave, if not invite by taking
a part in the canvass; yet there Is - truth to
be uttered in behalf of those who have F,aced
me before the American peopl in noy present
attitude, which does them such honor that
claim the privilege Of stating it here now.
This is that truth:
NO CLAIMANTS FOR OFFICE.
No person has ever yet made the ftct
known that he proposed to support, or actin
ally did support my nomination, whether at
Cincinnati or Baltimore, or in any action that
resulted in sending delegates to either con-
vention as basis to claim for Office at my
hand. No one who favored ny nomination
before either convention, or al either eonvcn-
tion, has sough! office at my bands, either
for himself or anyone else, nor has anyone
suggested to me that might strengthen my
self as a candidate by promising to appoint
anyone to any important office what
ever. In very few instances-les
than a dozen, | am surc-certain Of the
smaller fry of politicians have, since my
double nomination, hinted to- ne by letter
lhat might increase my chances of election
by promising post-oliice or some sucli place
10 my volunteer correspondents respectively,
hav. not usually responded to these over
lures, but now give general notice that,
should be elected, ! will consider the claims
of these unlimcly asprants after those of the
more modest and retieent persons shall have
been fully satisfied Applause.
NoN-PART1sAN APPorN70sENTs.
, In two Or three instances | have been
asked to say whether would not, if elected ),
D conline my appointments to Republicans. !
answer these by pointing to that plank of the
Cincinnati platform wherein all who concur
? in the principles therein set forth arc cordially
. invited 10 participate in their cste eblishmcnt
and vindcaton | never yet heard of a
q man who invited his neighbOrs to house
, raising, and then proceeded to kick them out
of i, as soon as the roof WAS fairly over his
: head. For my own part | recognize every
u honest man who approves aad adheres to the
: Cincinnati platform as my political brother
. and as such fully entitled to my confidence
II and friendly resarl.
ENTIRELY UNPLEDGED.
a One other point demands a word. Those
II who are adverse to me ask me what pledges
- have given to those lately hostile 70 the Unior
- to secure their favor and support. | answer
e no man or woman in all the South has evel
asked of me, whether directly or through al
my acts and words, from the hour of Lees
surrender down to this moment. No South
crn man ever limited to me an expectation OF
hope or wish that the rebel debt, whether
confederate or state, should be assumed OF
Il paid by the Union, and no Southern mar
{ who could be elected to the legislature OF
~ made colonel of militia regiment evcl
! suggested the pensonng of rebel soldiers
;, or any of them even as remote possibility.
Y KNOWN OF ALL MEN.
All who nominated me were perfectly
Il aware that had upheld and justified fedora
> legislation to suppress Kn-klux conspiracie'
Il and outrages, though had long ago insisted
as strenuousy as now do that n complete
amnesty and genuine oblivion of bloody
and hatefal past would do more for the sup
preston and utter extinction of such ouragcs
4 than all the force bills and suspensions o.
habeas corpus acts ever devised by man
, WrOng and crime must be suppressed ant
+, punished, but far wiser and nobcr is the
i legislation and policy by which they are pre-
, vented.
/ THE GREAT OBJECTS.
! From those who support me in the Souil
! have heard but one demand, justice; but
one desire--receneil Thev wish to bt
heartily reunited and at peace with the NORTH
on any terms which do not involve the sur
! render of their manhood. They cherish a
e joyful hope that the federal authority vii
a regard them as citizens, and not as culpsits
n so long as they obey and Uphold every Law
consistent with eqauIity Or right,