The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-10-18
SPEECH
HON. Es. WI. II. EEUNTEHe
OF VIRGINIA.,
At New York, Friday, Sept. 13.

If any man had told me three
months ago, that l should be here to-
day to address a public meeting on
political affairs, l should have replied
that, whatever might be his other
gifts, that of prophecy was not among
them, So completely have l with
drawn from any active participation
in public affairs, that the din and tur-
moil of party strife scarcely reach me
in my retirement, unless there be some
jar in the machinery of society itself
To others younger than myself, and
whose previous life can bring up no
bitter recollections and none of the
prejudices engendered by former diff
ferences. and to those who have the
hopes and aspirations that give energy
to public men. which have long since
fed from me, / have thought it best
20 leave the active conduct of politi-
cal affairs, and into their hands, free
ly resign whatever share may have
had in them. But when | came to re-
fleet upon the consequences OF refus-
ing this invitation, it struck me that
it might be attributed TO an inditfer-
ence To the welfare of the country,
which | am very far from feeling
| On the contrary, / desire most SIN
cerely to reunite our citizens in SYM
pathy and affection, without which
the tie of citizenship ceases TO be y
common bond, and no longer implies
a mutual support among its members.
But those are feelings which require
recip: ocation TO thrive, and cannot
flourish with one party if met by neg
lect and persecution by the other. l
had yet another motive Tor coming. -
| believe that there are words o:
warming necessary 10 be spoken to
the country, and | know of no one in
better situation than myself To utter
them, without suspicion of selfish and
personal designs. Disabled by the
Constitution from holding any Office,
and retired from all active participa
ton in public affairs, | can have bat
| little personal interest i'll the result OF
any election. General considerations,
and desire for the welfare OF the
country and my friends alone can
move me- My interests are only
those of citizen.
With the candidates whose cause |
support have no personal acquaint-
ance. | never exchanged z word or a
line with either OF them in my life
In times past Mr.. Greeley and l have
differed on nearly all the great puLIic
questions which have divided parties
in their political action. As under
stand it, these differences still exist
He is Republican, aud | am Dem
ocrat, neither having changed, or pro-
( fessed TO change on those subjects OF
division. And yet | sincerely desire
his election. and stand here to aid it
as far as | can. His friends have put
him in the lead in the great cause OF
national harmony, and in the import
ant issue between popular govern
ment and the coming empire he is the
/ standard-bearer OF those who main
tain the popular supremacy. For the
sake of these great issues he will com
mand my earnest support; in their
sacred names | will follow him so
long as he leads us faithfully, and his
| fidelity to his pledges on these issues
no man has ever doubted. For the
present will bury all consideration
of the questions upon which we may
differ. for the sake of his aid upon
those which | hold to be of transcend
ent Importance. Indeed, | could
make no issue upon these other Gues-
tions If | desired it. Upon them his
/ opponent is as much opposed to me
as he is, but [ will not forbear TO do
the good which l possibly may do be-
cause | cannot effect all that | would.
Let us secure peace, not pretended
but real, between all the sections and
people of this great country, and ar
rest the rapid progress of the cen.
tral:zation of all power in the General
Government, so as to check the ad.
vent of despotisn, and We will look
afterward to other and minor causes
of division.
THE PARTY OF SECTIONAL HATE.
i Questions of finance, of currency,
of commerce, arc all worthy of atten,
ton, but in Importance they sink far
below those which concern the social
life itself. To infuse social syrnpa
thies and affection among all the sec
tions of this great people is mighty
task, and the man who leads and sue
ceeds in it will deserve the Presiden.
cy for this, if for nothing else. And
yet, fellow citizens, there is large
party in this country seeking to build
up its power on the foundation of sec
tional hatred among its people,
Whatever can be said or done to keer
up this bitter feeling is said or done
by this party, under the hope Of find
ing favor with the majority, as being
the best instruments for the, punish
ment of those they dislike.