Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-08-24
Mr.. Greeley's Speech at Portland.


No candidate for office ever made more ad-
mirable speeches than those which have from
time to time during the present contest ema-
mated from Mr.. Greeley. In speech at
Portland, Maine few days ago. where he
was welcomed by an immense cOncourse,
among other excellent things be said
"Those adverse to me ask what pledges l
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 directly or through another,
any other pledge than Is given in all my acts
aud works from the hour Of Lees surrender
down to this moment.
No Southern man ever limited to me an ex-
pectatiou, hope or wish that the rebel debt,
whether Confederate or State, should be as
snmed or paid by the Union, and no Southern
man who could be elected to Legislature or
made colonel Of q militia regiment ever sug-
gested the pensioning Of all rebel soldiers or
any Of them, even as remote possibility. All
who nominated me were perfectly aware that
| upheld and justified federal legislation to
repress the ku-klux conspiracy and outrages,
though l had long ago insisted, as strenuously
as now do, that complete amnesty and gen
eral oblivion OF the bloody, hateful past would
Go more for the suppression, and utter extiuc-
tion of such outrages than all the force bills
and suspension Of habeas corpus ever devised
by man. Wrong and crime must be suppress
ed and punished, but far wiser and nobler in
legislation is the policy by which they are pre-
vented.
From those who support ne in tie South I
have heard but one demand-justice but one
desire-reconciIiation They wish to be
heartily reunited aud at peace with the North
on any terms which do not involve the surren-
der Of their manhood They ask that they
should he regarded and treated by the 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 Tor white and black shall eucour-
age industry aud thrift, and discourage rapaci-
ty and vilainy. They cherish joyful hope,
in which fully concur that between the 9th
of November and tue 4th of March next quite
a number OF Governors and other dignitaneS
who in the absurd name Of republicanism aud
/ loyalty have been for years piling debts and
taxes upon their war-waShed States will follow
the wholesome example of Bullock, ofGeorgia,
and seek the shades Of private life. The dark
or and darker those shades the better fur them
selves aud for mankind, and the hope that my
election may hasten the much desired hesira OF
thIcying carpet baggers has recoucied to the
necessity Of supporting me many who would
otherwise have hesi,ated and probably refused.
Fellow-ctizeus, the depoSed and partially
cNiled Tammauy ring has stolen about thirty
millions from the city Of New York That was
a most gigantic robbery, and hurled lis con-
trivers and abettors from power and spcndor
20 impotency and infamy; but the thieyiug
carpet baggers have stolen at least three times
that amount; stolen it from the already impov-
crished and needy, aud they still haunt their
prosperous yi,laiuy in the highest places of the
land, and are addressed as honorable and ex-
celoncies Applause | think hear a
voice from the honest people Of all the States
declaring that their inquity shall be gainiul
and insolent no longer at the furthest than
the 4th Of March next, by that notional YER
diet pronounced that will cause them 20 " fold
their tents like the Arabs, aud as silently steal
away and that trust will be the cud Of their
stealing at the cost of the good name Of ON
country and the well-being Of her people"