The Van Buren press., 1873-06-17

number of citizens, serenaded Gov. Baxter at
the State-house. This serenade has been
spoken Of ever since the decision of the Su-
prcme Court refusing TO grant quo udrrdHto
against the Executive, and last night was
carried out, The Governors respone breathes
spirit of justice which will be as heartily
cheercd by the people of the State as his pre-
vious effort. to tighten their burdens In this
address the Governor gives renewed assur-
ances ofhis intention OF being the Governor,
not of a party but Of the whole people. The
following is the address of Gov. Baxter in
full:
SPEECH OF GOV. BAXTER.
Fello,r- CitiEens-lt is with no ordinary
emotions that | accept the compliment you
have paid me Tonight in this very gratifying
ovation. Allow nae therefore, TO return you
INV profound thanks for this exhibition OF
your confidence and esteem, which hope
and believe is but a public expression of the
sentiment of the good people of this entire
State who | am sure have given me their
sympathies in my humble efforts to defend
the honor and dignity of my position, and to
maintain and preserve intact the Constitution
and laws OF our State and the rights and lib
critics ofthe people.
flattering tribute of mere personal praise or
commentator to myself | may have warm
personal friends in this large assemblage,
who would delight in extending me the hom-
aye of personal regard. But such is not the
sentiment, | know, that has prompted this
large and spontaneous outpouring of my fell
low scitizens OF all political parties and of all
colors races anu conditions. The sentiment
that has given birth to this ovation, and
which | believe peryades the hearts of all
good men in our beloved Commonwealth, il
higher and deeper aud more profound than
one OF mere personal homage. 1t is that deep
rooted sentiment Of love and veneration for
the Constitution and for the supremacy ofthe
civil law and order which exists in every
patriotic heart, whether that heart beats in
the breast of a republican or democrat, or
whether the outer covering that conceals the
Jewel within be black or white.
| know, my fellow-citiZens, that this occa-
sion is intended as an exhibition and express
sion of your sympathies with me in the trials
through which we have passed, and of con-
gratulatons for the signal triumph which
attended my humble efforts aud your faithful
and devoted cooperation TO preserve the
honor and maintain the integrity of the con-
stituted authorities Of the land. | will not
dwell upon the efforts that have been made to
onst me and reyolutonize the State. 1t
would be- perhaps. in bad taste to mar the
pleasure aud happiness of the occasion by
giOheting the men who have been 50 long and
assiduously engaged in plotting treason and
cOnspiring the overthrow not only of myself
but Of the State government. Let it suffice
to say that know these designs to have been
reasonable to the government and destruc-
tive 10 the best interests of the people. But
they have been balked in their purpOs es and
disappointed in their expectations, Nor is it
necessary for me to allude at length to the
embarraSsments have encountered in con-
fronting these desperate and wicked men.
Beset with spies and foes in my own political
camp, deserted by many who ought to have
been my friends, and whose counsel and aid
ought to have been cheertully given deemed
it wise and prEdcnt to call to my aid some
who were not of my own household of DO
litical faith and upon whose friendship had
no special claims
! will not on this occasion call up any of
those TO me. sad and unpleasant memories of
the recent conflict. We have met tonight
not to denounCe treason and traitors. but to
celebrate the triumph OF patriotism and law
not TO gibbet traitors and taithess friends
but to raise alOit the beautiful standard of
peace and good will toward all men, bearing
the civic crown of constitutional freedom,
sanctied and blessed with the grateful offer
ings OF patriotism and the jubilces ofa free
and happy people.
o., /
swore upon the Holy Evangelist to execute
faithfully and impartially the duties of the
high Office with which was invested and in
trusted, made no idle or unmeaning vow
which might discard as interest or conven-
ienee might east That oath | not only
repeated with my lips but treasured up in my
heart OF hearts, for knew is had been treas
ured up in the great book Whoss seals will
not be uuloosed until the last Qsy. and that
hn | \ tu,,
people, would hold me to strict accountable
ty for the manner in which | should dis
charge its obligations. Since my introduction
into the gubernatorial Office. | have discharged
every duty imposed upon and executed every
trust Coniidcd to me with a sacred and relioi- !
ous regard for that oath; and whenever in
any Instance or under any circumstances Il |
question or duty has been presented to my
Involving the sanctity and OBJ !
legation Of that oath have never hesitated
for one single mcnent TO obey the voice Of
conscience, even though IL may sometimes
have been against the interest OF political
friends, or strong partisan considerations
Perhaps may have been over Jealous, or rs !
some would say. too stubborn in such matters !
But such are my religious scruples such my
OF right and duty. | could not
have acted otherwise without compromising
my sclf-respcct, and making me an object of
to my own better feelings and in
tcrcsts
know there are some who doubt the sin
cerlty of these professions, believing as they
do that | consented to he inausurated gov !
ernor OF the State when in their opinion |
another was elected, In regard to that mat
ter | have to say that the validity of nay cleo |
ton has been submitted TO every tribunal in |
the land suspected of having power and ca
pdcity to determine upon it ; and further, that |
II there was any fraud in my election, or the |
method adopted 10 declare my election | was
neither cognizant of or priyy to any such
wrong doing | have no doubt. as | am free |
to confess, that frauds were perpetrated in the
conduct OF the late general election-frauds |
doubtless, by all political parties, and to some
extent In almost every county. This, untor- !
II no rare or uncommon occurrence
In the states of the South since reconS true
ton. IN such cases we can look only TO the
authoritative declarations of legal and COM
petent authority for our title to any Office
which may be adjudged US. Had my COM
petltor in the late campaign been duly de- |
clared elected by the lawful authority of the |
land, and inducted into etlice, no man in the
State would have been more ready or willing |
than myself to recognize his title and res pcct |
his authority. And recognizing as | do the |
sanctity and authority of law, with equal |
would | have submitted to a con |
test with my competitor before the Legisla- |
turc, and on all occasions when this matter
was talked OF As likely to come before that
body, did express my entire readiness and |
Willingness for such a contest. But. for rca- |
sons which were at least satisfactory to large |
majority Of the House of Representatives of |
both political parties, when that question was
presented for their consideration they, with |
a very remarkable unanimitv, declared |
AGAINST allpWiDu sutb h.,