Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-09-24
mAGoON,s ACCEPTANCE sPEECH.

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we clip the following report of Hon.
H. S. Magoon's speech before the
Republican convention, accepting
the nomination for Congress:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
Profoundly, I thank You for this
token of your confidence and re-
spect. To be named, any time, to
represent the Third District of
Wisconsin in Congress-one among
the Legislators for forty millions of
peoples an honor. But now,
when such competitors as Senator
George C. Hazelton, Col. J. g. Clark,
and Senators Wescott and Francis
Little have come before the conven-
ton, each distinguished for his tai
ents and virtues; now to be chosen
among such able men, before cam
vass doubtful and stormy, is dis
tinction, gentlemen, that places me
under obligations throughout life.
But, deeply | feel that it is not
only an honor. Is it not, also, re-
sponsibility, a vast trust! Gentle
men, does not seat in Congress
mean more than mere office, more
that politics, immensely more than
emolulnents or stepping stone to
fame Properly filled, it means
work, and energy, and statesman
ship, and above all-istegrity. 1t
means, as Cicero would express it
non nobis sol,tm sed ansicis ct patriae
honest devotion, mot only to our
own District, but to our whole
country; and to assure all classes,
so far as craftsmanship can achieve
the result, to be permanently pros
porous. And when | survey those
requisites of true representative,
how wise, how far-seeing and able,
how good man must be he, to
worthily represent you and this
district in Congress, | confess my
personal inability to fill this great
trust. So, if elected, frankly | can
only promise my best eXertions to
advance your interests, and to per-
form all duties with perseverance
to the utmost of my strength. If l
fail, it shall not be in motive, nor
because l shall be willfully unfaith-
full either to principle or to country,
but because | do not possess the
power to grasp and achieve my duty.
By the census in 1870 this district
contained 1871 500 people, OF whom
a large majority are farmers, miners
and those engaged in commercial
pursuits. He, therefore, cannot
properly represent this district who
shall forget these industrial classes,
or who shall neglect to attend faith
fully to their protection and wants.
If elected, it will be my endeayor to
study closely how | can best serve
them, and to do my duty firmly.
The valley of the Wisconsin and its
Improvement, shall not by me be
neglected; nor will | proposely dis
turb the bones of old Marquette by
sighting the interests of the noble
river which he discovered, and
which gives name to our State.
Upon the subject Of finances, IA
subject that for years will demand
the attention of parties and people)
| have bestowed some study, but,
l am not prepared now to state
what policy is free from exception
and objection. But is it not plain,
that is would be unwise to hastily
adopt any policy which will post
pone the resumption of specie pay
ment to a very distant future; or,
that will increase the volume of cur
rency beyond the common necessi-
ties of business While on the
other hand, the immediate compul-
sorry resumption Of specie payments
would certainly produce an enor-
nous shrinkage OF values and d
crash of business interests +; yet, on
the other hand, could we safely
adopt any new system of currency
not properly guarded, or not found
ed honestly and squarely on gold
and silver!
Gentlemen, the recent outrages in
the South, whereby men and women
have been taken from their homes
at night and murdered in cold blood,
not because they are criminals, but
solely because of their political sem
timeuts or color, deserves the seri-
Gus consideration of every patriot.