The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-09-07
THE STANDARD
THURSDAY. - SEPT. =. 1870.
A Speech by William A. Wheeler.


ST. ALBAYs, VI, Aug 25-The Repub-
lican rally, to night. was largely attended
but a heavy thunder shower interlered
somewhat with the original arrangements
and the proposed Illumination The Hon.
VIM. A. Wheeler arrived by special train
from the White Mountains at Ais. On
his arrival salute was fired. At 9p. m.
he was serenaded by the st. Albans
Brigade Band Mr. Wheeler appeared
on the balcony of the hotel, and was in.
troduced by Edward A. Smith as one Of
the noblest statesmen of the Republic.
Mr.. Wheeler spoke as follows:
"REPUBLICANs OF ST. ALBANs-You hon
or the cause of which l Just now am a
prominent Representatives was placed
in nomination as the Republican nomi-
nee for Vice President in the National
Convention by the action Of the States of
Vermont and Massachusetts,. 1t is the
greatest honor Of my life, that the Re
publicans of these States deem me suf-
ficiently grounded in New England faith
to be one of the representatives of their
ideas in the pending canvass. Applause. ]
In the matter Of my faith | trust they
have made no mistake. Applause.
believe in New England; believe in
Plymouth Rock for they are convertible
terms. One of the most gifted of New
England women has said that Plymouth
Rock is no quartz, it is a perfect stone
cut off the mountain without hands, and
hands can not prevent it from becoming
great mountain filing the whole earth
Every church, every school-house, every
town-house, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, has Plymouth Rock for its found
alton stone. Wherever freedom aims a
musket or raises a standard or sings a
song or makes protest, there is Ply
mouth Rock. Freedom, the church, the
school-house, the town-house, these, my
friends, form the very cardinal principles
of the Republican party.
have often thought and said that the
Commonwealth of Vermont compose and
illustrates the complete realization Of the
highest ideal of a Republican form OF
Government. Where else can you find
such general intelligence, the result Of
your free popular system OF education
Where so much of fidelity and economy
in the administration of State affairs
Where SO much respect for the civil
rights Of each and all the people, as in
the State of Vermont2 1t is the mission
Of the Republican party to confer upon
all the people OF this country, in all the
States and in all the Territories, the in
estimable privileges which you, in Yer
mont, enjoy. 1t is duty to which, in
this Centennial year Of our Nation, we
ought to address ourselves with renewed
attention and fidelity.
/ have no purpose here tonight my
friends, to recall the memorable conflict
through which this Nation has passed.
and which made the American arms for
ever illustrious, but let US never forget
the obligations resting upon us to secure
the results of that great conflict for our
selves and those who follow after US !;
and never, my friends, were these obliga-
tions more apparent and imperative than
now We are already engaged i'm another
conflict with the opponents of the party
which saved the Nation, and which to
day protects its integrity and guards its
honor as in 1860.
We are once more, my friends. face to
face with a united South, with the Demo
cratic party of the North as its subservi-
ent and plant ally. In every late slave
State in the Union, where this Confeder-
ate party is dominant, it claims and may
receive l30 votes in the Electoral Col
lege. IL has complete control Of the
Lower House and balance of power in
the Senate. There is not, to-day, in
those late slave States any man holding
Appointment position who was not identi.
fed in the great struggle against the
Government Not even in the State OF
Kentucky can you find a man Ia any 10
sition whatever, who was not engaged on
the rebel side This is the condition OF
the South to-day. have sat for mont hs,
during the last winter, in Congress. 10y
the side OF sixty-one men, who, "a few
years ago, with arms in their hands, were
engaged in the attempt to break up the
Government Now, l have heard these
men defend the hellish atrocities of
Libby and Andersonville, and Salisbury.
/ have heard Lincoln maligned; | have
heard defended the right of Virginia
Justice of the Peace to detain and open
mails of the United States. Can you tell
me. where is the difference in the spirit
which twenty years ago led the Missouri
border ruffians into TX lnsas, and tie
massacre at Hamburg, where a regularly
organized militia company were first dis
armed and then murdered in cold blood,
in order that the white race might assert
their superiority.
Ny official relations have called me
during the past two or three years into
the Southern States and / tell you what
/ know. my friends, of the real feeling Of
the Southern people regarding the Re
construction Acts. They regard the
ence to slavery and the laws TOR the pro
lection OF freedmen as the French Prov
inces did their cession to Prussia at the
point of the bayonet.
1t is to the South, my friends, with
this spirit, and with the Democratic party
of the North as its plant ally, that we
are asked to turn over the Government
of the United STATES, with all its powers
OF legislation, with all its machinery of
taxation. No such proposition for au-
dacity has its parallel in the history of
the country What is the spirit of the
Democratic party2 Do you want to
prove what the Democratic party Of the
North still is Go to Washington and
see fifty coldiers, crippled in the service
of the Union, turned out of the House to
make room for as many rebel soldiers.
This is the evidence of the spirit of the
Northern Democracy.
My friends, We confront the old issue
You must not underrate the strength of
the South and its allies in the North.
You ask me if it can be avoided | tell
you yes. 1t can be avoided in the old
way, and in the old way only. You must
not underrate the strength OF this alli-
ance. / have an abiding faith that the
conscience of the Nation will be suf-
fciently awakened to avert this great
peril. Under the lead of the gallant
Hayes, who periled his life on the field
of battle, modest man, o plain man, a
man who has earned great ability in his
administration of affairs of the great
State of Ohio-under Hayes the Republi-
can party will again achieve a new tri-
umph. Applause.
What shall be your duty in this can
yass2 / tell you freeman of Narmont