The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-12-16
politital Sfairs,
Speech Of Hon. HOratio Seymour
int Electoral College at Albany, NeW York,
December 9Th, 1876.

In The Electoral College at Albany, Nep York,
December 9Th, 1876.
MIR. Seymour having been chosen Pres
ident Of the College, on taking the chair,
said
The grave duty of giving, in behalf of this
great State, It's votes for the men its citizens
wish to place in the high Office of President
and Vice President of these United States,
has impressed itself upon the mind of each
elector We feel still more the Importance
of our action, as this Centennial year recalls
the first acts in the struggle which made us
free people, and the events which led to the
formation Of our Union and the adoption Of
its Constitution. Our action at this time ia
one of the transactions necessary to the life
OF our Government, one without which ii
would fall into anarchy and ruin. This day
also reminds US Of the growth of New York.
We represent more millions Of people than
lived in our country when our fathers fought
the battles of the Revolution, or formed the
Government of our Union. The ceremonies
OF the year have excited pride in our coun.
try, its history, and its Government. But
none of these have filled our minds with such
deep sense of the dignity of American citi.
zenship as the political action of the last
month. Upon given day more than eight
millions OF men moving simultaneously in all
parts of this vast country went to the ballot
boxes, and gave the votes which told their
will as to the men who should fill the highest
Offices in our Government. When majority
OF more than three hundred thousand, rem.
resented by the proper number of electoral
votes, declared their choice, all strife ceased
and all cheerfully yielded to the will of the
people. Business began to resume its activi.
ty, public confidence grew still more strong
as we thus happily rounded out the century OF
our existence as a people. By this grand ex.
hibition of this faultless working of the
mechanism of our government we proudly
challenged the admiration of the world.
AT this moment of general congratulation
the people were startled by the assertion that
there had been discovered in remote South.
ern States the exact number Of electoral votes
which would be given to and would elect the
Presidential candidate who was not the choice
of the majority the American people. This
surprise was greater because it was one of
the charges made by the Republicans in the
canvass to excite the minds Of the men ofthe
North that the ''solid South" would support
the Democratic ticket. 1t was also urged
that every Southern State had deep interest
in doing this because they meant to make
demands upon the national Treasury. While
this charge was unjust, no reason can be
given why South Carolina, Florida, and
Louisiana should not act in accord with the
overwhelming majorities of the adjoining
States. The public excitement reached the
highest point when it learned that the men
who proposed to give these electoral votes to
the candidates Of the minority had been for
years past charged with grave crimes, and
that their personal security against legal pun.
ishinent depended upon their success in ialsi-
flying the returns of their States. To them an
honest count meant just punishment. can.
not be charged with partisan prejudice for
any terms of reproach 1 may use in regard to
the officials of Louisiana. | have no words
strong enough to describe their unworthiness
as set forth in official reports made by their
political friends. | cannot, if l would, paint
the aversion shown in the halls of the Capi.
tol by honest Republicans, who Stunned them
as leperous men, whose touch and presence
were poluting. Yet few such men, acting
solely in reference to their personal interests,
and who believe that the blackness of their
crimes strengthens their claims upon the
gratitude Of their party, have thus put in peril
the interests, the honor, and the safety of
satisfaction OF feeling that the dangers that
threaten us are even invested with the or
dinary dignity of danger. The pride Of our
citizens is humiliated, and their feelings of
security under our laws and Constitution are
lessened, when they see that the solemn yer.
dict of eight million voters may be reversed
by less than eight infamous men--men who
have been branded by the leading orators,
statesmen, and journals of their own political
party as vile and corrupt, in terms more Wig
0rous than | can repeat. If under our Con-
stitution the majority of the electoral votes of
the States had been fairly given to the Repub-
lican candidates, although the popular ma
jority is against them, all would have acqui.
esced in their elections. Such results are 20
be regretted, as they do not give administra-
tions the moral powers they should have for
their own dignity and the good of the coun-
try. To elect men to govern the Union
against the will OF the people by unfair
methods is revolution. Such plots involve
anarchy, distress, and dishonor. Those who
engage in them, when they have taken the
first steps, must 90 on at all hazards. They
have staked their political fortunes-it may
be their lives or hberties-upon success.
Fear goads them on to darker acts of trea-
son. The first false step forced reluctant
South into rebellion. In the same way they
now impel desperate politicians who upheld
usurpation in Louisiana in the past to stand
by them now, regardless of the honor and
safety of the American Union. Win free
people trust such men With the reins of
power Win they consent to be dragged
into danger and .dishonor by men who are
goaded on by fears which always haunt the
guilty?
The glory Of this centennial year thus fades
away and darkens into this national shame
and reproach. Aroused patriotism can crush
resistance to law, but corruption kills honor,
virtue, and patriotism, saps the foundations
of society, and brings down the structure Of
States and nations in ruin and dishonor.
We find ourselves confronted at the begin
ming Of the second century of our political ex.
istence with problems as grave as those which
faced our fathers at the outset Of our Govern
ment Have we their wisdom, patriotism,
and yirtae2 This is great crisis In our pub.
lie affairs. Upon the conduct of our people
the world will decide with regard to the char
acter Of American citizens and American
patriotism.
| The events of this day will be recited
! tnrVuBu tue CeutufitS. we are making
chapter in history which will teach eiths
| good or evil TO those who will come after us
| II we have the patriotism to rise above part
interests and passions and 20 do what honest
demands, we shall lift cur people to highe
point in the eyes Of the world and in cor owl
regard than we have ever yet reached
II we fall, when the lessons Of this Centeu
NAL year should teach us virtue; when III
varied interests Of labor, Of arts, Of CON
mercc, and Of capital all urge us 10 line 0
conduct which will inspire the world wit
confidence and ourselves with the highe
sentiments Of honor, then our failure Will |
| a long step toward national decay and degr
datiOn.
q While we implore all classes Of citizens
enter upon the duty Of deciding what shall |
! done 70 avert threatened evils, We respectfu