Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-06-22
ormer ones, are the most important of

tory authority for any remarks from
the Chair. In the nature of things
there cannot be any. Custom only is
my excuse, if excuse is needed, for
even few words.
In June, 1864, we were in the midst
of the war for the preservation of the
Uniun. We had great armies in the
field, but they had achieved only par
Iial successes, and when successful al
ways at very great cost of life. The
bravest and best of our young men had
fallen in battle by tens and hundreds
of thousands, or were in pri-on at An
dersonville and Libby. President Lin
coin, seventeen months prior to this,
had, by a proclamation, but only as a
war measure, declared the slaves free,
while their masters kept them within
their lines and held dominion over
them. 1t was then modestly suggest
ed by your Chairman of the National
Committee, that the Convention would
not discharge it, whole duty unless,
among its other resolves, it should de-
clare for such an amendment of the
National Constitution as would, when
adopted by the requisite number of
OldtCo, iOiCNCk RBOilCbo oAd-
very ON this continent. The sugges-
| ton was received with unexampled
enthusiasm by the Convention. The
resolution to secure this National bless
ing was written in your platform on
| that day. Both Houses of Congress
very soon after passed the required
amendment. Twenty nine sovereign
States -atified it. The noble Lincoln
| L.. 10 xo L.
and from that hour to this the sun has
not risen upon a bondmen, nor set
upon a slave, in all this fair land. Not
to the North, not to the South, but to
the Supreme Being alone who controls
the destinies of Nations, as well as the
affairs OF individuals, let us give oil the
glory. But all this is past, and the past
we conclude is SECURE.
Pardon me, gentlemen, if again, with
like mOdesty, | make suggestion or
two bearing directly on the present.
This Convention should emphatically
demand the prompt and efficient exc
cution of those solemn promises of both
houses of Congress and the President to
redeem in coin the legal tender obliga-
tions of the Government on the first of
January, 1879, and signifying its oppo-
sition to any modification or repeal of
this law that does not guarantee still
earlier or better method OF returning to
specie payment. Let no doubtful word
go out from this Convention rpOn the
subject of honest money. Prices are
already at specie point. Stand firmly
by your numerous resolutions and plat
forms little longer, and your currency
basis SO easily and so naturally that you
will be yourselves surprised, regretting
only, as you will, that it was not deter
mined on at an earlier day. Resump-
tion accomplished, then in all human
probability will follow ten or fifteen
years of prosperity, equal to that of any
former period-perhaps greater than
the country has yet seen.
If you will in addition put plank
in your platform declaring for such an
amendment of the Constitution as will
extend the Presidential effice TO six
years, and make The incumbent ineligi-
BILE for reelection, yOu...will deserve
the gratitude of the AmeEtean people.
AS the mariner, when tossed for
many days in the thick weather, avails
himself of the first glance of the sun to
ascertain how far the elements have
driven him from his true course, SO in
like manner, at the end of one hun
dred years from the foundation of our
Government, we too have come from
the North, the South, the East and the
West, to take political observation,
for the purpose of amending and i'm
proving our system of National Gov
ernment, so far as improvement is
really necessary and possible. With
this view we have come to this great
and beautiful city of Cincinnati, on the
banks of the grand and placid Ohio,
containing nearly 100000 souls, and
where we now find every luxury that
wealth, nature and art can produce, but
where not even log cabin had been
erected or a white man born when
our Government was organized.
The last three National Conventions
of our party had indicated to them in1
advance the names of the candidates
for the National ticket, so that they
have been little else than ratification
meetings of DEGREES that have been
made by the people, merely putting in
form that which had already been de-
cided upon. allude to President Lin
coins nomination and 10 the nOmina-
tion of the splendid soldier and patriot,
General Grant. But such state OF
things no longer exists. There appears
to be at the present time no one to
whom the unerring finger points as the
only candidate. There seems to be no
man rising so far above all others as to
cause eXultant voices to exclaim,
"Thou art the man." The consequence
is that many distinguished names
among our party friends have been
mentioned as candidates, and will be
brought before the Convention when
proper time arrives for making nomi-
nations. Therefore it is that l have
expressed myself as seeing greater re-
sponsibilities resting on the delegates
to this Convention than on any or all
that have preceded it..
The history of the Republican party
furnishes abundant evidence of its de-
sire that the Government shall be ad-
ministered with honesty and economy,
and as means to that end that civil
service should he elevated by the in
PRODUCTION of all needed and proper re-
forms. With such history, and at
a time like the present, 1t cannot be
doubted that the choice of the COnven-
ton will fall on some one, whoever he |
may be, clearly committed on this
question, not only by his expressed
opinions, but also by his public life and
conduct.
Twill not further anticipate the action
of this honorable body, except to say
that the firm support on the part off
the nominees of all the recent amend
ments to the National Constitution,
and the support and maintainance of all
other principles involved in the war
for the preservation OF the Union must
also be regarded as the prerequisites
for the High offices of President and
Vice President of the United States.
With this accomplished, it W ill be the
highest duty, and should be the greatet
pleasure, for all in authority to extend