The New York herald., 1876-12-06
Mr.. SEYMOUR CHOSEN PRESIDENT.
His Address on the Issues and
Perils OF the Hour.
The Ohio, Nebraska and Massa-
chusetts Electors.


appeared Clerks desk and the Secretary OF State
administered the constitutional oath, under which the
soctor declared no had been guilty OF bribery Of
voters They also signed their names to this oath.
This proceeding occdpicd about half an hour, and
when completed the Secretary OF State announced that
all tho electors present except James II. Ho
dane and asked the pleasure OF the College TO ing
the vacancy.
Augustus Scheil moved the appointment OF COM
mittec OF three 10 select suitable person to be
baiio,ed for al the vacancy referred to. Carried.
Augustus Schell, James McQuade and Daniel b. St.
John appointed said committee and they retired
to an adjoining room aud returned in few minutes
reporting tho name OF Alexander f. Orr Of New York
On motion the College then proceeded to ballot for an
ecctor ill tho vacancy causcd by tho absence Of
Holdane, 7. 0. Cable and silas Clark acting as lcers
Alter tho ballot the tclers reported thirty votes
cast. an which wcro cast for Alexander 4. orr.
The Secretary Of State announced the choice Of Mr.
Orr. and that gentleman took the oath.
Tho Secretary OF State then declared tho College
complete and stated that was in order to proceed to
choose permanent organization.
Dewitt @. West moved tnat Horato Seymour be
chosen President OF the College. Carried with ap-
pausc.
Messrs Yves; and Abel were appointed committee
TO conduct the President to the chair
Afcr this dono Mr. Gardiner, OF New York,
moved that James McQuadc, oil Oneida county, be ap-
pointed Secretary. Carried.
Mr.. Perry, Of Albany, moved that Oswald Otton-
doricr be also appointed Secretary Carried.
President Seymour then proceeded 10 address the
College as iollows:--
MR.. sEyMouRs SPEECH
The grave duty OF giving behalf OF this great State
Its votes oT the men It's citizens wish TO place The
high Office OF President and Vice President OF these
United States, has inn itself upon the mind OF
clector. We feel still the Importance OF our
action this cen :enn,a year recalls the first acts IN
lhc struggle which free people and tho events
which led 10 tho formation oil Union and the adop
non OF its constitution. onr action al this
lime Is one OF tho transactions necessary
10 the lilo OF our government; one without
which II would lall INTO anarchy and ruin. This day
also reminds us of The growth OF New York. We
represent more millions oi people tnan lived in our
country wien our fathers fought the battles OF the
revolution or formed the governments oil our Union
The ceremonies ol the year nave excited pride
country lis history and its government. But mono OF
these have filled our minds with such deep sense OF
the dignity Of American Citizenship as tue political
action Of tho last month Upon gwen day more
than S,0O0000 o men, moving simultaneously in all
parts OF this country, went to the ballot boxes
gave the which told their will the
Who shonid NIL The highest Offices ia our
30u,00O represented by the proper number of
electoral votes, declared their choice. all strife
ceased and all chccriully yielded to the VIII OF the
people business began To resume its activity, public
cvnndcLcc grew sin more strong as We thus happily
rounded out the century OF existence people.
tue mechanism oi our government we proudly chai-
lengcd the admiration OF the world
PROBLEM
We ind ourselves confronted ut tho beginning OF tho
stco century OF our political cxstenco with prob
lens grave ss those which faced our fathers at the
outset OF government. Have their wisdom,
PATRIOTISM ana virtuey This Is grca. crlsis IN
pucllc affairs. Upon the conduct Of our people tho
world viii decide with regard to the character Amer
lean citiZeus and American patriotism.
The events OF this day wiii DO rectod through the
centuries. We are making chapter IN history which
4 .tf fI.nrn nrp n
after III we have The patriotism TO rise above party
interests and passions and 10 40 what honesty de-
mands shall In our people 10 higher poinl tho
eyes OF the world anu IN our own regard than we have
ever yet reached
II We aii when the lessons OF this centennial year
should teach virtue; when the varied interests Of
ator OF arts, OF conmcrcc and OF capital all urge
t. line OF copduct which VIII INSPIRE tho world with
confidence aud ourselves with the highest sentiments
o honor thea our failure viii be ong step toward
national Il, cay aud degradation.
OFFICE HOLDERS CAMPAIGN
There is darker phase oi tho Inst election The
admins sent uut Cabinet officer to take charge
o. Inc canvass behalf Of the republican party. HIS
very position at the head OF us managing Committee
mnue a forced loan upon nearly luU, TOO Official depend
Il proclaimed To them IN ouucr tones than words,
..lnu must work. You must vote. You must pay 10
u the election OF candidate who declares himself In
lavor o ciyI service reform IL told them that VI,
believing ana hctns upon ms assurance thcy followed
fncir convictions anu voted fUf his opponents,
they would he punished Ny the loss OF their POSITIONS
They were forced IN thousands Of cases 10 submit TO
cN,orion with snng faccs, but with heavy hearts.
~ il IKE Intimidation hnd been used IN a Southern
state would have been seized upon by tho admins
mw ior arrcs,ng aud in.prsouipg every sus.
pcclci citizen. II Is due The best class
lcaucrs and Journals OF the republican party
say ,hul they rretcste, against tins indcccncy. But
such acts did stop With mere imprvprie,cs. They
rlmncd violation 81 the spirit OF the laH. In its
pluous journals. ana IN us speeches, that parry
declared rs decsaion OF such abuses and ITS purposes
10 thcn. Al The las OF Congress IL
mad, IL. crime punishable with imprisonment and
rcprivaion OF olbn, 10 levy assessments upon Office
hoidci Tor poiica purposes IL limited tue punish
mcnts class OF officials, BECAUSE under lle
sIluion those hodng her positions by the appoint
mcnt of the President and senate coui constiiu-
tivnaily Dc removed ironl Their Offices by such
enactment iIui n,ncr moral offence in h lgher
onicials punishable by the impressive process OF
impcachment Here ccnical dilicutics hinder
me punishment OF ,hls cr,c against political morals
ar public welfare. No ono doubts denies thai such
assessments were made with the knowcdgc and con-
sent of the committee.
rnE GRAVITY OF rms OFFENCE
is made gross by the fact tnat at the last session
oil Congress- when 1t was proposed 10 reduce the pay
OF officials, IN order to relieve the industry OF the
coHnry IRON the burden OF taxation, u was resisted
by the republicans upon tho ground that this could
not be done without INJURY TO the public service Yet
We National Republican Committee reducing
thor pay by assessments for partisan purposes ami
dvcrtlng tho money paid 10 them from the pubic
Treasury to enable them 10 serve the people faithfully,
and thus, as declared by the solemn aciion OF Con-
Ercss, disabling them from doing their duty TO the Re-
pubic About these Iscts there IS no dispute. Tue
public nnd Is agitatcd by conflicting statements with
regard 10 tho conduct OF the republican canvassns
officers N the remote southern states Do not the
aciS " tHc Hcdus W tnc oif"Ht1atioh, ""hc uhuct
eyes, throw light upon those disputed points,
ii morals ,iolatcu a: the fountain head In the
North were they respected by men OF worse than
doubtful character at the Southy Those men, ny their
call upon the general administration Tor It's armed
forccs proclaimed 30 tho world their dependence upon
IT'S power and their servituuc to its wishes The head
OF tho republican committee hold The double position
OF Cabinet Minister advising and directing she action
OF government anu at the same time managing the
machinery OF a party Thus ut exciting election
She government OF tbs Union openly allied itself with
party gave II power OF coercion It's officials, 10
violation OF the spirit OF the laws against
INTIMIDATION BRIBERY.
II did just what II charges against the people OF the
South. What lessons oi law and morals and OF duty
dd such example teach these dependent officials IN
louisiana These questions must press themselves
upon the minds and conscicnces oi every honest man.
Jplii We ponder well vi wnnt know OF tho can
vass at the North cannot judge wisely with regard
10 IT'S character at The South Wero OF bad reputa-
on, acting under the Influences OF interest and
passion tempted TO violate duty ana morals by the
example oi a committee headed by Cabinet officer