The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1877-09-13
4 PRESIDENTL.iL SPEECH
Made at the Ohio solhlcrs Reunion,


At the reunion of Ohio soldiers, held
last week at Marietta, Ohio, there was Il
gathering Of thirty thousand people. The
affair went off with much cclat, the vctcr-
ans disbanding again with evident satisfac-
ton with the social feature of the occasion.
After the reception address of the mayor,
President Hayes stepped forward and said:
LADIES, FELLOW CITIZENS AND SURyIy-
oRs OF THE GREAT WAR: | wish that was
prepared to speak suitably ON this Occa-
sion, My friend, Mayor Palmer, in his ad-
dress, informs me that in every speech
made at this great national reunion en-
couragcmcnt has been given to that spirit
of fraternity which it is the desire Of those
associated with me in the administration to
do something during our term Of service to
advance. We do not, in meeting the pco-
pie, propose to discuss any of the great
party questions which divide the people
who honor us with their attcntiun-Qlcs-
tions of administration and economic qucs-
tiOns. We leave these to be discussed before
the people by those who may be appointed
by the respective parties to carry on these
debates. But we do feel that If in visit
ing our fellow citizens in different States
we can add anything to strengthen the
II,
right and proper that we should do il.
[Appausc.l All who are familiar with the
history of our country know tina, one hun
drcd years ago there was no North, no
South. The fathers were one throughout
the whole country. Washington and Jctlcr-
son were side by side With Franklin and
Adams Dan 81 Morgan and his Virginians
marched form Virginia to Boston, They
were at Saratoga, and Nathaniel Greene
and his Continentals wcrc in the CarOlinas.
The whole country belonged to the fathers.
ltisto that state of harmony and fratcrnal
friendship that we desire our countryto re-
turn. We are for the Union as it is, were are
for the constitution as it is, TChccrsI We
are for all the amendments. IA voice,
That's it," Great chccrs.l We want the
citizens Of every State TO feel at home in
every other State. If Il citizen Of Vermont
travels to Georgia or Texas for business or
pleasure we want him TO feel at home in
those States. [Chccrs.l If citizen of
Texas or Georgia travels North we want that
citizen to feel at home everywhere through
out the Union. Now, my friends do not
prOT osc to dctain you; | have made much
longer speech than intended when en-
tered your town, but YOU understand the
purpose. We may make mistakes in meth
DDS, make mistakes in measures, but the
sentiments we would encourage is scnti-
mcnt of nationality throughout the Union.
[Applausc.l We all regard the service OF
that four years war, we regard that period
of four years as the most interesting Of our
lives. We fought thcn-thosc of us who
were in the Union army-fought, as We be-
licved, to make this forever a united people,
forever hereafter II free people, and we re-
joice to-day to believe that those that were
against us in that struggle now are with us
in both of these questions, and will forever
remain with us on both of these questions.
[Chccrs.l And now. my friends, you will
desire to hear from some Of those who are
associated with me in the government, Two
members of the Cabinet are hcrc-Postmas-
ter General Judge Key, Of Tennessee, and
General Dcvcns, Attorney General. They
fought on opposite sides during those four
years: but to-day, and here, they are pre-
pared to fight, If need be, on the same side.
[Grcat Chccrs.l And now | will introduce
you TO Judge Key. am sure he is an able
man; am sure he is an honest mani am
sure he is a patriotic man.