The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-04
Courr.,uia,lur 0ars.cId.
THE ONO ELECTORS VISIT MESToR--A SPEC
BY THE PREgDExT-ELECr.


CLEVELAND, o., December 2.-0bio's
twenty.two electors, accompanied by Gov
ernor Foster, Secretary. of.State Barnes,
State Treasurer Turvey, and other officials,
visited Mentor this morning to pay formal
call upon General Garfield. During the
visit, and 10 response TO On address by Gen.
eral Grosvenor I'm tueir behalf, General
Garfield addressed them, as reported, IN
the following language;
| am deeply grateful TO you for this call,
aud Tor these personal and public congrai'
ulations. IL | were to look upon the late
campaign aud its results merely In the light
OF presidential struggle and personal
success. II would probably be as gratifying
as anything could be In the history OF poll-
tics. II my own conduct during the CAM
paign has been in any way belD and
strength TO our cause, am glad. IL Is not
always an easy thing 10 behave well. III,
under trying circumstances. my behavior
as a candidate has met your approval, am
greatly gratifed.
But the larger subjects-your congratula-
tions 10 tue country on the triumph OF The
Republican party-0pens theme TOO vast
for me to enter upon now. venture, now
ever, TO mention reflection which has oc'
CURED 10 me IN reference to The election OF
Yesterday. suppose that no political event
has happened IN all the course OF the con-
test since the early spring which caused so
little excitement, and, indeed. so little pub
lie observation, as the presidential election
which was held Yesterday az midday.
The American people paid but little
attention to The details OF the presiden-
tia election, and for very signit-
oil
members OF the Electoral College had
an absolute constitutional right to vote for
anybody you chose, and although no writ
ten law directed or suggested your choice,
yet every american knew that that SOW
ertign OF The repuDlic--tbe nine million OF
yoters-ou an early day In November bad
pronounced the omD:p0tent fiat OF choice,
and that sovereign, assuming as done that
which be bad ordered 10 be done, entertained
no doubt that bis will would be implicitly
ODE; ed by all The colleges in all the States.
That i, the reason why The people were so
serenely quiet yesterday. They had never
YET found an American who failed TO keep
hls trust rs presidential elecr0r.
From this thought draw The lesson that
when that omnlpOtent sovereign, the Ame.
rican people. speaks to any one man and or
ders him 10 do duty, that man is under the
most solemn Obligations OF obedience which
can be conceived-eXcept that which the
God OF the universe might impose upon
BIN. Yesterday. through your votes aOd
the votes OF others in the various States OF
the Union. il is probable tthe returns will
show that our great political sovereign
had laid his command upon me. II he
bad done so | am as bound by his
will and bis great Inspiration and
purpose as could be bound by any con-
sideration that this earth can impose upon
any human being. In that presence |
stand, and am awed 10y the majesty and
authority OF such command. In so far as
! can interpret the best aspirations and pur-
poses OF our august sovereign, / shall seek
TO realize them. You al |, and those who
have acied with us IN The years past, believe
that our sovereign loves liberty, and de-
sires for all be inhabitants OF the IT pubic
peace and prosperity under the sway OF
just and equal laws.
Gentlemen, / thank you for Il is visit,
for this welcome, for The suggestions that
your presence and your words bring. and
for the hope that you have expressed that in
the ardu0us and great work before us we
may maintain the standard of nationality
and promote all that Is good and worthy in
this country, and during tue coming four
years we may raise iu>, as large a crop Of
peace, pro, perity, justice, liberty, and cul-
ure az 1t is possible for fOrty.nine million
Df people to raise.
Governor Foster presented the visitors
10 General Garfield. After an interchange
VI greeting six hours were passed In IN
formal social intercourse, when the COM
pany returned here and dispersed. Coy
oGnOr Foster remained at Mentor.