The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-18
PALMER's PATENT BOOM.
A New Democratic Candidate for
the Presidency.
He Antagonizss Meme ant VIII Support Any.
one, Especially Himself-He Selects
the Republican Nominee, and
Speaks Very prettlIy, In
deed, on General
Topics.

SPRINGFIELD, March 1.-THE John N.
Palmer club held a public meeting to,
night at the Court House, which was
crowded with the citizens OF Springfield,
irrespective OF party, and those Democrats
from abroad now in the city. Ex.Gover-
nor John NJ. Palmer delivered an extend
ed address, at which he accepted the posi-
tion Of a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for President. He said he
did not disparage or antagonize any Of the
great men mentioned for the position, and
would pledge the support of the club and
the Democracy OF sanagsmon and Hi.
nois in support OF the Democratic
nominee, whoever he may be.
He said we will labor most earnestly to
make the union OF the States perpetual,
the constitution and laws supreme, and
the rights and liberties OF every human
being within the limits OF the Union se-
cure under their benign rule. 1 do not
say, and would be irresponsibly sad, II I
believed the Democrats alone are attached
to the principles OF Republican liberty,
but am compelled to declare that the
great body Of the Republican party are so
blinded by prejudice, engendered by civil
war. and persistency, kept alive
by their leaders, that they do not
see that while they are aiding TO subject
the country to the despotic will OF recll-
less political majority they are subverting
the liberties Of all. 1t was palpable in
1874 that General Grant was unequal as
well as Indifferent to the civil duties OF
the chief magistracy. 1t was then fore
seen by the thoughtful that II he was re-.
elected his second term would be charac-
terized by corruption and prohigacy. The
Republican party was invited, Greeley
aud Sumner and Schurz and Trumbull
and others who were amongst the
founders OF the party, to resist
Grantism, which was then, as now,
well defined and dangerous element in
American politics. 1t refused to oppose
Grant and he was reelected and his sec
ond administration affords abundant ma.
terial for chapters disgraceful to Ameri-
can character. II had the selection OF
the Republican candidate for the Presi-
dency / would choose General Grant. He
hlluueu " blhluet peCietdiy CueIL Luhu anu
Washburne in terms OF reproach for their
delinquencies in various respects as citi-
zens. He referred to the doctrine OF State
sovereignty as the bulwark Of the Nation
and concluded as follows:
But while we contend for the mainte.
nance Of the rights and powers OF the
States, we must not forget that the govern
ment created by the Constitution OF the
United States was established by our
fathers in order to form more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fence, promote the general welfare and
secure the blessings Of liberty to the
American people forever.
The objects OF the government are ma
tional, and it was designed to effect ma
ational ends alone; that the government,
its powers rightly understood, ought not
to be and is not an object Of jealousy to
the Democratic party. In my judgment
the contest OF 1880 is not less important
than that Of 1850; and may be permitted
in the presence OF this club to say that as,
in 1850 and the subsequent years OF our
great national struggle in resistance to
secession, gave my best efforts in the
cause OF Federal unity. am prepared to
unite with the great Democratic party and
exert myself with equal energy and no less
zeal to support the rights Of the people to
the blessings Of q regulated constitutional
liberty.