Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-09-30
NO. g..

tinetly as he came down this aisle, with ali the
look OF anxiety and agony in his face. informing
me that guns had opened upon Sumpter. Ire
member that \ week after that time on motion
| OF leading democratic senator, who occupied
seat not far from that position pointing to the
democratic side Of the chamhe-l that We surren-
dered this chamber to several companies of SOL
dIers who had come TO Columbus 10 tender their
services to the imperilled government. They
slept On this carpet and on these sofas and quar-
tered for two or three nights in this chamber.
while waiting for other quarters outside the capi-
tol Here, wherew We had been lighting our poGt-
lcal battles with sharp and severe partisanShip
there disappeared, almost as if by magic all partv
lines, and from both sides of the chamber men
went out to take their place the field Of battle
and l can see now, as l look over the various
seats, where men afterward became distinguished
IN the service, in high rauk, ana nubly served
their constituencies ami honorei themselves we
now come 10 this place while so many are gone
but We meet here tonight, with war 81 far back
IN the distance that 1t is almost half forgotten
memory. We meet here tonight, with
NATION REpEENEp.
We meet here tonight under the flag that we
fought for. We meet with glorious a great
and glorious republic, made grSater and more
glorious by the sacrifices through which the eoun-
try has passed; and, coming here as do tonight
brings the two ends of twenty years together
with all the visions Of the terrible and glorious
the touching and cheerful that have occurred dur
ing that time. | come here, moreover. fell
low citizens 10 thank the general assembly for the
great act of confidence and compliment To me- |
uo not underNalue the great office that YOU have
rendered me yesterday and to-day. But saw
without, think, any mental reservation. thar
the manner in which it was rendered me is far
higher 70 me, far more admirable than the thing
Itself. Inat il has been the voluntary gift Of the
general assembly of Ohio without solicituie
rendered to me because Of their confidence. i rs
touching and high tribute as one can possibly
receive from his fellow citizens, and in the name
OF all my friends, for myself, l give You my
thanks. | recognize the Importance Of the place
TO which You have elected me- and | should be
base If l did not also recognize the great man
whom You have elected me to succeed | say
tor hlm that Ohio has had few larger minded
broader minded men in the record of her history
than that of 4. &. Thurman. Applause Diff
tering widely from him, as l have done. in poll
ties, yet do | recognize him as a man high in
character and great in intellect, and | take this
occasion to refer to what l have never before ~
terrHd to in public; that many years ago
IN THE STORM or PARTY FIGHTING.
when the air was filled with all sorts of missiles
AIMED at the character and reputation of public
men, when II was even for his party intercs, to
join in the general clamor against me and NV as
soelates, Sen. Thurman said in public in the cam
palgn, on the stump, where we rs likely to say
unkind things as at any place in the world against
each other, most generous ami earnest word of
defense and kindness for me which shall never for
get so long as live. [ApplauSe.l say moreover
that the flowers that bloom over the garden wall
Of party politics the sweetest and most fra
grant that bloom in the gardens Of this world
lapplause and where we can fairly pluck them
and enjoy their fragrance it is manly and delight
tul to do so. And now, gentlemen Of the general
assembly, without distinction Of party | rccoy-
nize this truth and compliment made to me to-
night Whatever my own course in the future
large share of the inspiration of my future
public lite will be drawn from this occasion and
these surroundings, and l shall feel anew tho
sense of obligation that / owe to the state of
OHIO. Let me venture TO point single sentence
IN regard to this work. During the twenty
years that have been in public life almost eigh-
teen OF 1t IN the congress of the United States
have tried to do one thing. Whether was mis-
taken or otherwise, it has been plan of my life
to
FOLLOW MY CONVICTIONS
at whatever personal cost to myself. | ha yc re
presented for many years district in congress.
whose appreciation | greatly desired but-a-
though 1t may seem perhaps little egOtiStical 10
say it, desire still more the appreciation of one
person, and his name was Garfield. daughter
and applause) lie is the only man that i am
compelled to sleep with. Qaughter) and eat
with. and if | couldn't have had his appreciation
should have had bad companionship (renewed
laughter and applause) and in this large con
stituency which has called me to represent their
views, can oHly 40 Wnat Is true 10 my best sell,
applying the same rule, and ii should
be SO unfortunate as to lose the conf
dence OF this large constituency ] must 10 what
every other fair minded man has 10 do--carry his
political life in his hands and take the c0nse- |
quences. But must follow out what seems to
me to be the only safe rule of my lite and with |
that view of the ease, and with that much of ref
erence ! leave the subject
Fellow citizens, members of the general assem- |
and democrats although par
ty man as | am, I thank you both for what you
have done, and for this cordial and manly
greeting, bid you good night CLong continued
applause.)
Congress adjourned in March, and
Gen. Garfield served until then as Il
member of the house-Senator Thur
mans time not being out until the end
of that session. But Gen Garfield was
not destined to occupy a seat in the
senate. Before the meeting of congress
again, the republican national conven-
ton met at Chicag and on June Sth,
1880, after q long contest between other
candidates, Gen. Garfield was nominat-
ed for the Office Of president He re-
ceived on the Seth ballot 399 votes. to
306 for Grant, AZ for Blaine, 3 for Sher-
man and five for Washburn. The dem
ocrats nominated Gen. Winfield Scott
Hancock, and the canvass was one Of
the most hotly contested in the history
of the country. The popular vote
stood, according to the best informa-
ton, Garfield, 4,41, ,184; Hancock,
4,425, ,121; Weaver (Greenbs cker), 302,-
854; scattering, 10,606 Garfield re-
ceived 217 electoral votes and Hancock
152. Gen. Garfield was declared elect
ed, and on the 4th of March, 1881, he
was sworn into Office as president of
the United States. he having some
time previously resigned his position
both as member of congress and United
States senator elect. On the End of
July, while at the Baltimore * Potomac
depot in Washington, waiting to take
a train to Long Branch to see his sick
wife, he received the fatal ball from
the pistol of the assassin.