The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-04-16

4
should address to you few words OF
affectionate warning. 1t has been GUS
tomary heretofore only for the great
Presidents, who were conscious of the
love and generation of the people, to
take leave of their country in this SOL
emn form. But, inasmuch as can
hardly be ranked among the Presidents
at ali, and history will probably take
note OF me only as an intruder in that
illustrious line, do not feel myself
bound by those precedents-
My situation in the administration OF
this Office, to which was not elected,
has been one of singular embarrass-
ment. had borne arms for my coun-
try, if not with distinction. at least with
moderate credit. My fellow-citizens of
Ohio. deeming me an inofensive sort of
person, without sufficient force of char
acter to engender enemies, repeatedly
raised me, like wooden image, to the
place of Governor-an Office in that
State of no power and influence. But L
was gratified with these apparent testi-
monials of public favor, and, believing
that no man of real abilities could re-
ceive the nomination al Cincinnati.
was not surprised when the battle of
the Titans ended in the choice of the
p;gmy. And it was well so. A stand
ard-bearer of larger stature would have
been struck, perhaps fatally, by many
missiles which passed harmless over my
head.
My defeat was a cruel disappoint-
ment, and the very large majority of
my opponent added greatly to the
weight of the blow. But owe myself
the justice to state, in this, doubtless,
the last communication the public will
ever receive from me, that l had no
thought then of resisting or reversing
the popular will. Had consulted only
the promptings of my own heart /
would have refused to be party to the
memorable conspiracy which was i'm
mediately formed to substitute the can
didate rejected by the people for the
candidate whom they had elected. So
innocent was Iof the design subsequently
executed that publicly acknowledged
my defeat in candid address from my
own doorstep. and confess that was
profoundly shocked when saw Mr..
Chambers celebrated dispatch boldly
announcing my election hours after my
defeat had been universally known and
conceded. But, as the plot developed,
and only the most agreeable features
were communicated to me, while the
dark details of crime and corruption
were carefully hidden. the scruples
which soon came to regard as mere
personal weaknesses gradually melted
away, and / finally accepted the fruits
Of conspiracy and forgery with compla-
cency and even pleasure.
/ will not recall the history of my in
duction into Office. / wish. indeed, it
might be erased from the memory of
men, and would cheerfully return to
the conscience fund of the Treasury. or
make over to my defrauded competitor,
all that had been saved of his four
years. salary, if that act could restore
me to the state of innocence enjoyed
while yet the harmless Governor of Ohio.
My position after the assumption of
the Presidency, as before said, was one
of peculiar delicacy and difficulty. L
had read attentively the powerful letter
of acceptance by the great statesman
nominated at St. Louis, and inasmuch
as the people had, by large majority,
expressed their approval of its contents,
and was in the occupation of the Of
fee to which its author had been elect
ed, l conceived it to be my duty to effect
some of the reforms therein recon-
mended. But l found myself powerless;
l was not free agent. The Govern
ment was administered in my name,
but / was little more than passive
instrument in the INSCRIPTIONS hands
which had forged the various
links in that so-called chain of til
tie to the office l held. Those men
were not reformers; they had not
brought me into power to forward the
measures enunciated by my late OPP
ponent. 1t was some time before l
fully realized my abject dependence
upon the secrecy and fidelity of the
numerous agents employed in the great
fraud, and meanwhile l was permitted
to amuse the country with certain
promises of reform, which were, how
ever, confined to the Civil Service. At
length even this pretense grew ridicu-
lous. What had intended for reform
Mr.. Sherman calmly converted into the
simple process of turning out his polit-
ical enemies and putting in his friends,
and Mr.. Sherman. as l was early made
to understand, was one of my masters.
loathed in my heart the leprous
criminals who had conceived and exc
cuted the daring frauds in Louisiana
and Florida. But no sooner had l taken
the oath of Office than l ascertained
that nv nearest friends and SPONSORS
had promised them not merely protec-
ton, but high promotion and other re-
wards, and was compelled to execute
those promises under penalty of COM
plete discovery in every shocking detail
of the stupendous crime of which
seem to be enjoying the fruits. 1t is
needless to pursue the narrative 1t is
enough to say that, except one GAIA
nave, who was paid in cash, they were
all = visiting statesmen, Returning
Board knaves. forgers. thieves. secret
negotiators and counsel before the
Eloof<ro1