Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-08-09
MIR. HENDRICKS NOTIFIED.
Response of the Democratic Candidate TO
the Vice. Presidency.


the Yice-Presidency.
The committee of notification
called on ex-Gox. Hendricks at Sar-
atoga and gave him formal notifica-
ton of his nomination. In reply
Mr.. Hendricks said:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen OF
the Committee cannot realize
that man should ever stand in the
presence of a committee represent
ing a more august body of men than
that which you represent. In the
language of another, the convention
was large in numbers, august in
culture and patriotic in sentiments,
and may / not add to that that be-
cause of the power and the great
ness and the virtues of the party
which 1t represented it was itself in
every respect very great conven-
lion. Applause. They came
clothed with authority to express
the judgment and opinion upon all
these questions which are not set
tied by constitutional law for the
purpose of passing upon these ques-
lions and selecting a ticket for the
people.
That convention assembled they
decided upon the principles that
they would adopt as a platform !;
they selected the candidates that
they would propose to the party for
their support, and that conventions
work was theirs. l have not reach
ed the period when it is proper for
me to consider the strength and
force of the statement made in the
platform. 1t is enough for me to
know that il comes at your hands
from that convention addressed to
my patriotic devotion, addressed to
the democratic party. Applause
j appreciate the honor that is done
me. / need not question, but at
the same time that / accept the
honor from you and from the con-
vention. l feel that the duties and
responsibility of the office rest upon
me also. / know that sometimes it
is understood that this particular
Office, that of vice-president, does
not involve much responsibility,
and as general thing that it is so /;
bat sometimes it comes TO represent
very great responsibilities, and it
may be so In the near future, for at
this time the senate of the United
islntes stands almost equally divid-
cd between the two great parties,
and it may be that those two great
parties shall so exactly differ that
The Vice-pIesident of the United
States shall have to decide upon
questions of law by the exercise Of
the casting vote. Applause.
The responsibility would then be-
come very great /; il would not then
be the responsibility of representing
Il state or district; it would be the
responsibility of representing the
whole country, and the obligation
would be TO the judgment OF the
whole country, ana that vote when
thus cast would he in obedience to
the Just expectations and require
ments Of the people of the United
States. 1t might be, gentlemen,
that upon another occasion great
responsibility would attach TO this
office; it might occur that under
circumstances some difficulty
don't think 1t will occur the next
election, but it may occur under cir
cumstances of some diificulty-the
president of the senate will have TO
fill his part in the counting of the
ELECTORAL vote; and allow me to
say that that duty is not to be. dis
paraged in obedience to any set OF
men or any party, but in obedience
TO higher authority. Applause.
Gentlemen, you have referred to
the fact that l am hOnOred by this
nomination in very special degree.
L accept the suggestion that in this
candidancy i will represent the
right of the people to choose their
own rulers; that right that is above
all others, that lies beneath all. III
they are denied the right to choose
their own officers according to their
own judgment, what shall become
of the rights of the people at all ?
What shall become of free govern
ment? If the peOgle select not their |
officers how shall they control the
laws, their administration and their
execution, so that, in suggesting
that In this candidacy l present |
that right of the people az you have !
suggested, great honor has deyOl-
we'd upon me by the confidence of
the convention. AS soon as it may |
he convenient and possible to do so,
/ will address you more formally in !
respect to the letter you have given !
Inc. | thank you gentlemen.