The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-07

committee: 1 cannot realize that a
man should ever stand in the presence
of a committee r. presenting a more
august body of men, than that which
YOU represent. In the lang uage of
another. the convention was large in
number, august in culture, and patrl-
otic in sentiment; and, may | not
add-to that-that because OF the
power and the greatness, and virtues
and the party which it represented, it
was itself, in every respect,
"a very great convention,
| [Applause]. The delegates came from
all the states and territories and, be-
lieve, too from the District OF Column
bia. They came clothed with authori-
ty to express judgment and opinion
on all these questions which are not
settled by constitutional law; for the
purpose of passing on these questions,
and selecting ticket for the people.
| That convention assembled. They
decided on the principles that they
would adopt as platform. They Sc
lected the candidates they would pro-
pose to the party for their support,and
that convention work was theirs. |
L have not reached the period |
when it is proper for me |
to consider the strength and |
force of the statements made in the |
platform. 1t is enough for me to
know that 1t comes at your hands,
from that convention, addressed to
my patriotic devotion to the demo-
cratic party, [Applause.l | appre-
ciate the honor that is done me, and
need not question but, at the same time
that accept the honor, from you, aud
from The convention, feel that the
duties and responsibility of the office
rest on me also. l know that some
times it is understood that this parti-
cular office-that of vice-preSident-
does not involve much responsibility,
and, as a general thing, that is
so; but sometimes, it comes to
represent very great esponslbilities
and, it may be so, in the near future.
For, at this time, the senate Of the &;
United States stands almost equally I
between the two great parties, t
and 1T may be that those two great {
vice president of the United States [
shall have to decide on questions OF
law by the exercise of the casting
vote. Applause.l The responsible I
ty would then become very great. 1t '
would not then be the responsibility t
Of representing a state or district.
1t would be the respon- I
sibility of representing the whole
and the obligation !
would he to the Judgment of the t
whole country, and that vote, when
thus lost, would be in obedience to '
the just expectations and require t
ments of the people of the United i
States. 1t might be, gentlemen, that t
on another occasion great responsible I
lty would attach to this office. 1t
might occur that, under circumstances
Of some difficulty don't think it
will be next election-but it may oc
cur under circumstances of some diff
Iiculty--the president of the senate {
will have to take his part in the I
counting of the electoral vote; and al '
low me to say that the duty is not to {
be disparag9d in obedience to a higher +
Applause.
Gentlemen, you have referred to r
the fact that l am honored by this (
nomination in very special degree.
accept the suggestion that, in this [
candidacy, will represent the rights {
Of the people to chose their own {
rulers; that right is above all, and 3
lies beneath all. If they are denied ?
The right to chose their own officers,
according to their own judgment,
what shall become of the rights of
The people at all? What shall
become of free government,
# people select not their officers I
How shall they control the laws, or a
heir administration, and their execu- U
ion; so that in suggesting that, in
his candidacy, L represent that right
IF the people-as you have suggested s
"a great honor has devolved on me s
by the confidence of the convention. +
As soon as it may be convenient
md possible to do so, L
will address you more
formally in respect to the letter you
nave given me. 1 thank you, gen r
leman. y
At the close of Mr.. Hendricks re- =
marks applause was given and he was =
to each member of the a
committee, and general hand shak- l.
ng followed, after which the people y
'aid their respects to Mr.. Hendricks
md then quietly dispersed. I