Year: 1867




The following is a speech by Governor


Haight, of California, in response TO ser.


enade by his friends:


| My FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS: 1t


would be vain for me to seek after words to


express to you my sense of the partiality
manifested BY You for me during the ex-


citing political contest Just closed. So far


as am concerned, my motive has been to
| promote the interests of this State of my


adoption, and the welfare of our common


country. That my fellow citizens have


given 30 many proofs of their appreciation


of my motives fills me with qualification


and pride, and is of itself full reward for


all the labor and sacrifice of the canvass
Applause.


/ have, throughout the canvass, dis
claimed the idea that any considerable por-
tion of the interest and enthusiasm mani


tested by the mass Of the people was due to


any person or persons upon the ticket of
our party. The masses of the people were


deeply aroused, and achieved this remark
able revolution, because the result involved,
not merely their interests as citizens and
taxpayers, but because it involved also
certain fundamental principles of constitu-
tional government and constitutional lib
erty.


am not now about to enter apon any
discussion of the lessons TO be drawn from
the result of this election. Upon proper
occasion l will advert to these lessons, and
endeavor TO impress them upon the minds
and hearts of the people; but this is not
the time nor occasion for any extended ad-
dress. | will simply say that in this re-
suit we protest against corruption and ex-
travagance in our State affairs-against
populating this fair State with a race of
Asiatics-against sharing with inferior ra-
ces the government ofthe country-against
the military despotism which now exists
at the South under the late act of Congress
and this protest of our echoing the voice of
Connecticut and Kentucky will be re-
echoed in thunder tones by the great Gems
trail States, until the Southern States are
emanciated from negro domination and
restored to their rightful places az equals
and sisters in the great Federal family.
Applause.


Then will the liberties of the people
again be shielded by the guarantees of the
constitution, and the Union be as il was de.
signed to be, perpetual. In our victory we
call upon all friends u good government to
rejoice with us. We indulge in no unmanly
exultations over our antagonists--the mass
of them were as honest and patriotic in
their aims as we were in ours. All of us.
l trust, desire to bury the alterations and
bitterness of the past, and pledge ourselves
anew to cherish as our most priceless pos
session, the Federal Union and constitution,
according to the principles and in the
spirit of our fathers. We have a great
State here, with immeasurable resources to
develop, and glorious country from ocean
to ocean, embracing the expanse of a con-
tinent with every natural advantage
country could possess. Let us devote our
selves to the cause of pure government
here, and shape our policy so as to secure
peace, order, civil government and consti-
tutional liberty to every part of our coun-
try. (Applause.) will not proIong these
remarks further, and you must allow me to
bid You good night. (Applause.)