Year: 1868




the platform. That portion relating to suffrage was
proposed by Senator Bayard, OF Delaware, and IN
natter l have given II to you to show how cor
daily our democratic friends OF the North sympathize
with U.s. and further 10 snow now tnat they can be
relied on to stand by us until our rights are fully


At this point the despatch from Montgomery an
nouncng the. veto OF the Electoral College bill by
Governor Smith was handed to Mr.. Langdon, which
was read to the audience by the president exciting
much laughter ana applause. Inc portion reiating
TO the antics Of Mr. Coon particularly excited much
merriment.


Mr. Langdon continned-For the information OF
my old line whlg friends present. as well as in Justice
to the memory Of an old friend, wish II distinctly
understood that the Coon referred 10 IN the
Il not "that same old coon which ied US 10 vdctory
In the ever memorable contest OF l840 That glorious
"od coon" was native Southerner, nellher carpet
Dagger nor scalawag and no Kin Whatever 10 TUG
animal now cavOrting In the Montgomery menagerle'
But TO return. have given you history OF the Plat
10rins, ana now OF the nominations. You know now
they were accomplished That after twentyone inef.
fectuai ballots, during which not an unkind WORD
was uttered, Horatio Seymour was UNANIMOUSLY
nominated amid the widest enthusiasm, and thai
Francis +. Blair was on the first ballot nominated
for Wee President. These nominations have
all sections of the country ana have no doubt VIII
be triumphantly elected. We have the noblest plat
form ever presented and candidates worthy Of the
platform. Both platform and candidates are en-
trey acceptable TO the South--indeed, all could
ask. And now what are we to dor And here per-
nit me TO remark that this canvass must be con-
Quoted by us OF the South with the greatest prudence
and crcumspection. This battle Is to be mainly
fought and decided by our friends in the North We
must bear this constantly mind and keep constant
guard on speech ana act lest by imprudence from
excitement we furnish the enemy with weapons 10
be used against the democratic party 1t Is charged
by the radicals that the South is rebeious STILL and


If restored would naugurate another civil war; that
secession Is not abandoned; that the lives of
Union men are not safe here; that we hate and
persecute the negro and would re-establish
slavery. These charges sInnquaIiiedly and basey
false as we know them all to be-furnish
the radicals with their entire capital for the
prosecution OF this canvass. Deprive them OF this
and their defeat Is easy and certain Our friends OF
the North are exceedingly anxious on tins subject.
They appeal to us not to load them with any burdens
in the prosecution OF this campaign. They appealed
10 me In New York:-Say to your yeope, you have
for three years borne up with a patience, foritude
and forbearance that command the admiration or
the world under the unparalleled tyranny that has
been imposed upon you. Practice the same sublime
virtues but four short months more-bear, forbear
and endure, and rest assured deliverance Will surely
come. win we not heed this appeal? 1t comes from
friends. And now let me appeal to those who may
be called on to speak to ihe people to say as ,te as
BILE daring OF our heroes. 1t Is not necessary either
to the memory of the noble dead or to the reputation
OF the gallant living. Both are enshrined IN our
heart OF hearts, But the war Is ended and our mission
and the mission Of our party now Is, peace-peace
sections. "Tet us have peace" The charge Of hos,
tility to Union men Is one on which our enemies
greatly rely to influence the MINDS OF the people OF
the North against us OF the South Upon this point
patience and fOrbearance have been more sorely
tried than any other The great object Of the





provoke resort to violence. The riot In New Or
leans two years ago. nstigated, as Is well known by
themselves Tor the purpSse OF operag on .nG n eleC &
elections OF that year, They are trying TO induce
repetition OF those scenes now, here, In New Orleans
and in other cities OF the South. We have suffered
almost beyond endurance from the inpudence
OF the vile scoundres VINO have come among
us from the North, and who have been en-
gagged in plunderlng the negroes, and, by
exciting their preudices against the whites,
to inaugurate Iva, war OF races. Gm I Tmese rss erea
by the government in all their deeds of mlamy.
Hated and despised as they are, we must bear and
forbear. would not hurt hair of their worthless
heads. would not that they should die mt our
hands on NO. by no means m ,na the p ba
South is restored, and then doom them to perpet-
ua living death, writhing under the burning, bits
tcring scorn Of an insulted and indignant people;
Let them live While 1 thus speak Of the abandoned
wretches known rs "carpet-baggers" we all know
there Is no hostility to Northern men who como
We have many such among u.s. and are proud OF
them citizens. All such we welcome with open
arms and open hearts. But, OF all the false charges
preferred against us, that OF hostility to the negro Is
the most UNJUST and unnatural. When we contem-
period OF the late war we can indulge IN no feeling
| of hostility. In those trying times It frequently
s'1 asen e s one Se Ms ed Of ob a ss %hs
| the wives. daughters and helpless children were left
at home with no protector save the faithful slaves
| on the plantation. And during those long and
| dreary nights the helpless ones slept quietly and
well. fearing no harm so long as the faithful negroes
confide in vain And It is a wonderful truth that
during the whole four years OF the war, with an
| enemy in our Midst inciting them to insurrecton,
not hostile hand raised by the trusted negro
against his white friends. Such fidelity the world
has never before witnessed. You, people of the
South, who know the truth OF what say, know and
feel that there Is not can there be any other
feeling than Kindness and affection for such peo-
pie. But we would reduce them to slavery Aud
no less parsonage than Senator Morton, OF Indi-
ana In recent speech at Indianapolis, made the
qualified assertion that II the democratic party were
successful slavery would be re.estabshed. He knew
to be false but have no doubt many OF his hearers
believed it to be true. Now, We know how utterly
false 1t Is, and hope that In all the resolutions that
may be adopted at our public meetings it may be EN-
phatcally declared that no such design exists. We
all here know how false II s-that there Is no one In
the South WHO has the remOtes idea OF reestab ish
ing slavery. We cannot do IL, nor would we II we
| could. And now permit me to make a few remarks
present time. 1t is fixed fact that the negro go


Ing to vote, and II Is very certain that In the coming


Is equally certain that II we make no effort to prevent
1t he will, under the influence OF the carpet-baggers,
vote for Grant. Now II we will take the trouble to
explain this matter TO the negroes and show them
that II Is TO their interest to vote the democratic
ticket there Is no doubt tnat they will do SO.
Under these circumstances what should we dor
| have no hesitation In giving It as my opinion,
that we should act upon the state OF things
as It exists, and Sa,r at once 60 go earnestly a, q,
white men Of the South. Now we have the negroes
| among us, and they must ever remain here. They





| TO determine which position they shall occupy. W.
can secure their friendship and we shall be false Il
our own interests aud to their welfare we fail to d.
IL.


To my colored friends, large numbers Of whom
am grat6ed TO see around me- have few words I,
say. Will talk to you plainly and In all Kindness
You are now free and are always to remain free
There is power on earth that can reduce you u
slavery. In this changed condition important duties
| and responsibilities devolve upon you You are free
TO decide for yourselves as to your Of actor
on all matters connected with your interests. Yot
| desire to do right but you are uneducated and
| Ignorant and liable TO be led astray You need
counsel and advice ad to be cautious In the selec
tion OF your advisers. We recognize the fact tina
you are entitled 10 vote In elections, and We are
not going TO deprive you OF this right
| but we do ask that you take the advice OF
| those whom you know to be your friends. And
these friends are the white OF the SOUTH among
whom you have always lived, and who feel o
deep interest In your welfare, rather than those
Northern adventures who have no home here, and
no interest," except to punder you OF your hard earn
ings. The interests OF the white OF The South
are your interests. What helps him helps you what