Year: 1859

Mr.. RIcE's PosITIoN. - The following
Speech made by Hon. w. W. Rice, in re
sponse to his nomination for Mayor, last year.
and referred to in his acceptance of the nomi-
nation, last evening" will be read with interest


Mr. Chairman Il thank you for your kind
reception. l know of no wortlier ambition
than to obtain the good opinion of our friends
and neighbors, and | am sure that no higher
pleasure can thrill the breast than upon receiy-
ing tokens of their confidence and esteem


l do not hesitate to avow that consider the
nomination which your committee informs me
you have conferred upon me, an honor which
any man may covet ] trust that l fully an
preciate the good opinion of my fellow citizens
OF the Democratic party. am sure that re-
gard with profound respect "that larger class
of our fellow citizens, comprising many of our
best and ablest men, who at the present time
belong to no political organization, vet neith-
er seek nor expect political favor at their hands
Were | to be selected as representative of
these, should fear that they had found in me
somewhere weak spot, into which something
else might enter, than devotion to these prjn-
pies which know are dear to the hearts of the
Republican voters of Worcester l hope to be
selected as representative of the men who
think as | think, and whose principles are nv
principles, whose sympathies are my sympa-
ties, whose friends are my friends, whose foes
are my foes, whose triumphs are my triumphs
and whose defeats are my defeats. Upon
these terms / stand, and have always stood
with the Republican party. I believe that in
its unity and success is the only hope of the
political regeneration of our country ! con-
cur, therefore, in that course of policy, wheth-
er in nation, state, county, or city, which shall
everywhere tend most to consolidate that par
ty, and deprecate everything which can sow
in its ranks the seeds of dissension or distrust


But, gentlemen, you have placed me in
position which many here can testify | have
not sought, but from which have particularly
shrunk, yet you have expressed your will in
such manner and under such circumstances,
that l receive it as something more than a
wish. 1t falls upon my ear with the voice of
command.


More than two weeks ago, you assembled in
caucus to take measures with regard to the
city election. The meeting was large and en-
thusiastic. After full discussion it was voted
to make party nominations for municipal of
ficers. In doing this you concurred with the
action of the party in the other cities of the
Commonwealth, and in my view took the only
course to ensure the success of principles with
relation to the management of municipal af
fairs, entertained in this city almost exclusive.
ly by the Republican party.


Upon an informal ballot subsequently taken
you did me the honor to give my name an un.
| pleasant prominence. From that time to The
| present, / have known what it is to be a can
didate for public Office, and / may say that
have gained much information respecting my
self that was decidedly new and interesting
After this long and thorough canvassng, / an
satisfied that no 'little politician" can discover
any ''little tricks, Or jealous fault-fnder any
cunning maneuvers" by which the result o
tonight has been reached. Therefore, will
mingled emotions of pride and gratitude,
accept your nomination, unsolicited by me
l accept it untrammeled by single pledge 0
any description hatsoever-uhtrammele b,
a single pledge; the principles of the party t,
which / have ever yielded an undivided allie
glance and an unwavering support, are TIN
pledges | offer.


/ understand the Republicans of Worceste
to entertain remedies with regard to the gov
ernment of this city, as distinctly defined a
with regard to state or nation, and as distinct
ly differing from those entertained by member
of other political organizations.


Unwritten in platforms, those principles fin,
expression in the work shops, on the farms, b.
the pleasant firesides, in the churches of this
the city of our love.


| understand the Republicans of Worcester
touching as a general thing neither extreme {
wealth or of poverty, to be in favor of rigll
economy in the management of affairs whic
Mt the same time shall not degenerate int
meanness, SO that the poor man may enjoy a