Year: 1869

GENTLESIAN: / return you my CRATE
/ ful ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the honor of
presiding over this Convention. FOrtu-
nately our task is a very easy one, for
/ the popular will has already performed
/ the principal duty Of a State Convention
| by designating some of the standard
/ bearers OF the Republican party of Ohio


in this campaign. They have been tried
I and found worthy and Won will no
| doubt give them the highest reward of a
I public Oflicer-a hearty and generous
I approval Of their official conduct. As to
I our platform of principles, it is hardly
I necessary for the Republican party to do
more than to point to the wonderful
[ history of the last fourteen years, the
| events of which have been moulded in
I a great measure by the great party to
[ which we belong. We found all branch
I es of the Government under the
[ absolute dominion of an Oligarchy of
| slavehOlders-with jefferson Davis at
| the head of the Cabinet, TOombs blus-
| tering in the Senate and violent men


controlling everything in the House of
/ Representative. Every public measure
[ depended upon whether it would tend


to extend or strengthen slavery. To
/ this purpose fraud and violence, cOrTup-


ton and public patronage were mar
shalled under the name and by the
/ Democratic party. 1t was the turning


point in our history, and the issue was
I Government for free men or a Govern
ment for slaves. The Republican party


spraIg from the protesting clements Of
the old parties. Fourteen years ago the


first Republican State Convention of
. Ohio was held in this city and proclaim


ed that all Just Governments rested


upon the consent of the governed. That


slavery was eXceptiOnal-cOntrary to


tine genius of our institutions, and ought
/ not TO be eStended-and that liberty and


equality before the law was the birth
. right Of every American citizen. There
we took our stand, and in success and in
defeat-in peace and in war, through a


struggle that has excited the wonder of


the wOrld-there we stand to-day. Sla-


very and all its incidents are abolished
and the wonder now is that any man


could ever have defended so atrOciOus a


system. Our Republican Government


tested by the severest strains, now no


longer regarded by any one as a mere


contederacy Of States, proudly takes its


place among the most powerful nations


of the world. We have vet only to in


scribe upon the Constitutions of the


United States, and of Ohio, what now is


the law in most of the States, that all


men are equal before the law, and shall


enjoy equal rights and privileges, unless


they forfeit their equality by crime.
know that this Convention will not
shrink from this issue.


In our National affairs we can rely


with unwavCring confidence in the hon
,. esty and patriotism of the President of


the United States. He will do nothing


but what he believes to be right, and the
accuracy OF his judgment has repeatedly


stood the test Of time. We can support


his Administration not only with the
independence of freemcn. but with the


charity of friendly confidence. He will


obey the law, and execute it in the spirit
Of liberty. No man doubts that he viii
maintain the honor of our country in all
questions with foreign powers, yet with
4 sincere desire for peace and harmOy,
and he will maintain untarnished the
honor Of the country by a strict COM
pliance with ali public engagements-by


n faithful performance of every contract
I according to its letter and spirit. Under


him our rapid physical development Will
go on. immigration will be encouraged
/ new avenues of trade will be opened,


and / trust the spirit of local jealousy
and restriction will give way to a nation
al spirit that will secure every American


citizen protection and equality in every


State and community in our broad land.
In Ohio at least we have had enough


intolerance and caste by our last Legis-
lature, to last us for a generation. Let
us, then, gentlemen of the Convention,


enter upon the discharge of our duty to-
day; proud of the generous principles of
the Republican party; of the happy
influence upon our recent history, and
sure of their full triumph by the
judgment of an intelligent people. I
thank You, gentlemen, again for the


honor of this position, and beg your
indulgence in the discharge of its duties.