Year: 1861

= Mr., Charm on, ana fetL03C- 4 C3C72SnIeT2


1 have greatly desired an opportunity t
thank you for the great honor you hav
been chiefly instrumental in conferring up
on me. Without the kind and honorable
testimony, you, my neighbOrs, bore in M
behalf, could never have been placed il
the high position now occupy.


l fully appreciate the high honor done
me by the Union State Convention. View
ing it in all its bearings-the object and
purpose of the Convention-the immense
interests at stake-the high and delicate
trusts committed-the mode and manner
in which it was done, and the high, moral
worth of Its members-feR men, if any
were ever so highly honored by their fel-
low citizens To you, my immediate neigh
bors, am | mainly indebted for this dis
tinguished honor. The kind affectionate
manner in which you have been pleased to
receive me this evening, adds greatly to the
obligation.


Nor do 1 forget that it has ever been
thus with you, my friends In all the pur-
suits Of life, the people of my heme-the
place of my birth, and. God willing, the
place of my death-have ever been kind,
cOnfding friends.


The post you have now assigned me is
one of great responsibility. Delicate and
intricate as it may be to discharge the
high duties of the Office of Chief Executive
of our State at this time, with Gods bles-
sing hope to perform them to your salts
faction. You will not ask perfection, ez-
cept in intention and integrity. This you
shall have


Great as our troubles are, | am sensible
that party jealOusies and party feuds, to
some extent, yet exist. Hence it may be
proper that say to you, and through you
to all other friends of the Union move
Iaent, that l shall never for moment for
get in the administration of the efice, that
L derived the power from no party, and
hence am m honor bound to know no par
ty. This promise is made with the hope
and expectation, that you; my friends, now
before me, will, on my return home from
the Capital Of our State, two short years
hence. again assemble to testify either the
respect or the contempt you may feel for
my official acts.


And now, should 1 dismiss the personal
matter thus alluded to, you might leave
this hall thinking that 1 was ignorant of
the fact that Mr.. Webb, the editor Of my
former party organ, has seen proper not to
harmonic with the great mass of the peo-
pie of this neighborhood, in their efforts to
promote the best interests of the country.
regret to know that such is the fact, and
still more regret that he has felt it his du-
ty to devote his columns, in this hour of
trouble, chiefly to low, vulgar slander of
myself. We were confidential political
and personal friends for many years
Hence, with the disposition he now has,
he is dangerous man; provided, however,
the object of his hatred had ever uttered a
word, or done deed. that cannot bear the
light of day. Thank God, can bid him
defiance. True, he can utter fa1sehOod
but | am not responsible for that


Of this character is his assertion that l,
last spring. said to friend of his "that
COULD MAKE THIS WAR PAY" You all
know, who know me, the falscness Of this;
and should he name the friend who told
him so, the chances are hundred to one
that friend would knock his teeth down his
throat for lying.


Again, be charges that | sought Legis-
1ative aid to oppress labOring men, espee-
tally cOal-miners. l am glad of this op-
POrtupity, surrounded as l now am BY
scores of men who have been in my employ
for nearly twenty years to notice this
charge. Mr.. Webb refers to bill l was
instrumental in preparing, which was in
trodueed by our fellow-citizen, the Hon
Jesse Baldwin, then a member of the
House of Representatives, the provisions
of which are as follows:


SECTION /. Be If enacted by the General
Assembly of the State Of Ohio,


That if three or more persons shall con-
spire and agree together to use violent or
ether unlawful means to deter or prevent
any other person or persons from the peace
full prosecution Of his, her or their lawful
business, every person so offending shall
be deemed guilty of conspiracy, and shall, I
on conviction thereof. be imprisoned in the /
cell or dungeon of the county jail, not ex-
ceeding ten days, and fined in any sum not
exceeding three hundred dollars, at the
discretion of the court


SEC. 2. If any person, to carry out the
purposes Of any conspiracy as defined in