Year: 1868

citizens. lApplause.I There ls nothing
wrong in this, and if right, what fol-
lows 1t follows that if the man is a
freeman--if he is citizen, and
clothed with the rights of citizenship-it
will be great crime to take from him the
means necessary to protect those rights. 1t
is SO, is it not What are the means by
which free man is to protect and defend
his rights Why, the ballot. [Applause.
That is something, as somebody has said,
which "descends as gently as the dews of
Heaven or as O snowflake" and yet how
it enriches and fructifes the whole world,
giving us prosperity and happiness. Now,
what is the objection to the exercise of
this power? 1t is said that ninety thou
sand men over twenty-one years of
ape born in this Commonwealth, who
have been reared here, shall not have the
right to vote because, it is said, they are
not qualified. Why, if they are not quail
fed and don't understand the franchise, |
would ask, did ever any man know any
people OF class of people to vote as solid as
they do? [Applause.l Did you ever know
these people to vote against nominee OF
their party or friends Voices, No,
no.''l If they are not good voters they
are certainly the safest ] have ever
heard of. [Cheers.l How will you make
them better? By more education. Zap
plause.] How will you give them that
By setting blessed free school-house
right down at their doors and let
,hem 20 in. [Cheers. How will you
pay the expenses Bya tax on property of
ali kinds. The schools for oil must be
supported by all. The fact is, there is no
serious difficulty at MI upon. the subject OF
the manner in which the elective franchise
is to be exercised. have no fear about it.
/ l believe when it goes before the people
fairly and squarely that they will accept it
in the same spirit which you have; and that
finally line will be drawn-not between
races and colors-but between those who
love their country and are faithful to the
Government upon one side, and those
who hate it upon the other. Applause.
And when it comes to that, we have
reached the point for which we have cx-
pended treasure and blood, and for which
we are now organizing to carry on this
war.


| hope before you adjourn you will have
laid down platform, and let it be clear as
the sunshine. Let there be no ambiguity
no uncertainty in it. Make it so clear that
the wayfaring man, although fool, may
read as he runs" Don't 60 off with any
side issues, but start with the same pur-
pose as q man who expects to climb to
the mast head-puts one foot firmly
on the first round of the ladder, the other
by the side Of that, and secures that
position before he reaches higher. Let
us place ourselves on solid foundation,
and invite everybody who may come into
our faith to become part and parcel with
us on that foundation. Applause. We
will teach them two things: First, that no
man is to be deprived of any rights on ac-
count of mo man to have
any special privileges on account OF color
that we stand on the platform Of equality
which our fathers recognized, and for which
we fought. Teach them that virtue, merit,
culture, and experience, will finally sue
ceed; in other words, that the best man
wins. Let us meet all fair discussion in
this campaign, never avoiding it, but rather
standing upon the great principles OF the
Republican party as our support than on
the individual merit of the advocate. Teach
them that all the party asks is fair field,
Applause, depending OH the strength OF
| the cause.


| After again returning thanks for the
honor conferred upon him, the Governor re-
tired amid tumultuous applause.


Amotion was then (at half-past 9 P.M.)
made to adjourn until 10 o'clock this morn
ing, which was carried unanimously. AT
the hour named, the Convention will pro
ceed to the nomination of Attorney General
aud Congressman Mt large.