Year: 1872

York Tribune, and yet the Democ'
raey are who supporting Horace Greeley
were denouncing this very Ku,hiu.
law. Seven trials had been had, tour
of which resulted in convictions. Inc
effect was 90 remarkable that sixty OF
seventy Of the offenders had come ano
plead guilty. General Grant had pu'
honestly and faithfully executed great
and righteous law passed by Congress.
The Governor then concluded by ex'
horting harmony in the canvass, and ne
felt that Grant would be elected. SAID
the speaker, God grant that 1t may
be so.


After repeated calls. Ex-Governor
Oglesby, of Illinois, came forward and
said: You have been listening ior
nearly two hours to some OF the best
speeches that have been made for q
long time. The greatest and best OF all
you have heard was from that noble
sublime man from New York, tha,
grand old agitator, who stood before
you in the dignity of an American cltl'
zen. [Applause.] How happy Ger
rift Smith must feel now tuat
these colored people come here


edeemed and made American citizens.
T Applause. The Republican party IL
nothing more nor less than this great
country. 1t has elevated it in the eyes
of the world, and in our own opinion,
above the mark ever attained by any
other party. We come here to speak
for the whole people Of that mighty
tribunal before which politicians trem:
BILE, and to record the verdict of the Re,
publican party. A few years ago Gen.
Grant was as unknown as the poor
colored man who sits before you. The
speaker felt deeply grieved the other
day when a Senator, from noble
State on the Atlantic coast, pronounced
against that man the vile, weak,
simple slur that he was once tanner.
like all American citizens ought,
when he found it necessary to support
his wife and children, whom he loved,
went to work like an honest man.
Applause He came trudging along
from obscurity, step by step. He came
to the front when none of our great
soldiers knew what to do. The little
shadow of Ulyssus S. Grant ap'
peared, and when the voice Of the
eloquent Senator from Massachusetts
assailed him the other day,
the voice of a man from
South Carolina to-day had held him
up. Grant is an enigma. His charac.
ter has not been fathomed by the
people. He is greater, and
purer, and nobler than we yet believe.
We came here to speak OF Grant, who
is not man Of words and cannot speak
to defend himself; and some of US have
been quite free in our comments on
him. The speaker came to say, for
Illinois-the prairie State, that
gave birth to Lincoln-that
they have perfect confidence
in Grant and would support him for
four years longer. No one man could
tamper with the liberty Of the American
people. They know how to defend their
liberties. How absurd are these cries
about GENERALIZATION of government.
When we were younger and weaker you
could scare us by these threats. There
are some poor fellows trumping about
vet who are afraid OF such scare crows.
Illinois knows how to take care Of her
self, and to take care of those men who
try to raise false alarm Of danger.
Everywhere in the world where people
hunger after freedom, they have conf
dence in this government. We hold
fast to our Constitution, but over and
above and around the Constitution
stands the common sense Of the great
American people. [Applause.


Calls being made for Governor Haw.
ley, OF Connecticut, he reluctantly came
forward and said: / assure you that
while l am gratified by the compliment
paid me, l am greatly embarrassed also.
/ was about to call for a report OF the
Committee on Permanent Organization,
which is ready for presentation and for
which we are waiting, and indeed |
would rather be excused from making
any remarks, especially y after the speech
to which you have just listened.


Mr.. Hawley retired, when loud cries
were made to hear from some of our
colored delegates, and after repeated


calls, William II. Grey, of Arkansas,
and said for the first time 10
the history of this coun ry, if not Of the
world is the privilege accorded to
down trodden race to appear on equal
terms in a great National Convention.
There stands before you representa-
tive of that oppressed race, who have
been for two hundred and fifty
years in this country and are
lifted from degradation and slavery to
the proud position of an American cit.


izen OF this great republic. If should
60 back to the former history OF my


race in this country, should refer to


things which would make US blush, but


it is unnecessary for me to do 80, and


We are willing TO forgive the past and
say, let the dead past bury it's dead.


There is no desire OF revenge left upon


our hearts, and we now nerve ourselves


to the task Of fitting ourselves


Tor the proud honor OF American citi-


zenship. 1t is the wonder OF the nine


teenth century that, a subject of a
debased race, / should have been,


without preparation, raised to the


proud plane of American citizenship.


1 think | have worked out the problem
as lar as we have gone. l feel thankful
that my eyes behold, for the first time,
that benetactor OF our race, Gerritt
Smith, whose lie long labors have been
devoted to our emancipation, and for


whose services our race can never ex-


press sufficient gratitude. The bringin,
about OF our eniranchisemeut has been
the work OF years. Few comprehended
the political position in the South in


1868. 1t cost the lives of three hundred
blacks to carry my State for General
4 onI hpt tba =