Year: 1872




TERRE HAUTE, Ind, July 18-In ac-
cepting the Democratic nomination for Con-
press at the convention in Spencer to-day,
Mr.. voorhees, made long and elaborately
prepared speech, the most interesting por-
tions of which are given verbatim in the
following extracts:


Gentlemen of the Convention: Youahave
done me great honor to-day, the greatest
ever received, and greater, think, when
all circumstances are considered, than usu-
ally falls to the lot of public men in this
country. You have, one and all, refused to
listen to what has been said to my disad-
vantage, and you have demanded that L
should remain in your service. You know
me better than all the world besides. We
have labored together in the past, and you
have bestowed upon me already ten years
of official life. If, therefore, after so much
experience of each other, you find me in
any degree worthy of such confidence as
YOU have here manifested, may indeed
feel that have not lived altogether in vain.
L call YOU to witness also that
I have not sought this nomination,
but urged that it might be given to
ONE one else. Itis prize, It is true,
coming from the source it does, which Is
equal to the highest ambition, but circum-
stances of purely q personal and domestic
character, urged me to declare two years
ago, publicly, in every part Of the district,
that was then making my last race for
Congress. Again one year ago repeated
nv wish to quit public life, and bestow
what ability and energy possess to my pri-
yate interests. 1t cannot therefore be said
that ali the reluctance which have mani.
tested in regard to the present contest is of
recent date. am not here, however, to
shun the events of the last two months, or
the peculiar responsibilities which they i'm
pose. This is an occasion for perfect frank
ness between you and me. will talk to
you, therefore, as if / was seated at your
hearthstones, and if the outside world is
listening, 1 trust it will hear nothing of
which we will hereafter be
ashamed. A close observation Of
the lawless and outrageous conduct
of the present administration, and the great
and increasing disgust in the public mind,
long ago convinced me that an easy oppor-
tunity would be presented this year for the
Democratic party, by presenting one Of its
ablest and purest men for the Presidency,
to regain Control of the government, and
re-establish civil liberty and equality in the
burdens as we'll as in the blessings Of the
republic. gave


Honest Republicans


the same credit which they now give US, in
believing that they would sufficiently rise
above party to vote against corrupt ad-
ministration, without regard to the compa-
nv in which they performed so noble an act.
l still believe they would have done so, and
that any one of four or five Democratic
statesmen who might be named, eminent
for ability and purity of character, could
have been elected to the Presidency,
over the present very unpopular
incumbent. Entertaining this opinion with
the force of an absolute conviction, made
an earnest effort to have it prevail in the
minds of others. In view of an approach
ing National Democratic Convention
exercised my right as a membersof the
Democratic party in pointing out what l
thought its action ought to be. This is
right for which am beholden 70 no one.
have no apologies to make for exercising 1t
as Idid. / MOULD do so again under the
same circumstances. do not claim TO be
a shrewd managing politician, If shrewdness
and management consists in the suppress
sion of my honest opinion on public ques-
tions and waiting until find whether they
are popular or not. Ihold that


All Men Have q Duty


to perform in assisting to create a correct
public opinion by expressing their own on
all proper occasions. In opposing She no
mination of Mr.. Greeley | acted on this
principle. No one viii expect me now or
hereafter to retract word have spoken or
written on that subject. The influence of
my words, if they had any, was directed to
the Baltimore Convention and not beyond
the action of that body. They must stand
as my sincere utterances in behalf OF an
object over which that body had legitimate
authority and ultimate control. But will
doubtless be reminded that my views were
not adopted at Baltimore and that my OPT
mons we've disregaried. All this is true
and do not pretend to disguise my deep re-
gret, would gladly have had it otherwise
and have given the subject as careful and
as conscientious an examination In Or
der to ascertain the tue path of duty
as it has been in my power to
make. If could at this point abandon
public station consistently with my obliga-
tions to my party, my friends and the du-
ties [ owe as a citizen to my country, the
path before me would be easy and smooth.
Your action alone, however, here today,
under all the circumstances Of the past and
present, impels me to accept your nomina-
ton and make one more campaign with you,
and for that purpose we must look the pres
ent and the future conlly and resolutely in
the face in the light of the recent result at
Baltimore. Whenever and whel ever in all
the ages and nations of the world men
have associated themselves together for COM
mon objects, whether in affairs of church
or State, the power ofa


Final Decision


in controversy amongst themselves has been
specifically lodged somewhere. Without
this authority, no bond would be strong
enough to produce united action in behalf
of any purpose, however great and benef-
cent, so widely do men honestly differ in
regard to the means and details by which
the most desirable ends are to be attained.
OF course no sect or party, religious or
political, has the right or the power to crush
out the independent convictions of its mem
bers, and it is not only the privilege but
the duty of the members of any organiza-
ton to abandon it whenever they perceive
that they can more surely secure the great
objects they have in view by doing so. Great
and binding therefore as all Democrats
concede the authority of more than a
two-third majority of National Demo-
cratic Convention to be, yet if you were
fully persuaded that you could better serve
YOUR country and more certainly rescue her
from the shame and disgrace into which she
has been plunged by leaving your old Or
ganization and seeking new party relations,
you would be justified In such a course.
But, let me say to the Democratic masses
in this district and throughout the State,
that / see no such course open to any
friend OF his country, TO those who have
SO warmly eoincided in opinion with me Oh
the propriety of Mr.. Greeley's nomination,
and their name is legion, let me say that
the Democratic party is


Infinitely Preferable


in my judgment even with Horace Greeley


IS its candidate to that portion of the He
publican party which acknowledges the
| leadership of Grant and the profigate
managers by which he is led on to
his own and his country's ruin. Nc
thought of recreancy or inidelity to the


Democratic party ever entered my


mind. As l cannot control its counsels


shall submit to them, hoping that time


may show its ways to be wiser and more
| beneficial to the country than | predicted