Year: 1872

Citizens of Ohio, / am here guest at the in


vitation of the common council of Cincinnati


1t is their desire as it is my wish, that should
while their guest, abstain from any remark


which seem to have a partisan purpose, and
| should have chosen so to speak that no one o
| any party could possibly have taken objection
| but there has been made an attack upon me
since came here which will trust to the hos


pitality and generosity of my entertainers to re-
| pei here and now.


Last evening at Pittsburg, in the course oi
some of-hand remarks to a vast assemblage like
this, Itook pains to explain the extraordinary
and unprecedented circumstances under which


| was impelled, in the winter of 1860, to offer
In good faith to submit the whole question oi
union or disunion to the free, unconssrained
vote of the Southern people after due delibera-
tlon and discussion. Isaid that 1t was then my


belief, as it is still my belief, thatf that people
had been allowed such free and fair opportuni-
ty they would have decided that the Union
should be maintained.


Mr. Greeley was here interrupted for several
minutes by cheers and music On resuming,
he said .ae


Those remarks which / made last evening
have been misrepresented; ); have been, l think,
perverted into an expression of present belief
and present conviction that any State has a
right to dissolve this Union at its own good
pleasure. Felow-citizens, utterly repudiate
and condemn that sentiment. Cheers. IS


a do not believe that ten States, or that even
q majority of all the States, have moral, legal
or constitutional right to dissolve our Union
Cheers That Union is founded on a consti-
tuition which is charter of the government, not
mere league. 1t does not create a league
merely, nor confederacy, but nation under
a government of limited and defined powers, but
of unlimited duration. / believe the Union is
not only destined to be, but was intended to be,
perpetual, and believe our great civil war, if
there was any reasonable doubt as to the nature
of that Union, has settled that doubt forever.
[Cheers. tif


That slavery is dead, and that the Union
abides forever, is the sum and substance of the
verdict pronounced through the issue of our
great contest. There is no longer a question,
there can never again arise aquestion, as to the
perpetuity Of the Union. Theapple of dscord,
the only thing that ever made any American
hostile to his own country and the constitution,
has utterly perished. [Applauss. Henceforth
the American Union abides forever, grounded
In the affections necessities and fervent dego-
ton of the whole American people. [Cheers


Ii there eyer shall again arise cloud Of dis
union, that will not arise IN the Southern Sec
tion Of this country. But no such question will
or can arise. AS perpetual as the hills, as solid
as the everlasting rocks the Union of these
Statesabides and must abide forever. One senti-
ment, one purpose animates the American
heart, and that is that the Union Of States
must and shall be preserved


{, Nov, ieIlow-citiZens, let me say few words
more in regard to your position, your duties and
your prospects. Cincinnati may be regarded
as nearly the industrial and commercial centre
of our present population. What the future
may bring forth we cannot tell, but to-day this
city is nearly in the middle Of the great COM
mercial movement of the industrial activity of
the American people, These hills, smiling in
their summer abundance, look lovingly on each
other from the North and from the South. This
mighty river, which laves your city in its gen.
tie current, should persuade to union and re-
Cancellation. We arc to be evermore one peo-
pie. Let Us be harmonious people, united in
heart and hope, as we'll as in geography and In
political associations. Let US resolve to culti-
yate the graces and charities OF fellow citizen
ship; let us resolve that from this city shall go
forth an influence to the North and to the
South which shall bind the people together in
band of 5 7eeter and stronger affection than
they have er yet known.


Fellow citizens, | rejoice to stand within the
city which has been honored by holding within
its limits the Cincinnati convention, Wherefrom
emanated the neblest platform of principles
ever presented to the American people. THESE
principles commend themselves to my judg-
ment. They are dear to my heart. Applause.


If could do anything to give ascendaucy.
perpetual and complete, to those principles |
would gladly do it. If my success or defeat
could promote their advancement. and commend
them to the hearts of this people, should re-
oil DO M hoE hat 1oEo 4
believe they purpose the best aspirations of the
American people. As such accept them as
such | am proud to be In any capacity identified
with their presentation.


1t was not my expectation to be presented as
a candidate by that convention. That honor
was conferred upon me, and | gratefully and
readily accepted it, and thank you, my fellow
citizens, for the cordiality. uuanimity and for
the majestic strength in which you have re-
sponded to it.


As one of your number I take the place in
your ranks which has been assigned to me, and
will endeaVor to bear your banner with honor,
truth and justice wherever fortune may lead,
and wherever the good providence of God may
enable me to carry it. And so, fellow citizens,
unable to make myself heard, | will relieve you
from further attention. Prolonged cheering.


SPEECH IN LOUISVILLE, KY, SEPT. 22ND.


Citizens Of Louisville, standing on this soil
of Kentucky, ask you, who are my associates
in the great liberal movement of the day, to
bear testimony with me to certain truths
First, is it not true that we desire a govern
ment Of just and equal laws, which shall ex-
tend equal favor and equal protection to every
American citizen? Applause and cries of
That's sol'l Is it not true that while we
demand the repeal of all disfranchisement, of
all nroscrintion of all Americans hacausa of tba
part they bore in our late struggle, that we de-
sire that no man shall be disfranchised, that
no man shall be prescribed, but that every
man shall stand on an equal platform with our
selves? Is not that fact? Cries Of Eyes,
that's so!"] Is it not true that we have no
expectations, no purpose, no understanding
that the rebel debt shall be paid, or rebel SOL
diers pensioned, or the slaves emancipated by
the result of the war paid for? Is it not true
that we have no purpose, or expectation Or un-
derstanding that any of those things shall be
done? Applause, and cries of "You are
right.


Now, fellow-citizens, wish to call your at
tention to an aspect of this struggle which has
not yet been presented. There is no class of
our citizenss no part of the American people,
who have so real and great an interest in the
success of our government as the colored peo-
pie of this country. Though they know that
we all admit their rights are perfectly secured
by the constitution, and that no one can go
back that it is still their real interest that their
rights shall not be only accorded, but that they
should be fully accorded, that there shall be no
opposition, no objection to their enjoying just
the same political and civil rights that we do !;
it is their interest more than yours or mine,
that all contention concerning black men or
white men shall absolutely cease: that everv