Year: 1871

sneak now upon the fifteenth, which


confers the right Of suffrage upon the


blacks. 1t was no legitimate conse-
ouence of the war; it was no legitimate
consequence OF secession, but it was


passed in the exigency of a political
I party, that they might have control as
much in Ohio as in these States in the
South. Applause. | opposed it as


did the fourteenth from the beginning,
and | have no regrets over that oppo-
sition. Applause.


But now a word more upon 1t, word


more upon it. If it contained nothing


but this provision for suffrage, there
would be but little objection in it, but it
contains provision intended TO confer


power upon Congress which is danger
Gus to the liberties Of the country, and


the dangers can only be avoided by
having Democratic Congress in the
future who will trust no powers in the
Executive which bears the purse and
the sword to interfere with our cleo
tions.


So far as the question, simply the
question of negro suffrage is concerned
and it is the only merit which is in
the amendment-suppose, my fellow
citizens, that it were to-day repealed:
suppose that Congress pass provision
submitting it TO the States, and suppose
three eefourths Of the States agree TO re.
peal the amendment, it would only act
in the future, and no right acquired
under that amendment could ever be
taken away by any subsequent repeal OF
it. Why then do we disturb ourselves
upon discussion Of these two amend
ments? Why, | say, need we Demo
Gratis depart and divide aud distract our
selves upon the subject Of this amend
ment, which, if it were changed by the
common consent OF the whole people Of
the country would leave the right ac-
auired by the black man TO his vote as
full, as securely as any piece Of prop,
erty that he acquired by his labor.


And now, my fellow citizens, as to
this Fourteenth Amendment, say !
cannot debate it, 1t is full Of clap
trap upon the subject of the limitation
Of the representation Of the States II
is fun Of clap-trap upon the subject OF
our own debt, which no Democratic
! Convention has ever proposed 10 repu
diate, if individual Democrats may have
thought it ought to be repudlated. 1t
proposes that we shall not assume the
debts Of the Confederate States. God
knows we have assumed as much as
we can pay already, without undertak-
ing to shoulder the burdens Of any State,
or the Confederate States in the South.


Applause 1t is mere clap-trap OF
of clap traps which disgraces the iunda-
mental instrument such as the Const-
tuition of the United States. Ap.
pIausc |


| say then, my fellow-Citizens As
have not seen your platform, ii ought
to be enough for us that it is passed 10y
an enormous majority OF this Conven-
ton. Applause 1t is the obligation
that we take upon each other when we
enter into conventions, that we will con-
fer together, we will weigh and fairly
consider each other views; where they
differ we will reconcile them If we can,
but if they cant be reconciIed, the
opinion OF the majority must be accepted
bv the Convention as the only means OF
retaining in IFS integrity a party organl-
zation at all, applause and although ]
say | have not read these resolutions,
vet have confidence that the gentle.
men to whom they were entrusted have
carefully considered them, and that
when so large majority agreed TO
report them, great respect as ] have for |
the members Of the minority it seems 10
me that the Convention might well,
without feeling and without debate, &C.
cept now as in times past the conclusions
OF their committee. | think, too, my fel-
low citizens that temper and feeling |
has prevailed to too great an extent du-
ring this convention to enable us all 10
consider calmly and fairly these resolu.
tons a. they have been presented. am
confident OF one thing, and in that you
will agree with me, that it was the set
tied purpose Of the Democratic party to
declare before the people o: the country
that we intended no revolutionary at
tack upon these amendments 10 the
Constitution, either by individuals or by
State legislation or by the organization
Of States. say it was due TO the peo-
pie OF the country that that much
we should have declared; but in
nv view Of these amendments, no reso-
luton which could have been passed on
the subject would have declared or
could have declared more than that.


Nv fellow citizens, it is impossible in
this heated air, for me to speak further.
thank you again for the nomination
YOU have conferred upon me. thank
YOU, say again, for the confidence
which that nomination implies.
hope that during the canvass ! will not
abuse your trust, or betray your conf
dence, nor do anything unworthy OF
man fit to be trusted with the standard
Of the Democratic party in this year
1871, the forerunner Of 1872, which is
to witness the triumph Of Democratic
principles and the return Of our Gov.
ernment TO the old ways OF constltu-
tional administration. Applause.


At the conclusion oil Gen. McCoOks
speech, on motion Of Mr.. Houk, Of
Montgomery, Mr. Hunts nomination
was made unanimous, and Mr.. Hunt
addressed the Convention in brief and
stirring speech, after which the Con
vention adjourned to meet again IN the
evening.


EVENING SESSION


At eight o'clock the Convention re-
in Wagners Hall and pro-
ceeded to complete the work OF nomina-
ting candidates for the offices Of State,