Year: 1876

of Monroe and Greenbrier counties, be
denounced it as false, although the
counties named at that time gave such
evidence of loyalty as might have justi.
fed any one in so dong. He also spoke
OF his having written a letter to the
Auditor, of which considerable comment
had been made, aud his action in the
premises severely criticised. The letter,
he said, was written at the request of the
Auditor to be informed regarding point
Of law, and he, as Attorney-General
of the state could not refuse TO give such
information, although he expected the
criticism that followed. In refusing the
request of the Auditor, he said that not
oniy would he have been guilty of a
violation of his oath of Office, but also,
that he would have shown himself = COW
ard and poItroon, and would have de-
served the just condemnation of the peo-
pie.


The speaker then hastily reviewed the
situation throughout the state, and said
that at no time were the Democracy so
well organized as at the present, though
they had not the banners, torches and
money that had been given to the Re-
publican party, but they were in earnest,
and doing good in quiet way for
the good of the party. The people were
either to restore the party that had been
founded by Jefferson, and carried for
ward by Monroe, Madison and Jackson,
or continue in power the party that
had so corrupted the nation, and
which had increased the taxes OF the
laborer, squsndered the public domain,
and committed numerous other evils, the
effects of which were now being felt
throughout the length and breadth OF the
land. He enumerated the long list Of
Radical officers whose misdeeds had
brought upon their heads the anathemas
of the nation, and who had not only
grown rich themselves out Of the public
moneys, but had enriched their friends
likewise, many ofwhom were still in power
and unpunished. The Republicans had
thrown away the only opportunity they
had of reforming the administration by
ignoring Bristow at Cincinnati and NOM
mating Governor Hayes. This action
reminded him of a certain town in Texas,
the people of which were desirous of
erecting new Jail, and


ReSoIred, first, That we want new Jail.


ResoLred, second, That the old Jail
stand till the new one is built.


Resolued, third, That the new one be
built out of the material of the ola one.


Just SO is 1t with the Republican party,
they want to have new party, COM
posed of the same material as the old
with Grant left out, but maintaining his
policy.


The record of Gov. TlIden was then
reviewed at length, and the speaker
closed his remarks with fitting tribute
to the platform and nominees OF the st.
Louis Convention, whose duty it WAS to
give to the people government like the
blue arch of heaven, o'erspanning all
and expressing none.


The Chairman then introduced the


HON FRANK NJ. HEREFORD,


who responded in substance as follows:
GENTLEMEN, &C.-I am here to give
to YOU some of the considerations, not
all, because, to give all would require
lapse of time that would witness the
rising of the sun, why a change of ad-
ministration should be had. 'Tis true we
have hard times upon us; throughout the
length and breadth Of the land
people are starving; thousands
have been thrown out Of employment,
and the mills and factories lie idle.
Why is this? The cause is plain; tor
sixteen long years the party IN power
have has absolute control, and they, and
they alone, are responsible, as their gross
acts of misgovernment and official cor
ruption will testify. He enumerated the
number of failures that had occurred
from 1860 up to the presenttime In 1860,
there were 2,608 failures, but year by
wear the number had increased until at
the present time, or for the first three
months of the present year they amount
ed to 2SO6, and that ut that rate would
number II ,224 for the present year. The
cause of this financial trouble the speaker
attributed to the enactment OF laws by
the Republican party, demOnetizllg sill
yer and making the bonds of the nation
payable in gold only, and increasing the
national debt the enormous sum OF $780,
100000.


The Democratic party had introduced a
bill in the last session of Congress re-
storing silver to its former place and
value as legal tender, but the Republi-
cans by filibustcring and dilatory mo-
tions bad killed it, but he had hopes that
the next Congress would again consider
the matter and carry it safely through,
and that the silver dollar would jing le in
the pockets of the people rs of yore.
Had not silver been demonetized, there
would be $520,000,0OO more money IN
circulation at present, scattered through
out the country: and the extremely hard
times that we are now experiencing
would not have been. The bill had been
smuggled through the House without
reading, and many voted for it without
even knowing for what they were voting,
the Speaker deciding that the rules OF
that body could be so suspended as topass
bill without even a first readirg.
Had the bill have been read
and defeated the S520,000,000. of which
the people were dofrauded, would have
aggregated Sl3 per head for each man,
woman and child 10 the country, and the
present stringency of money would not
have been known. The speaker also al
luded to the extravaganza of the admins
tration. In the past twelve years there
had been paid into the treasury of the
United States the enormous sum of
Sl,376,O 100000, and yet the nation in
debt over S20O0,OO0,000. This, n tue
fac, ~ tn f ct that the debt now ms ny
rn.i'n. m..re. than at tie close of the
war, calls Tor the condemnation of the
administration by all honest citizens.
They ask what disposition has been made
of the money, but the question is asked
in vain, and the cry is for reform. Mr.
Hereford then enumerated over the long
list of acts of official corruption that
had come under his own
observation while at Wash
ton, and laid bare TO the very core the
rottenness of Grants administration, and