Year: 1872

At public receptiotpgiven Mr.. Greeley at
Portland, Maine, on the 14th inst, he made
the following speech:


LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:


1t is certainly true that throughout the
course Of my life, as far as have been con-
nected with public affairs, have struggled
with such capacity as God has given me for
| first, impartial and universal liberty second,
for the unity and greatness of our common
country; third, and by no means least, when
the former end was attained, for early and
hearty reconciliation and peace among our
countrymen. For these great ends have
struggled, and I hope the issue of the third is
not doubtful. thoroughly comprehend that
no personal consideration has drawn together
this vast assembly. Other, higher, and grand
er considerations have collected you around
me to-day. [Cheers.l


Mr.. Chairman, it is part of the unwritten
law of our country that candidate for Pre-
sident may not make speeches in vindication
and commendation of the principles where
upon he is supported, nor the measures which
his election is intended to promote, though a
candidate for Vice President is under no such
inhibition. l not merely acquiesce in the re-
stricton, I recognize and affirm its propriety.
The temptation to n:;sreport and misrepre-
sent candidate for the higher post is so great,
Tie means Of circulating such perversions a.
mong the people who will never see word
of their refutation are so vast, that a candidate
has no moral right to subject his friends to the
perils he must brave, if not invite, by taking
a part in the canvass. Cheers. Yet there
is truth to be uttered in behalf of those who
have placed me before the American people in
my present attitude, which does them such
honor that.I claim the privilege Of stating it
here, and now.


This is that truth: No person has ever yet
made the fact that he purposed to support, or
actually did support, my nomination, wheth-
er at Cincinnati, at Baltimore, or in the action
which resulted in sending delegates to either
Convention, the basis of a claim to office at
my hand. No one who favored my nomina-
ton before either Convention, or at either
Convention has sought Office at my hands
either for himself or any one else; nor has any
one suggested to me that might strengthen
myself as candidate by promising to ap-
point any one to any important office what
ever. Loud cheers. Ia a very few in
stances-less than dozen, am sure-certain
of the smaller fry Of politicians have, since
my double nomination, hinted to me by letter
that might increase my chance of election
by promising post Office or some other place
to my volunteer correspondents, respectively.
have not usually responded to these over
lures, but l now give general notice that,
should be elected, will consider the claims
of these untimely aspirauts after those of the
more modest and reticent shall have been full
ly satisfied. Loud cheers.l


In two or three instances have been asked
to say whether would or would not, if elect
ed, coufne my appointments to Republicans.
l answer these by pointing to that plank of
the Cincinnati platform wherein all who con-
cur in the principles therein set forth are cor
daily invited to participate in their establish
ment and vindication. never yet heard of
man who invited his neighbors, to help him
raise a house and proceeded to kick them out
of it so soon as the roof was fairly over his
head. For my own part recognize every
honest man who approves and adheres to the
Cincinnati platform as my political brother,
and as such fully entitled to my confidence
and friendly regard. [Cheers.1


One other point demands word. Those
adverse to me ask what pledges I have given
to those lately hostile to the Union to secure
their support. answer: No man or woman
in all the South ever asked of me, whether
directly or through another, any other pledge
than is given in all my acts and words from
the hour of Lees surrender down to this mo-
ment. No Southern man has ever hinted to
me an expectation, hope, or wish that the rebel
debt, whether Confederate or State, should be
assumed or paid by the Union, and no South
ern- man who could be elected to a Legisla-
ture or made colonel of a militia regiment ever
suggested the pensioning of rebel soldiers, or
any of them, even as remote possibility
All who nominated me are perfectly aware
that had upheld and justified Federal legis-
lation to suppress the Ku-Klux conspiracy
and outrages, though l had long ago insisted
as strenuousy as l now do that complete am
nesty and a genuine oblivion Of the bloody,
hateful past would do more for the suppress
sion and utter extinction of such outrages than
all the force bills and suspension Of habeas
corpus ever devised by man. Wrong and
crime must be suppressed and punished, but
far wiser and uobler is the legislation, the poll
cy, by which they are prevented. loud
cheering


J From those who support me in the South I