Year: 1871

In accepting the nomination for Con-
gresham at-Large by the Illinois Repub-
ican State Convention, General Bever-
idge spoke as follows:


The nomination made confers upon me
distinguished honor, and 1 tender to you
my sincere and heartfelt thanks. Your
action may be regarded as an expression
of confidence in my fealty to the Repub-
lican party, and in my fitness to fill the
high and responsible position OF Congress-
man at-Large. Without claiming eminent
ab lities, and disavowing every pretention
to greatness, or to be great man, may
modestly ssy thst if elected to the high
position for which you have nominated
me will, to the best of my ability and
understanding, faithfully, conscientiously,
honestly, and without fear and without
corruption, discharge the duties of the
Office, ever keeping in view the interests
and prosperity of the people of the State
of Illinois, and the honor and glory Of
this great republic. [Applause. From
the organization of the Republican party,
in victory, in defeat, in peace, in war, and
at all times and on all occasions, i have ever
steadfastly adhered to its fortunes, and to-
day fin1 no apology for deserving its
ranks or departing from its principles, or
being uamindful of its sacrifices, its
spirit, and its devotion. Experience
teaches that it is very dangerous for q
man to forsake the party that elevated
him to power. False to his pledges, re-
creant to the high trust reposed in him,
lie stands alone, a political Benedict Ar
mold, having forfeited the respect and
sympathy of his friends, and merited the
contempt of his enemies. have no am
bition to initiate the example. The Re-
publican party may have its imperfections,
l,-k I,e11 81 IL
ton of political purity, and public virtuef
To the Democratic partys If there be
any corruption in the Republican party,
shall we go to the Tammany Ring? If
there be any inffaction of public faith,
shall we 90 to those who would pay the
national debt in the issue of an abundance
of WORTHLESS papar, or who would pay it
| otherwise than according to the spirit and
letter of the CONTRACT? If there be any
violation of the Constitution, shall we go
to those who declsre and maintsin that
] parts of the Constitution were established
in fraud and by force, or to that party
which waged war upon the goverement
and trampled that sacred instrument under
its unhallowed feets Whatever abuses
and wrongs there may be in the Republi-
can party, let us, in q spirit of amity and
reconciliation, within our own household,
as good and loving brothers, correct those
abuses snd remedy those wrongs.


The General, after stating the brilliant
record Of the Repub ican party in the
past, and all it had done for the country
and humanity, continued:


The mission of the Republican party
is not yet fulfilled. 1t must exist to give
stability and perpetuity to the great prin-
ciples settled by the war. There must be
no going back to slavery and barbarism.
The Republican party must abide to give
ton. In the solution of this great prob
lem we shall meet many difficulties; in
my humble opinion, there are certain car
dinal principles that we cannot ignore
The national debt, whether in bonds, or
greenbacks, or gold certificates, must be
paid, dollar for dollar, and according to
the very letter and spirit of the agree
ment. Men, women and children, who


have been thrown upon our care, must re-


ceive, quarterly, their pensions from the
government. There must be rigid and


faithful collection of the revenue of the


government, and rigid application there.


of Corruption must be ferreted out and


exposed, for no party that will conceal


corruption or make an apology for cor.


ruption can maintain the confidence of the


American people.


But am OBTAINING this convention toe
long. I desire here to express my kind


feelings to the distinguished gentleman


who have been in competition with my


self / regard them all as my friends, and


think very highly of them; and if ethel


of those honorable gentlemen, or the hon
orable gentleman upon this stage (Oglesby
had taken the position / now occupy be
fore you 1 would have given them my


most hearty and cheerful support Yor
have assumed the responsibility of my
nomination, and upon you and the Re


publican party, with my feeble efforts, de
pend the responsibility of my election
As we have just heard that Maine, in th'


far East, has spoken, and told US the Re
! publican party still lives, and, away of OF
the Pacific, California sends up its shou
of triumph, let US here, midway betweel
the oceans, in the great valley CT on
mighty river, send up, this fall, shout
victory which will be but the promise
a more magnificent success in 1872. LAP
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