ly, will my body rest with your fathers.
But pardon me, fellow-citizens, if, under the kinds words of welcome
of your spokesman, my old and honored friends, Mr. Hedges, I had
forgotten that we are not here merely to exchange courtesies, but
to discuss grave matters of far more importance than the life or
memories of an individual.

"In doing so I wish it distinctly understood that I speak for myself
alone, as a citizen of Ohio, to you my fellow-citizens and my
neighbors, to whom I am under the highest obligations of gratitude
and duty.

"The President authorized me to say one thing, and one thing only,
for him, and in his name, and that is that all reports that impute
to him any participation whatever in the nomination of candidates
on your state ticket, or any desire or purpose to influence in any
way the senatorial contest in Ohio, are utterly groundless.

"These are your matters, and I can assure you for him, that he does
not and will not, interpose in any such contest between political
friends.

"You all know that I am now, and have been, warmly attached to the
Republican party. I believe in its principles and honor its work.
With my strong convictions I could not conceal my partisan bias,
or my earnest hope for the success of the Republican party, but
the subjects of which I intend to speak to you to-night will not
lead me to say much of former political struggles, or to fight our
old battles over again, but chiefly to discuss the actual administrative
questions of the day as they have arisen since the 4th of March
last, and in all of which you are alike interested, whether you
may call yourselves Republicans or Democrats. As to those questions
I wish fairly to appeal to the candor and good judgment of honest
men of both parties, only asking for the administration of President
Hayes that considerate charity of judgment which must be extended
to all human agents.

"When Mr. Hayes was inaugurated as President he found thirty-six
states in the full and uncontested exercise of all the powers of
states in the Union. In two states only there were contests as to
who was governor. Both contests had existed from January to March,
1877, while General Grant was President.

"In South Carolina Governor Chamberlain claimed to have been elected
on the Republican ticket, and General Hampton on the Democratic
ticket. The President is not made the judge of who is elected
governor of a state, and an attempt to exercise