I am not a candidate, never have been, and could not accept the gubernatorial nomination under any circumstances.

I answered directly, and plainly, that I was not a candidate; would not and could not become one.

I have been under so many obligations to the Republican party of Ohio, that, if this was merely a matter of personal interest or feeling, I would say 'yes!' But, I cannot accept this nomination.

First, because you have charged me with the duty of a Member of the Senate of the United States; and I could not surrender that, with my sense of what is just, not only to the people of Ohio, but to the people of the United States.

I could not accept your nomination without a feeling of personal dishonor, and that you certainly do not wish to bring upon me.

Although all of you, my Republican friends, would know I was sincere in that declaration, yet the censorious world at large would say that I had not acted a manly part; I could not bear an imputation of that kind.

So that, even if the nomination were presented to me with a unanimous feeling in this convention, yet I would feel bound, by a feeling of personal honor, which is the higher law, especially among Republicans, to decline.

A great outcry was made by Democratic orators and newspapers in farming communities against this injustice, and I was selected as the leader and author of it.

I denounced the hypocrisy of those who assailed me, whose representatives voted for even a greater reduction, and some of them for free wool.

I studied, as well as I could, its wonderful resources, both mineral and agricultural.

The strangely varied surface of the different states of the Union would, in case of war with any power, enable us, from our own soil and from the riches buried under it, to support and maintain our population.

Already more than nine-tenths of the articles needed for life and luxury in the United States are the product of the industry of our countrymen.

Our partial state of isolation is our greatest strength, our varied resources and productions are our greatest wealth, and unity in national matters, independence in local matters, are the central ideas of our system of government.

I said: "All these distinguished and able gentlemen have been Republican partisans, as I have; and Judge Hoadley has, I think, been rather more free in his denunciation of the Democratic party than I have.

He treated the reduction of the duty on wool with the same dexterity, charging it upon the Republican party, when he knew that every Democratic vote had been cast for it, and for even a greater reduction, and that nearly every Republican…

Both have had a beneficial influence, not only in instructing their members on political topics, but in disseminating sound opinion throughout the state.

I said the Republicans were defeated because of the prohibition question and the law reducing the tariff on wool; that many Germans feared an invasion of their rights and an interference with their habits, and the farmers objected to the…

If these statements are true, then in both these states there have been organized conspiracies to subvert the freedom of elections, accompanied by murder and violence in many forms.

If they are true, then in those communities the members of our party and one race have no rights which the prevailing party is bound to respect.

It is not well to assume these allegations to be true without the fullest investigation and inquiry by the legislative power, for, if true, the gravest questions of public policy arise that we have been called upon to consider since the…

I have no desire to open up sectional questions or renew old strifes, but would be glad to turn my back upon the past and devote myself to questions of peace, development, and progress.

Still, if these allegations are true, it would be a cowardly shrinking from the gravest public duty to allow such events to deepen into precedents which would subvert the foundation of republican institutions and convert our elections into…

The war emancipated and made citizens of five million people who had been slaves.

This was a national act, and whether wisely or imprudently done it must be respected by the people of all the states.

I worked hard that winter, for hard work, I thought, was the way to fortune.