XLI.

ON the 11th of August, about eight o'clock in the evening, Governor Tilden reached Syracuse, on his return from Buffalo. As soon as his arrival became known, the citizens began to throng toward his hotel; and by nine o'clock the square in front of it was filled, and loud calls were made for the Governor. He finally came forward with the Mayor of the city, by whom he was presented to the people. As soon as the applause and cheers which his appearance provoked had a little subsided, the Governor proceeded to address them. The fact that Syracuse was the home of the most conspicuous and influential members of the Canal Ring lent special significance to the Governor's remarks.

VACATION SPEECH-SYRACUSE.

CITIZENS OF SYRACUSE AND THE COUNTY OF ONONDAGA, — If I had anticipated that I should be called upon to-night to speak to such a vast assemblage of people as I see before me, I should have been more economical of conversation on the cars. I am glad, however, to meet you. I am glad to see that the question of reform in the administration of the public affairs in this State is awakening a deep interest in the minds of the people.

It is not necessary for me to draw your attention in detail to the particular abuses in regard to the canals of this State. You have become, alas! too familiar with the situation. Here, under your own eyes and your own observation, these transactions have been carried on in open day by a combination that have sought to rule the State. I am sure, by your coming here to-night, that you are determined there shall be thorough and effectual reform in these matters. Fellow-citizens, so far as depends upon me, I wish to say to you that nothing shall be withheld. Your cause will be carried forward and onward. All the force of the law will be exercised to procure for you your rights, and to punish those who have violated them.

I was called on this morning to speak some words of encouragement and hope to four hundred little boys in the Western House of Refuge. During all my journey I have been frequently followed by persons asking for their friends and for those in whom they were interested a pardon from the penitentiaries and State prisons. I have been compelled to look into such

cases to see who are the inmates of these institutions and of what they have been accused, and to ascertain what it is that constitutes the wrong to society of which they have been convicted. When I have compared their offences, in their nature, temptations, and circumstances, with the crimes of great public delinquents who claim to stand among your best society, and are confessedly prominent among their fellow-citizens, crimes repeated and continued year after year, I am appalled at the inequality of human justice. The effort to give you redress has been for the last three months derided and scoffed at. We have been told that nothing would come of it; that the people would fail; that their rights would not be maintained; and particularly that these great, rich, and powerful culprits would prevail - would escape the measures of the law and the punishment of their crimes; that their palaces, built with the moneys drawn from the sweat and toil of our honest, industrious, hard-working citizens, would continue to rise like exhalations and shame public morality and public honor.

Fellow-citizens, I say to you to-night as I said on the 4th of November, 1871,- now nearly four years ago, when I took a share in the great contest in New York city,—in your cause I will "follow where any shall dare to lead, or lead where any shall dare to follow!" The cause will not fail; whoever shall venture to stand against it will fall to rise no more. I have no apprehensions that the law will fail of its efficacy; but I will speak a word of encouragement to those who are less hopeful. You can send, if needful, to the legislative bodies men who will make new and better laws to punish these wrongs and to bring these wrong-doers to justice; and the people, by the exercise of; their sovereign authority, may, if need be, in convention assembled, redress all defects and failures of public justice. If our legislative bodies and public officers fall short of their duty, the people can recall the powers they have delegated, can renovate the administration of justice, until those eyes, represented in Roman statuary as blind, shall be made to see substantial right and genuine law.

Fellow-citizens, I know you do not expect me to address this vast audience beyond a reasonable exertion of my voice. I will therefore refer you to what I said on a late occasion before the Buffalo Board of Trade. Every word said there I repeat to you to-night. I assure you that, so far as the administration of the law is concerned, nothing shall be spared to protect and enforce your rights with impartial justice. I say this in no spirit of vengeance, "with malice toward none, with charity for all;" but, with a firm devotion to the rights and interests of the people, the work of reform must and shall go forward.

XLII.

ON the 12th of August Governor Tilden arrived at Utica. During the evening he was serenaded, and presented to the citizens of Utica, who had assembled in large numbers to greet him, by the Honorable Francis Kernan, a resident of Utica, and then a member of the United States Senate. Mr. Kernan, in introducing the Governor, said he desired to unite with his fellow-citizens in commending the firm, energetic, and untiring exertions of the Governor to inaugurate reform and to bring back the administration of the State government to honesty and economy in every department. Governor Tilden replied as follows.