Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-08-10

l
importance, and upon which we may have
10 form definite policy. When the time
comes for action, oil thoroughly loyal men
should agree TO support that policy which
the wisdom Of the majority may agree upon,
unless il shall conflict with some principle
censeientiously held in which case those
who so dissent have the undoubted right to
withdraw their connection, not from can
didate simply, but from the party. This
view of political organization is the only enc
have bean able to 6nd, which will secure
proper unity and power Of action, and at the
same time afford full scope TOR true progress
of opinion and that liberty OF individual
thought which, beg you to remember, is
as much tho right Of candidates as Of those
who nominate them.
Our convention adopted platform, OF
which the doctrinal part is substantially
embodied in two propositions: lst. That
slavery and its institutions are.irreconcilably
opposed to freedom and free institutions, +"
aud must be finally and completely eradica-
ted. I'd. That President Johnson's policy
of reconstruction is Endorsed with the
proviso that the complete restoration of the
rebel States "shall be at such time aud
upon such terms as will give unquestioned
assurance Of the peace and security not only
to the loyal people Of the rebel States. but
also Of the peace and prosperity Of the Fed
eral Union "r,it Iu 1,... ..sI ..s
The spirit and disposition which should
control US in determining the "time and
terms of reconstruction, and all other
questions of policy accumulating upon us,
were likewise stated in two resolutions, one
urging the example of eur martyred Presi-
dent Sin waiting for the solution OF difficult
ties to be furnished by the progress Of time
and logic OF events the other declaring
the necessity Of keeping steadily in view
tho great principles OF our Government, as
setforth in the Declaration Of lndepend-
ence. -iH r.-' + ~ .1.-a.
To condense still more, the essence of the
position OF the party, may bo said to be the
determination OF the political results of the
war by the united and harmonious action of
truly loyal men, actuated by spirit at once
cautious and controlled by an earnest belief
in the broadest doctrines of human rights.
To those principles have given my pub
lie and sincere adhesion. You arc the only
members of the Union party of the State
whom | have found impatient to commit
your brethren in advance of the meeting of
Congress to definite policy upon subject
upon which the convention had by strong
est implication declared it premature to de-
eide what course ought to be taken. The
State election decides no such issues; the
progress of events in the South will proba-
bly, throw increased light upon all such
questions; yet you insist that shall give
you my views, not for the purpose of mu-
tual assistance in arriving at solution of
a difficulty. but under notice that the votes
of your people will be determined for or
against mo by my answer. l think that in
so doing you wrong both yourselves and the
members OF the whole political organization
to which we belong, and to which you gave
pied ge OF cordial co operation upon the
platform so adopted, through your delegates
who were present at thesconvention. ~. >
| For myself have no secrets as to nv
opinions, and have never hesitated to de-
clare them on proper occasions. So for have
been from desiring to conceal them, that
l had sont, before the receipt of your letter,
! o private note to Professor Ellis, of your
place, indicating my plan for the final sols-
tion OF the problem OF reconstruction, and
seeking bis criticisms upon it. No restric-
tions were placed upon him in making it
known, except such as his own discretion
and friendship might impose. You are
misntOrmed as to my having requested my
views to be published at my home or else.
where. You must act upon your ewn re-
sponsibiity in determining what publicity
you shall give to this. The importance to
our country of determining rightly the grave
questions which must probably be settled
within the coming year, is too great to MAKE
me willing to omit using whatever influence
or information may have in assisting at
the solution, Whether in public or in pri-
vate life, shall freely give the results of
my experience and observation in the South
during the war, and the conclusions to
which my study of both races has led me,
shall expect the facts that | have been an
antislavery man fiom my youth up, that |
assisted at the original organisation of the
Republican party, and acted with it and the
Union party ever since, and that have
been Federal soldier from the surrender
of Sumter to the surrender of the last arm
ed rebel, will secure me candid and even
friendly hearing from all who have loved
the country and earnestly taken its part in
the late terrible struggle. If other views
than mine prevail, shall hold it my duty
to act chesrfully and promptly with the
body of loyal men, believing that the best
best .attainable, and that to divide from
them will be to deliver the Goyernmentinto
the hands of its enemies. ,r.is H.AlI
believe that the President is earnestly
determined to seek the good of the whole
country and Of all the races in it; that
he has full claim to that confidence which
we declared that We reposed in him;
and that what we as Union men cannot sue
ceed in doing in harmony and co operation
with him and his administration, we shall
fail of doing altogether. My support OF
him, therefore, will be no halfhearted sup
port but jealous aad thoroughly hearty
co operation, with no ulterior purpose or
thought of separation on issues likely to
arise. 1t is by tho cordial harmony of Mr..
johnson and the Union members of Con-
gress that the country is to be carried safely
through its present perils, and division be-
tween them would place me in imminent
danger of shipwreck. We may have di.
verse opinions as to the true solution of this
knotty problem of reconstruction, and du.
ring the proper period for discussion we
may and ought to discuss them with can
dor, with fullnsss and with tolerant spirit
but when this is done and the time for &C
ton arrives il will be the business of Con
gress and the Executive TO agree upon the
plan to be adopted. and that which is in
this manner honestly determined by devo
tedly Union men, shall believe, as have
+ before said, to be the best attainsble result
whether it agrees with my views or not. =
. In short, believe that usler no circum
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