Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-07-12
CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTION.
MIR. COl1ax RC-NOminated by Ac-
Clama lion.

Z
District met in mass convention at Wcstville.
Laporte county, on Tuesday, and organized by
the appointment of Col. T. III. BR,SdHURsr as
President and the selection of a Vice Presi-
dent from each county in the District. Cory
Don Z. fuller, of st. Joseph, was appointed
principal Secretary, and all L Mon editors pres
ent were appointed assistant Secretaries.
Immediately upon the organization of the
Convention, motion was made to nominate Mn.
CoLFAx by reclamation, but at the suggestion
of a delegate from st. Joseph county, who an
nounced that he had a letter i'm his possession
! from VIZ. CoLFAx, which Mr.. c. desired should
be read to the convention before the nomination
was made. the motion was Withdrawn until af-
ter the reading of the letter. which was called
for. The following is the letter in full:
HOUSE OF RErRKsESrATvEs,
WASHINGTON, July 3, 1866.
Dear SiRs:--The harmony and success of the
UnoI organization, welded together in the furnace
IRE oil a four years war, is OF such paramount i'm
portance TO all other considerations, that | write
you this letter to be read at the Wcstville Conven
tion that my position may be Enthusiastically under
stood Ivy these who have honored me with their
confidence cordially and long.
Last winter, when my name had been suggested
by several papers in various parts OF the State for
the Senate. published n card, stating that
not. and never had been, candidate for that dis
tinguished position, having always preferred serv
ice in the House. Bat my must not be in the
way single moment if any considerable portion
OF the Convention prefer some other standard bear
er, even though that portion should be a minority
In that event, the Delegation from St. Joseph
County are requested TO withdraw my name, and
to pledge my most earnest exertions TO whoever OF
the many active and faithful friends of the Union
cause the Convention may prefer TO nominate.
The contest before u3 is of vital impor tance
to the truest and best interests of the Nation
the exciting contests Of 1862 and 1864 and the is
sues should be clearly and distinctly before the
people. They Can be condensed into single
question: (Which shall gocern in tie Councils Of
the Nation, Loyalty or Disoyahy?' 1t has been
well said, in language terse is true. that the
power to carry on War for National existence car
ries with il the power to prescribe the terms Of
Peace. Tho duty of guarding the land against the
danger of = second Rebellion is as imperative as
il. preservation from the first And nothing seems
clearer than that the same authority, which pre-
vented eleven States from destroying the Union,
has a right. disputabo As the right OF self.Ge.
fence, to regulate the resumption of the relations
Of these States.
When the Rebel armies surrendered, the Pre.i.
. dent decided, and rightly, that civil government
had been destroyed in each Of the Rebel States,
and he officially proclaimed that fact in his com
missions to Provisional Governors thereof. The
Congressional policy starts from the same initial
point: The President declared that essential
ditions, involving great changes. must be complied
with by those States before they could resume
their forfeited rights. And does Congress-
: The President required the ratification Of an i'm
fportant Constitutional amendment, which had been
; submitted by Congress representing the loyal
Il States, and in which the rebel States had had no
/ voice. And Congress makes similar dem md to-
rf.xhf ft11r
their ratification of one amendment, changing
o their whole system Of labor and destroying wha.
n they regarded vested rights Of property, pro-
n posed by Congress in which they we're uurepre
scented, and in conflict, as II was, with their life
Z ong prejudces. why cannot the Congress, elected
: as the law. making power of the country by the
same voters as himself, require the ratification OF
:, another amendment, preventing the Rebel States
" from welding increased power in Congress here
after. because OF the war. which. against their de
sires had lifted their slaves into the full stature
. Freemen7
That this amendment is in accordance with the
:. wishes of the loyal millions who the brilliant
Is political victory Of 1864 is proven by the unanm
Il ty with which it supported in the House o.
Representatives. Every man. elected as Union
u member, whether from the North the South
< from the East or the West gave it his vote; mo-
70 barely the twothirds required by the Constitution
:, but nearly four fi,hs. On shis amendment, as
security for the in,ure, the Union party the Ma
g ton have planted themselves; and l shall stanc
70 with them most cordially, indicating its justice
wisdom and necessity. and willing on it 10 stand o
fall.
Il For one, I do no. doubt the result. Shall reb
Df els settle their terms OF coming back to govern
N usl Shall they re- ascend cnlarg ed and inc.
ed power. using steps the graves Of the Unior
' dead! Should not Congress, whose solemn du q
OF it is to that the Republic suffers evil pause
ct before the bitter foes of yesterday admitted tt
-, the inner sanctuary Of the Nations lifel Ough
= they not TO guard the Halls of National Legisla
ar ton from being trodden down by the feet Of thos
1t who have been numbering the defenders Of N,
% Union for fidelity allegiance they themselve.
so wickedly repudiated!
IL Every newspaper ia the land, North or South
Ct which euosized Jefferson Davis and villied Abra
10 ham Lincoln. now dcnouncrs Congress in the Sc
~ ycrsst terms. Every unrcpentant rebel and un
scrupulous sympathiser joins them in their revil
ings. But rejoice that has been faithful. .'
% ine xble, in wha. il has regarded As the pathwa,
=, Of Duty and Of Right. And it now remains 70
: the People, by their endorsements rejection o
: its proposed Constitutional guaranty, to approve
4 or to condemn those who present it nGispen
sable prerequisite to the restoration of the forfeit
ed rights aud the political power our enemie
= made su ch hot haste to resign and abjuro at tn,
lie opening Of the Rebellion. Nor arc these term
in oppressive or unjust. Never has Nation, who's
-, existence has been imperilcd, and whose hundred
Oh tnOCe9nus OF graves anu tnOusaiius VI
ne ofdebt, attest its gigantic sacrifices. offered NOR
" enient conditions to those who conspired for it
;r destruction. Have forgotten the insulting de
6arce with which their members, sworn like our
ic selves to the Constitution and the Union, LEI
sc their seats here-the prosecutions, conscrptons
IS tyranny, explosions and hanginss by the Rebeau
therities, Of all who refused to forswear like them
selves, their allegiance to their country and thsi
fag--the wilful torture and starvation OF
av thousands Of our soldiers when prisone in hei
. hands--their unyieldng pcrsistency in the parri
cidal conflict til armed rebellion expired, ne
oi from change OF will bu. IRON poverty OF
ID and the herosm of the 10y al boys in bue--the con
e tnued existence OF this hostile feeling evidenc
ed in their political and social prescription Of ever
Southerner who fought for his country, the dsloy
on al utterances of their press and pulpit, and the e.
tie ecton in every Rebel State OF Governors who ha
Il served or fought for the Rebellion7 Despite a
this. Congress only asks that Representation
ne North and South shall be based on those eHgibl
Nc TO participation in political power; that the Civ
d. Rights of all persons. native born or naturazed
shall be maintained; the National Debt and tn
d Pension List preserved invioiate the Rebel bet
he regulated; and exclusion from Office OF those whit
at: having once taken and broken oath Of hdelit
to the Nation, could not be trusted in the fsithil
fuIflment hereafter Of another similar obligation
I'M Contrast this with the course of cur Father
fer towards those, who, during the Revolutionary wa
refused TO fight for she independence Of the Coli
Il - ~. =. ILL.,