Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-08-03
CrsroM IIoGsE,
PmLAnNl.rlIA. liam I'd. lsI

lmHApElrniA, July 30, 1866.
fo th"rlfs H. Cummings, Esp, Pre@ient u
MetiDg Qt Nrehaa@, &C..
DEAH srn have read in the public pa.
Rcra, with q deep sense Of my own umwol-
lhlnrss, yow resolutions and proceedings in
reference To my removal from the office /
have llllctl during the last five years. | will
moi attempt 10 express the gratitude feel
Tor the confidence you rcpose in me, nor the
great satisfaction the complimentary terms
in which you have hccn pleased to.speak of
my humble efforts 10 serve my country, as
wcl as the merchants of Philadelphia, hns
given me,
However much shall regret the severance
OF the business relations which have subsisl
ed between lis for 50 long period, and anN
ious as | am To protect the true men have
/ called around me in tile administration of
my duties as collector OF customs at this
port, cannot consent to hold the office by
the grace or favor Of The present incumbent
OF the Presidential chair, for single hour
after my successor shall have been legally
appointed.
! am conscientiously and maltcrably op-
posed 10 the policy of comforting political
rights upon the men who have been engaged
for four long years in the work of making
widows of the wives and orphans of the
children of our lamentcd dead, except ON
such conditions as the. enlightened Judgment
OF the patriotic men who have preserved the
Union by their wisdom in council ana valor
in the field may dictate. The President, il
seems, in order 10 lnlild up political party
of his own, has determined to make opinfaD
upon this subject II test Of fitness for Office.
The traitors Of the rcbellious States having
loresworn their allegiance To the ni,c,l
States Government, occupy by tLeir own act
the position of aliens TO that Government
and should never again bc permiuedto TO en-
Joy political rights un1cr il, until regularly
natnralized according To proper naturaliza-
tion laws; much lcya should they be allowed
an increase ofpolilical power Us the result OF
their work by an attempt to break up the
Union
| In the inscrualile workings of Divine
| Providence by which the wrath Of man is
made 10 praise HIM, the abolition Of ihe
borbarous institution of slavery, for the pre-
seryalion of which the rebellion was lnsti-
tuted was brought about The effect Of the
abolition of slavery, thus produced by slave
holders and their Northern allies, is the de-
sruction OF one Of the foundation stones I'M
on which the Constitution rests, viz: the In
sis OF representations and hold ii TO he The
first duty of Congress 10 see that that basis
is properly re-adjusted before they confer
political rights upon those who by their trea-
son have forfeited every right except that OF
being punished according To our Constitution
and laws
This is The only ojtat question which now
agitates The nation. On one side are arrayed.
with President Johnson at their head. the
Vallandighams and Reeds of the North, the
Dayises and Stephenses of the South, togeth-
er with Il small retinuc OF anxious Office ex-
pectanis, On the other side, in as solid pha-
lanx ms when they brought victory to the
stars and stripes Of the Union on the battle.
field, are the loyal men OF both sections OF
our common country, ready as ever to sus.
tain with their intelects and lives Con
gress upon which they rely as the hulwarl,
of the liberties of the people
Having refused to "Dow the knee TO BaaI. -
| have long known the intention of the Pre-.
sident to remove me at the earliest moment
in his power and it has only been because
he could not find a prolessed Republican Of