The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-05
lAiedo Ill. Aug. 30th 1863

informing me of the action of the joint con-
vention, over which you had the honor to
preside, held at Monmouth on the Oath inst.
Ii is due TO the members of that conven-
ton, as we'll as to myself, to say that was
not candidate for the nomination so gener-
ously and with such unanimity rendered |
me. Considerations personal to myself al |
most forbid my acceptance; but recognizing |
the wholesome doctrine that no man should |
seek or decline official position am persuad-
ed to forego my other engagements and as
sumo the task of leading to victory the true |
Union men of the Fourth congressional dis
trlct.
Although heretofore acting with the re-
publican party, l never sympathsed with
all the principles and tendencies of the ra1I-
cal element which now controls that party
and L am firmly persuaded that the time has
come when patriotic men of all parties should
unite on a common platform TO resist the
unreasonable, unlawful and dangerous de-
uands of the extreme men who now control
both houses of congress, and to restore be-
tween the north and south relations of kind
ness and fraternal feeling.
The unkind feelings engsndered By slavery
and its agitation the revengeful passions
aroused by the late desperate conflict: should
cease with the causes which gave rise TO
them, and we should address ourselves to the
task of restoring peace and prosperity to
distracted aud divided country. No higher
or nobler motive can inspire the head and
heart of the man who looks to the present
and future welfare of our beloved country
who regards peace as ettainable, the restors-
ton of the Union desirable, and national
prosperity as valuable. The old Issues here
tofore dividing the people into separate po-
| liticsl parties are of no moment whatever
compared with the questions forced upon the
people by the extraordinary demands of the
republican leaders-demands unjust in
| themselves. at war with fundamental law as
expounded by themselves, and subversive of
| free government.
| The republican party, BY its radical lead
ers, is firmly and unalterably committed to
/ three propositions: 1st negro suffrage I'd
opposition to the admission of loysl represen-
| tatives from the southern states, in the con-
| gress of the Union; and 81 to an Unsuitable
| spirit Of hatred and vengeance toward all
men, north and south east aud west, who do
not yield obedience to their will and vote
their ticket.
To the first proposition l am opposed
The states have the exclusive right of deter
mining who shall be electors and any at
tempt, by congress, directly or indirectly, to
force negro suffrage on an unwilling people
is as dangerous in principle as it is unjust
and anti republican in practice. If ever the
time does come when the ballot can be safe
ly entrusted to the negro, the people will
give it him. But until he is educated up
to it, aud fully prepared for the exercise Of
the highest privilege of freeman i. is worse
than folly to discuss it. The agitation of
that question, now, can only be productive
of injury to the negro by keeping alive the
prejudices against him, entertained by the
dominant race, and of reviving those fearful
exhibitions Of popular passion which have
30 often disgraeed the north and the south.
To the second proposition cannot sub
scribe. Tt is useless TO discuss the question
whether the end of the rebellion left the
states, lately in rebellion, as states or terri
tories. 1t is wholly imnaterial to discuss it,
simply because the government has determin-
ed it and settled the proposition forever
| The whole war was prosecuted on the ground
that the Union was perpetual and indestruc-
tible; that no state could secede from the
Union, either rightfully or wrongfully, and
that the rebellion was a rebellion of the people
and not of the states.
MIR. Lincoln and the whole republican
party sustained him took the ground that the
military power Of the federal government
| was called out TO execute the federal laws
and to protect and reposses federal property
that when that was accomplished the mill
tary power of the government was exhausted
as against the people in rebellion.
Now the rebellion is at an end, the federal
| laws executed In all the states, and fed.
eral property is under the federal flag. The
power of tho rebellion is forever broken, "she
situation is accepted" civil governments are
reorganized by the people, slavery is forever
abolished, and loyal men from the southern
states ask to be admitted to congress, land con
gress says, "No!" Why Although we
treated your states, during the war, as states
in the Union, we held that state could no,
seoede from the Union and the war was prose.
cuted to keep them in the Union. On thai
theory the rebellion was conquered on thai
theory, since the rebellion ended, we, the
congress of the United States, submitted tt
you the constitutional amendment abolishinp
slavery, and which Sou adopted. still we non
propose to treat you as conquered provinces,
and before you can be represented. even by
loyal men, you must FIRST adopt the other
constitutional amendments we have propos
ed! asi3 @a2 Lac 4a sa+
Radicals well know that the moment they
admit loyal representatives to congress from
the southern states, that moment the Union