Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-08-31
EpwAnp Q. nRApFoRp. nsa.

lowing letter of E. @. Bradford, Esq who
at present holds the office of United States
District Attorney. 1t was mailed on the
SOth of July last, and is in reply to the printed
Randall circular" to various officials, de-
string their endorsement of the Presidential
Policy" and assistance In getting up the
late Philadelphia Convention of Rebels, Cop
perheads and Bread-and- Butterflies.
The letter speaks for itself, and is just
such an expression as the Union party of
Delaware expects from men, who, like Mr..
Bradford, have always stood in the front
rank of the organization. To him public
honors are of no value, if secured or retain
ed at the expense of principle; and his re-
ply indicates that he is not willing, while
holding a responsible position under the
Administration, to rest under any suspicion
Of retaining it by the sacrifice of personal
integrity or compromise with wrong. The
office he holds is at the disposal of Andrew
Johnson-but the traitor at the White House
has not enough of patronage within his gin
to purchase Mr.. Bradiord's principles.
A. w. RANDALL,
President of the Executive
Committee Of tie "Nationd Union Club
ST:-A printed circular, with your name
attached as President, has been forwarded to
me, under the frank of Senator Cowan, of
PENNSYLVANIA.
My position as a United States officer, (U.
5. Attorney for the Delaware District, and
my personal inclnations, induce me to reply
to this communication.
The nhippf of In Nattono1 Tn;a
lion to meet on the fourteenth day of August,
in Philadelphia, is to overthrow the Repuh
llcan party and TO substitute therefor Il new
political organization.
II would not he decorous to impute to some
ot the gentlemen engaged in this enterprise
Il want of patriotic motives, and vet, with
out entering on the question of principle,
supposed 10 lie at the bottom of the proposed
new party, and indeed TO constitute its ne
cessity, one would think the heterogeneous
ana piebald character OF the materials neces-
sary TO construct such an organization, would
startle truly loyal man, and make him
question his own honesty ON being found in
such company. "N0scitur SOciis, - is, after
ALL the great test, Mr.. Randall, for political
and public as well as social and private NOR
alty; and party which can never be more
than hadoo, myth, without the adhcr-
enCe of the masses, of which Vallandigham
anu stephens are the types North and South,
would afford associations not at all doubtful
in their character for honest and loyal men
l object to being connected with such
party.
The educated conscience and loyalty of
this country, without being concerned with
or for the alleged radicalism of Messrs. Sum-
ner and Stevens, heartily approve of the
general course of action of the present Con
gress-a Congress of eminent ability and
patriotism-the only proper and legal expo
nent OF the legislative wisdom and expert.
ence of the country.
upon this point there can by this time be
no reasonable doubt.
Between the Republicans and their oppo-
nents there remains to be settled a great
issue, and that is shall the great rebellion
De closed up in such manner, and on such |
a basis as to give reasonable security for the |
future or not. The Republican party SAYS, |
the losses and agonies already endured will |
not permit them to leave in existence preg-
nant causes for future rebellion. Their enc
mics say, the States are sovereign, there are |
no causes for apprehension, and if there |
were, the remedy would lie in the exercise
Of State authority
Negro citizenship is the subject of the |
struggle Not in its mere name, but in its |
fruits, its reality, its substance. To this the |
honor of the nation is pledged. In the ma.
ture OF things there can be no security for |
the future until that pledge is redeemed by |
appropriate legislation There will not and |
cannot be any other legislation cOmmensu- |
rate with the evil to be remedied, than Ma |
uonal. Not peonage, or apprenticeship was |
promised to the negro-but citizenship
Shall the nation protect this right and secure |
the intellectual and moral elevation of the |
race, or abandon him and disgrace us rs a |
people before the civilized world? In the |
latter Policy" there could be no security |
for the future. The antagonisms growing |
out of such a state Of things would most pro. |
bably breed future rebellion. The Republi. |
cans would remove the causes Of such re-
bellion.
The nation has decreed citizenship to these
people; II can never recede from this position |
The grant cannot be perfected without the |
exercise Of that power which the several |
States do not wish 10, and will not exert |
Shall alleged State rights be permitted to |
interfere with the clear, imperative and con.
stitutional duty of the National Government
to protect its own citizens in their most
valued individual rightsY The Republicans
say, no. You and your new party say, yes.
There Is no security for the future in the
latter 'polcy."
You not only advocate cause which
would he iraught with danger to the future
peace of the country, but you propose to
trust the execution of your plans to a coali-
lion of Rebels, Copperheads and dsaiTected
Republicans and this, too, before the wounds
made by the great rebellion are healed. The
ldca of genuine Union party outside the
ranks of the present loyal one is simply an
absurdity. Rest assured, Mr.. Randall, there
IS not standing up roam in The c0untiy far
my togM purity bettbeeR the Union pariy. Of
tohtch tho present Congress is tie Repressati-
Hee, a"d lie late enemies Of tie gocerAmenL
The Republican party is good enough for
me Will not consent TO its overthrow and |
tue iatal consequences of such nm act. II /
has carried us successfully through n war of
great ideas and generous thoughts, and trl.
hmphantlY shielded the nation from the malir-
nant attacks Of open and secret traitors. In
my Judgment there is no security for the
luture except in its principles of Justice and /
enlarged views of human rights, and par
tlculary as affecting the rights of the in.
dlYidual citizen, decreed by tie sovereign
power OF the nation and only to be secured
ny system of national policy and legislation
adopted under its auspices.
decline the honor, sir, of being engaged |
IN the overthrow of such party
am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
,,,. EDWARD G. BRADFORD.
Wilmington, Del, July Both, 1866.