The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-05

in congress, and no state can be constitution
ally denied representation If the southern
states were never out of the Union, and could
not go out, then they were At any time, even
during the rebellion, entitled to be represent |
ed in congress, by true and loyal men, And
30, during the rebellion and by republican |
congress, loyal representatives from states in |
rebellion were admitted to congress, Why |
not now, since the rebellion is ended, as well |
as during its existence? What danger is to |
be apprehended from admitting loyal men
Of all men in America, those who remained
true to the Union while treason Haunted its
flag around and above them /; who, amid
threats and dangers, prosecutions, contisea'
ton and conscriptions, defed the enemies of
the Union, deserve our confidence and our
gratitude! Such men as these, congress re-
fuses to admit the representatives of
subdued people
We ask and demand nothing more than the
admission of loyal representatives to con-
gress. We do not, as radical republicans
falsely and maliciously assert. favor the ad-
mission to congress of disloysl men.
The third proposition to which the repub-
l;cap radicals have committed the party,
hardly needs o response. That same spirit
OF intolerance which now oharacterizes that
party is not of recent origin. la almost all
ages and countries it has been this scourge OF
church and state. 1t has ever been the most
fruitful source of dlscOrd, oppression aud
war. Spared by this red handed monster,
graves have opened to receive millions OF
slaughtered victims, In this nineteenth cen.
tury and in christian America, let US cruelty
our lust for moro blood, aud on the altar OF
our country burnincense to peace aud broth
srly love- Let US do justice, let US obey the
| constitution, ana restore ths Union by obey
| ing the constitution. All history proves that
no people can be made loya! to their govern.
ment by harsh and oppressive measures
Any loyal people will become disloyal by
wrongs aud expressions they connot remedy.
| We have many potent reasons, aside from
principle, to desire speedy restoration of
relations of amity between the north and
south. War has left its Footprints in burned
towns and cities, in O devastated country,
and an impoverished people. Most terribly
| has rebellion been seOurged. Policy and
repose, so that the south may speedily recov-
or from the blight of her treason and enter
upon a new aud more enlightened career
Let her repair her waste places aad let us re-
open our ones large and profitable com
merce let hsr furnish with her cotton,
rice, sugar and Tobacco, aud in exchange we
! will give her our pork beet, corn and manu-
features. Let her rocuperate her energies
and her wealth and help Us to pay the i'm
mense national debt under which we are
staggering. Vita a restoration of the Union
comes the restoration of commerce; com
msrca brings intercourse; an honorable in
teFcouTse insures permanent pence and peace
guarantees to the whole nation aa unsxam-
pied future of power. wealth and grandeur
The joint convention Over which you hac
the honor to preside was composed of p,er
willing to bury, for the present, the party
issues heretofore dividing them, and to unite
on the platform of the National Union Con
vention, with the sole object Of aiding il
bringing about just, equitable and peaceful
settlement of our unhappy differences. on tht
basis of the constitution. That platform il
patriotic and national in its character, nnC
EN- braces the fundamental truths upon which
the government was based and on which
alone it can be preserved.
Entertaining the views expires Sod, / &C
cept the principles enunciated by that con
vention, and pledge myself, If elected, to ad
here to them firmly and unswsrvingly.
On the subject of high protective tariff
l agree most cordially with the resoutio,
adopted by the convention. l am satisfis
that such d tariff is unjust and oppressive t
, all classes. except the few manufacturer
who reap immense profit under that system
. For years past the manufacturer has realized
profits ranging from twenty-five to four hun
= dred per cent, and yet he asks for more pro
lection
q 1t pleased your convention to express ii
views in reference to the cause of Ireland
| / need hardly say that sympathze with a
D people struggling for liberty and nationality
The long continued abuses, the UNI utt an
i. oppressive treatment of that unfortunate pee
n pie. by England, has naturally tended to kee
o alive the memory of her ancient independents
!. and to foster the hope of liberation. Whetl
err in or out of congress. l shall esteem it
!. high privilege, as well a duty, to do wha
ever I can, consistent with my own honor,
d advance the hopes of that oppressed countr.
: The other resolutions, not referred to, al
q quite explicit and need nothing from me
4 commend them. ---..
g Thanking you, gentlemen, for the fstterir
terms in which you refer to my nomination
u | am yours, &C.,
Q JOHN S. THOMPSON.