Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-01
TO JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, ESQ:

BosToN, October u, 1867.
TO JOHN Quincy ADAMS, ESQ:
The undersigned. comprising for The
most part men who have never been iden-
titled with the Democratic party, beg leave
TO express their hearty concurrence III the
sentiments Of your manly letter to the Pre-
sdent Of the Democratic and Conservative
Convention recently held at Worcester, IN
which you accept nomination by that
body for the office Of Governor Of MHssct-
chuSetts and also their purpose 81 render
ing YOU their cordial support at the polls.
We have great pleasure in the tact that We
are consciously able to give our hand and
vote to one who bears 50 hOnOred name
as yours, and that We recognize i'll you
representative III the fourth generation Of
patriotic service and public worth. 1t IS q
satisfaction to Us to find that q race SO en-
inent in the past gives such promise Of use
fulness and distinction in the future.
We feel that old issues have passed away,
and that old names have grown obsolete
We have now to inquire, not by what title
party is called, but what principles it pro
claims, and what policy 1t proposes 10
adopt. Ia this view we find III the rcsolu
tons OF the Convention at Worcester, which
Nominated you, much that we heartily COM
mend. A party which stands upon that
ground, by whatever name It may be called,
meets our entire appreciation, and will have
our cordial support. And We honor IN you,
once Il member OF the Republican party,
the manly courage, characteristic Of the
blood that flows III your veins, that does
not fear, i'll the way OF duty, to meet the
charge of Inconsistency SO invariably raised
by those who cannot distinguish between
names and things.
No ha, 7 rs To q
of duty during the civil war which has re-
Gently convu!sed the country. 1t was war
to maintain the legitimate authority OF the
Government of the United States over the
whole territory OF the United States, and
to determine whether the right OF secession
existed as a lawful right under the Constr
tuition. Painful as the necessity Tor a civil
war Was, and always is, it had become q
necessity in our case and the path OF duty
was plain before us. It was to sustain the
Government, to uphold the Constitution,
preserve the Union, and enforce the eXecu-
ton Of the laws.
But now the war has been long over, and
new class Of duties is deyolved upon the
people of the country. All armed resls-
lance to the authority Of the Government
has ceased. Our business is now, not to
subdue, but to create and renew to heal
the wounds of civil strife, and to repair its
Losses. Our duty IS to restore the Union
and by that we mean q Union IN truth as
we'll as in name,-ln spirit as well as IN
form. A Union maintained by force, in
which sullen and discontinued minority
is controlled by the bayonetS Of standing
army, is not the Union which our fathers
! framed,-i not the Union which we desire
| to transmit to OR children.
| We agree with you in your views upon
! the importance Of maintaining unimpaired
* the doctrine of State rights, as under
stood and promulgated by the founders
Of our Commonwealth, and by the fathers
Of our national Union" We were not
brought up in the States rights school, SO
called. Upon this subject we have nothing
to learn and nothing to Unlearn. Our
creed upon the rights Of the States, and
: the powers of the General Government is
/ to be found in Webster's immortal speech
in reply to Hayne.
| We also agree with you i'll your remarks
upon the subjects of finance and taxation.
i We hold that both in the extent to which
! the principle Of protection has been push
ed by the recent legislation of Congress, as
we'll as in the manner in which it has been
applied in detail, there has been shown Il
gross ignorance Of the elementary princi-
pies of political economy, the results OF
which are already seen in the diminished
prosperity an. productiveness Of the coun-
| try. The same remarks may be made as
I to our cumbrous and complicated system
OF internal revenue, by which the Govern
ment is defrauded and the people are de-
moralized.