The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-22
The speech of Hon. schuyler Colfax.

people have greater confidence than Mr..
Speaker Colfax. He possesses that peculiar
combination of opposite qualities which we
desire to find in public. man, and which,
wheneyer found, will always inspire popular
trust. He is radical without being violent.
He Is thoroughly correct in his principles, yet
at the same time has a respect for those who
honestly differ with him. He has a proper
regard for the Office of President, and while
despising the course of the occupant, never
let's himself exhibit disrespect to the Office.
In fact, he is radical and practical, holding
steadfastly to principles, yet not rejecting that
olioy which is essential to party triumph.
We consider him as good an exponent of the
intentions of the Republican party as any
man in its ranks; and his speech in 1866, before
the assembling of Congress, showed him fully
conversant with the intentions and feelings of
our great organization.
Looking on him, then, in this light, we have
derived peculiar pleasure from reading his
speech delivered on Saturday night in reply to
q serenade. 1t is needed exposition of the
policy Of the party, and is so firm, temperate,
His. brief and cogent resume of the inconsis-
tency Of the policy of the President is as full
and as clear as though folios were taken to
explain his meaning; while his statements of
the advantages of the course pursued by Con-
gress will be responded to by all whose zeal
does not blind their discretion. 1t is, indeed,
true that "some condemn Congress
for having done too much in its past legisla-
tion, and some for having done too little. But
think it has struck the golden mean-frm,
and yet prudent; courageous, without undue
enactment infexible, and yet wise. The Pre-
sident, in his last veto, denounces this mill
tary despotism, as he calls it, and declares
that Congress has subjected the South to a
tyranny most intolerable. Instead of tyranny,
the keynote of the Congressional policy is pro-
lection to all, and the vindication and triumph
of loyalty, and, God helping us, we will stand
by it until it is crowned with triumph"
We heartily concur with Mr.. Colfax, that
the true policy of the Republican party is to
avoid further extremes. By keeping to the
middle way, we educated the people up to that
standpoint which cannot be attained at one
step, but must be reached by gradual ascent.
The policy of Mr.. Sumner, in seeking to throw
universal suffrage on the States, is suicidal,
and would end in the downfall of that party
whose continuance in power is now essential to
the preservation of the recently acquired rights
of our colored population.
We hope also, that the lesson taught by
Mr. Colfax will be followed by our orators in
the campaign soon to be opened. He but
echoed the sentiments of the gentlemen o
America when he said that 81 will use nc
words of disrespect towards the President, fol
although differing with him in policy as wide
as the poles, respect the office which he fills
and prefer argument to inveotive."
It is argument and not abuse which is
needed, and when we hold in our hands all
the arguments necessary to carry conviction,
why should we throw them aside and engage
in species of warfare in which there is every
probability our opponents are much better
versed than ourselves We can trust to the
sound discretion of the Speaker of the House
He is an old politician, and we recommend his
advice to all who feel that bitter abuse is more
appropriate than dispassionate debate.
In a very few words the Speaker showed
that all the assertions of the President against
what he deemed the "tyranny of Congress-
were baseless. He proved that all that Con-
gress had done had been previously executed
by the President by proclamation, the only
difference being that one was the work of the
legal legislature, the other the arrogant
assumptions of distinct department of Gov
eminent. He well sums up the parallel
cases;-
"Has Congress made State Governments
subordinate TO the military power? So ala Inc
President. Has Congress provided for the cali
ing of Slate conventions? SO did the PreSi.
dent. Has Congress authorized their ratiica-
tiOn3 so did the president But he ordered
conventions by his executive fiat, and recop.
niZed their constitutions without their bein
submitted to the people. Congress required
the people-the registered voters-to call the
convention themselves, and then to approve OF
reject their work by popular vote Has Con.
1ress required the ratification of a ConstiLu.
fional amendment? SO did the President. HaI
Congress- established test oath So did thu
President Our crime is, suppose, that w
provided that those whom the nation ha,
made free should have the freeman's ballot 70
their protection, while the President did not"
The parallel is perfect, with the exception {
the extension of suffrage to the loyal people
Yet the man who has furnished preceder
for each of the acts of Congress now threaten
TO disObey the laws because the qualification
presoribed are not the same as he held, in hi
wisdom, to be necessary.
By the records of the past Mr.. Colfax pre-
d;cta a glorious triumph in the future. II