Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1867-09-20
HON. SCHUYLER COLFAX ON THE
POLITICAL SITUATION.

Il
The following letter from Hon. Schuyler
Coliax, Speaker of the House of Representa-
tiyes, is in response to an invitation to at
tend the Border State Convention held in
Baltimore, last week; and gives the views OF
the writer on the present situation oil peti-
cal affairs:
SouTH BEND, IND, September 9TH, 1867. |
MY DEAR SiR--Returning homo from |
visit TO the Copper and Iron Mines of the |
Lake Superior region, find your letter, ask |
ing me to attend the Bopler State Conven-
ton on the 18th instant and also all official
invitation from T. j. Wilson, Esq, Chair /
man of the Republican Union Committee OF
your State. Will you please explain to the
Convention that | am unable TO be present,
having promised to speak in various parts OF
Ohio, and with but a few days for correspon-
dence, business, &C., accumulated during
my absence.
| shall watch the proceedings of your
Convention with the deepest interest. The
country scarcely realizes how sorely tried
are the faithful Union men of the Border
States, especially Maryland, Delaware and
Kentucky; the States of West Virginia, Ten
nessee and Missouri, being administered
under happier auspices When in Kentucky
last June, Just before the meeting OF Con
gress, was panied and saddened at what |
heard from. Its most reliable citizens OF the
arrogant and donneering conduct Of the
dominant Rebel sentiment there; and il con
WINGED me that the House of Representatives
should at least inquire, as in July it resolved
TO do, into what kind of constituencies had
elected the representatives they sent to the
National Councils. AT the same session, al
though some of our friends hesitated, when
Mr.. Kelsey, of New York, offered his reso
luton instructing the judiciary Committee
to inquire if Maryland, Delaware and Ken
lucky had Republican State Governments,
so that the vote on seconding the previous
question was a tie gave the casting vote In
! the affirmative, because l honestly thought
it was most important and most timely
, inquiry. 1t is time to settle what is "a re.
publican government" Ii a State which
, enIrdnehises by the tens of thousands every
man who bore arms to destroy the nation,
. aud along with them every man who took
t. official Oaths OF allegiance to a so.caled
, government which could only exist on the
ruins of the Republic, and at the same time
, disfTdHchises by the tens of thousands othel
/, men who are free citizens OF the United
t. States and Enthusiastically loyal--lf such {
n State has republican government, woult
i like some learned jurist to inform us wha
would be an anti-repubican government
II State where loyalty is made .odious, ant
devotion to the Union in its darkest hours o
trial is punished by Oslracism, outrage ant
dishonor-and the bitterest enmity ant
= bloodiest hostility TO the Republic is tn
J, surest passport to social distinction, 10 publ
(, honors and to oillcnl irust-if that kind a
70 Government is one that the United States i
"a to guarantee-and that means to secure, 10 en-
Of dorse, TO protect-our Revolutionary father
le must have sadly misunderstood the meann
III of the language they placed so solemnly an
re- emphatically in the Constitution. will nc
IL insult their memories by believing it.
IN ! have the fullest faith that the Congress
IN which has dared to defy Rebel hate an
IN Executive obloquy and reviling, will not a
~ low such conduct to pass unrebuked. 1t
us their duty to protect loyal men everywhere
N and they mil do ii. Sneered at and denouI
he ced for sending investigating committee
" South, when the Presidents policy ha
ne ripened into that horTid crop OF riots, on
OK RACES and massacres the legislation whiC
nj grew out OF these investigations has bee
endorsed seen by all who love loyalty an
of abhor rebellion throughout the land. An
nd though their first duty when they reGssemb
al will be to determine whether the rece
u. Executive action, so tlagrantly defiant of Il
st. will of the people, and SO VIGOROUSLY at Il
nd demand of unTepentant traitors does n
lii require them to present the President at Il
are bar OF the Senate as an enemy of the cOu
in try in his persistent revivlfcation OF u
ar spirit of rebellion, an enemy of peace in Il
l. persistent obstruction to reconstructiOn
Ie. law, and a persistent defer of the express,
ns will of the hation-yet cannot doubt tn
ds they will also execute that constitution
M guaranty so wisely and so thoroughly til
The hereafter Union men IN the Border State
Der as elsewhere, shall realize that devotion
the country has not brought upon them d
honor, tyranny and oppression; but tn
ied throughout the whole Republic every one
his who has proven his love of the Union, al
ay, who rejoices in its preservation, shall
the adequately protected against all enemies
me the power Of the land he helped to save.
!pn Yours, very truly,
the SCHUYLER CoLFAI,
ltA Hon. John 1. Thomas, Jr., Baltimore, Nj