Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-10-10

vors Impartial Suffrage-The
National Debt Must be Honor
ably Paid = His Convictions
Sympathies and Hopes with
the Union Party-Speech OF
Hon. e. B. Washburne.
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette
CHICAGO. Oct 6.
Hon. E. B. Washburne, Repre-
sentative in Congress from the Third
District of this State, who, has just
returned from his European tour,
addressed the 10 Davies County Con
ventlon, on Thursday. After touch
ing upon many questions, Mr.. Wash
burne proceeded to speak of Gen.
q. S. Grant.
He had gone out from 10 Davies
County six years ago or more, and
since then had changed his name tc
the history of the world His fellow
citizens, therefore, had more than an
ordinary interest in all that pertsin-
ed to him, and they had in all vicis
situdes of war, and obloquy, calumny
and detraction, given him their con
fidence and support.
But many false ideas had obtain.
ed. Many people had looked upon
General Grant as they would upon q
civilian, and politician, aud even 8
candidate tor civil Office. They
would seem to demand that he should
make known his political views on
the hustings, and through the news
papers, with all the arts of the com,
mon demagogue. The public had
no more right to expect Gen. Grant
to speak out than they had to expect
Lieut.. Gen. Sherman, Gen. Mead,
Gen. Sheridan, or Gen. Thomas to
make public their political views
The General was not in the habit of
preclaiming himself to the world.
but, like a wise man, had always
made his record through his acts.
Though not speaking for the pub
lie, no man was more frank in the
expression of his views on all public
matters, He was raised in the Wing
school of politics. His venerable
father. so well known in Galena, was
an active and influential member of
the old Whig party, and after it went
out of existence, of the Republican
party. The General vas always q
Whig, so far as he was politician
at all, and never belonged to, or had
any sympathy with the so called
Democratic party. He stated this
as fact.
Had Gen. Grant been member
of the Democratic party he would
have been in the same position as
he now is, and the same as all the
most loyal and patriotic men who
were in that party now occupy
Though not voter in Illinois in
1860, yet after Mr.. Lincoln's Admin
istration comm enced, and after the
firing upon Sumter. there was no
man who gave O more earnest sup
port to that Administration.
Gen. Grant was among the first to
comprehend the results that would
grow out of the rebellion; and the
country will not forget that as early
IS 1868 he wrote letter saying that
as anxious as he was for peace, he
did not wish to see it established
until slavery was wiped out.
In 1864 he was profoundly anxious
for the reelection of Mr.. Lincoln,
and no man more fully comprehend
ed the great fact that upon his re
election hinged the success ofour.
cause and the suppression of the reo
bellfon- He SO far departed from
his usual course in such matters as
to write and permit the publication
Of a letter, in which he briefly and
emphatically summed up the whole
question. That letter was publish
ed by hundreds of thousands by the
Congressional Commit
tee, and exerted a great influence in
Tile country. 80,
He was openly and strongly for
both Constitutional Amendments
He hailed the reconstruction act of
the Thirty-ninth Congress as the So
luton Of our difficulties, and he en- ]
tered upon the discharge of bis
duties under that act with zeal, vigi-
Ience and fidelity. rer,y
Sympathizing with Congress in its
action and apreciating the impor-
lance of being in session, he urged
and advised such action as would
secure an extra session if necessary.
When that session came, he express
ed the most serious fears of the effect
II q long adjournment, and with
ar reaching, sagacity,, anticipating
.he precise state of things that has
occurred, he used all his influence
With Senators to have them adopt
,he House provision Of the amended
,ill, requiring the assent of the SEN
tie to the removal of district COM
nanders. Favoring the Reconstrue.
ion acts, no effort of his has been
to secure their en- forcement
n their letter and spirit, to the end
hat Union might be speedily and
ully restored. s9, ~a 4
He believes that there is no pro.
ection or safety to the colored peo-
lie and loyal white people in the
ebet States, except through Impair
ial suffrage. The reconstruction |
cts having recognized the entire
quality of all American citizens in |
be States lately in rebellion, he be-
ieyes that consistency as well as
Justice demands thst tksre
hould be no discrimination against
ny class OF persons in any Of the
'tates. ..,-..s,, 49,
His sympathies, his conEictions,
nd his hopes, are now as they, al
rays have been with the great pstri,
dc and loyal people that carried the
oontry through the war.
He is in favor of upholding the
onor and credit of the National
government, and holds that all cur
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