The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-06-05
spEAkER coLFAx's REpLY.

tOllOWIuR buC VI DBedkeT
Colfax to the committee announcing his
nomination by the Chicago Convention:
WASHINGTON, May 80, 1868.
Hon. JR. Ha,oIey. President Of the national
Union Republican Committee:
DEAR SIR: The platform adopted by the
patriotic Convention over which you presi-
ded and the resolutions which 50 happily
supplement it, so entirely agree with nv
views as to just national policy, that my
thanks are due to the delegates as much for
this clear and auspicious declaration Of prin-
ciples as for the nomination with which
have been honored, ard which l gratefully
accept. When great rebellion, which i'm
perilled the national existence was at last
overthrown, the duty of all others devolving
on those entrusted with the responsibilities
of legislation evidently was to require that
the Tevolted States should be readmitted in
participation of the government against
which they had erred, only on such a basis
as to increase and fortify, not to weaken or
endanger, the strength and power of the ma
ton. Certainly no one ought TO have claim
ed that they should be readmittedEunder
such rule that their organization as States
could ever again be used as at the opening
of the war, to defy the national authority or
to destroy the national unity. This princi-
pie has been the pole-star of those who have
inhexibly insisted on the Congressional poll
cy your Convention SO cordially endorsed.
Bafied by Executive opposition and by
persistent refuslis to accept any plan of
reconstruction proffered by Congress, Justice
and public safety at last combined to teach
us that only by an enlargement of the suffrage
in those States could the desired end be at
-. ,pl hat G.. -
give the ballot TO those who loved the Union
to destroy it. The assured success of this
legislation is being written on the adzmant
of history, and will be our triumphant
vindication. More clearly, too than ever
before does the n5t'oa now recognize that
the greatest glory of republic is that it
throws the shield of its protection over tie
vindicstes the rights of the poor and, the
powerless as faithfully as those of the rich
and the powerful.
1 rejoice, too, in this connection, 10 find
in your platform the frank and fearless avow-
al, that uaturalized citizens must be pro-
tected abroad, at every hazard, as though
they were native born; our whole people
are foreigners or descendants of foreigners;
our ldIntls cotdOIisAcu W diua tAcii ilS Ut W
be called nation; it remains for US to estab-
lish the right 10 welcome to our shores all
who are willing, by oaths of allegiance, to
become American citizens; perpetual ale
glance as claimed abroad is only another
name for perpetual bondage, and would
make all slaves to the soil where first they
saw the light. Our national cemeteries
prove how faithfully these oaths of fidelity
have been sealed in the life-blood of thou
sands upon thousands Should we not
then, be faithless to the dead, if we did
not protect their living brethren, in the fnll
enjoyment of that nationality for which
side BY side with the native born, our sol
diers of foreign births laid down their lives
1t was fitting, too, that the representatives
of party, which had proved SO true tc
the national duty in time of war. should
speak SO clearly in time of peace, for the
maintenance untarnished of the national
honor, the national credit and good faith as
regards its debt-the cost of our national
existence.
do not need to extend this reply by fur.
ther comment on platform which has ELECTED
such hearty approval throughout the land
the debt of gratitude it Acknowledges to tht
brave men who saved the Union from de-
struction; the frank approval of amnesty
based on repentance and loyalty; the demand
for the most rigid economy in the govern
ment; the sympathy of the party of Liberty
with all throughout the world who long fol
the liberty We here enjoy, and the recogni
tion of the sublime principles of the Declara
ton of Independence, are worthy of tn,
organization on whose banners they are t
be written in the coming contest. Its pas
record cannot be blotted out or forgotten
If there had been no Republican party, slav
cry would to-day, cast its baleful shadow
over the Republic.
If there had been no Republican party,
free press and free speech would be as un
known from the Potomac to the Rio Grandt
as ten years ago. Ifthe Republican party
could have been stricken from existence
| when the banner of rebellion was unfurled
and when the response of no coercion wal
heard at the North, we would have had ne
nation to-day. But for the Republican party
daring to risk the odium of the tax and draf
| laws our flag could not have been kept fly
| ing 10 the field until the long hoped fo
victory came. Without Republican part!
the Civil Rights bill, the guarantee of equal
ity under the law to the humble and th,
defenseless, as well as to the strong, woult
not be to-day upon our national statute book
With such inspiration from the past, ans
following the example of the founders of tn,
founders of the Republic who called tn,
victorious general Of the revolution to pre-
side over the land his triumphs had saved
from its enemies, cannot doubt that oul
labors will be crowned with success, and i
will be success that shall bring restored
hope, confidence. prosperity and progress
South as well as North, West as well as East
and above all the blessings of Providence, o
national concord and peace.
Very truly, yours, SCHUYLER CoLFAx.