New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-15
THE CAMPAIGN.
SPEECH OF SENATOR MORTON.


The following are the remarks made by Sem
ator Morton Thursday, in speaking upon the joint re-
solution of Mr. Edmunds relative to the representation
Of the Southern States in the electoral college:
Mr. President, / do not rise much to discuss the
merits Of these several propCstons as 70 say Iat s
Edmunds believing that 1t Is more specific and direct
than the other two but perhaps any one OF them would
desire however to say word in regard to the i'm
portance OF TINS measure n ia ~ oe jt h %
which has but just adjourned have read the resola
Mes II has laid down, and upon which its candidates
have been placed and wish to call the attention OF the
az forn nd nv the character of these candidates
Gen Grant i'm his letter OF acceptance, said, let us
have peace y but Democratic party by their ConSem
tion in have said, ''let US have war; there
shall be peace They nave ueciacu III suDslnDo'
might say perhaps in direct terms tnat Ihe %
tion of these States under the several acts OF Con
gress shall be permitted TO stand pHe snS DC 9Ee
turned by military force II they get the Power ny
have announced that there shall be no peace IA ths
country; that there shall be no Oh gu, &
except npon the condition Of the triumph OF lnoe VINO
have been in the Rebellion TINS paII9rin n1 inese
nominations declaration OF renewal OF the teTeTn
Let call your attention 10 part VI .ho f ths
tion i'm regard to very question In speaklbg Oh me
reconstruction OF the states they 10 each STATE making
no difference between loyal STATES tnat nav nav tt,r
peace and States that have been In rebellion putting
them all on the same footing.
"And that any attempt by Congress on any pretext
whatever" s upon the "pretext or the keDenoh
II Won 20 deprive any state OF this right or in
terfere with its exercise, Is a0Iah Vi PoH
sanctioned by the people, VIII suo'ert our Ioi VI HoF
eminent . 40, ,..-s....oo =, co,,,rogs NTH
I'm states that have been in rebellion, though that
interference NAV be absolutely necessary, as we have
found it, TO the reconstruction or the states Is uncOnst
tntionoi and that no justification be found for it, and
that it will subvert our form of government.
Mr. HOward-Read the rest OF IT,.
MIR Morton-Yes Sir will read the balance Of It:
And can only end in a single centralized and conso
the states will be entirely absorbed. and an unqualified
dcspotism be established in place OF Federal Union OF
coedua States, AMI that regard the Reconstruction
acts $50 called OF Congress suchare usrpat0ns ana
unconstitutional, revolutionary and void
This Convention has called upon the Rebels OF the south
TO regard these governments organized by authority OF
acts of Congress by the people OF those States as usurpa
tOns unconstitutional ad void and has thereby invited
them again 20 InsurrectiOn and rebellion. That Is what
the resolution means That is where the Democratic
Shall be no acquescence in the action Of Congress
but that continued resistance Is aud shall be thelr
policy. They have replied to Gen. Grant by say
ing " there shall be no peace, but the war
shall be renewed" There can be no other
policy for that party unless 1t acquiesces II II does not
accept these Reconstruction acts there can be no policy
but that OF resistance and renewal OF the war They
declare these Reconstruction acts 10 he UNCONSTITUTIONAL
aud void. Being void, nobody is bound To regard them
they have no authority over any one fSeT9 Tp "
That not the language OF this resolution but u Is the
substance and the meaning OF III and IN consequence OF
this IL received Endorsement and the appreciation OF
the hundreds Of Rebels who were in tbat convention
from tLe south men who organized the Rebel Govern
ment and organized led the Rebel armies in battle
This them Is the issue, continuance OF the war; re-
newa OF the Rebellion because II Is either that or IL IS
submission and acquiescence 10 what has been done.
But Mir President we are not left TO grope for the
meaning of this conventions we are not left even seek
FORTH inference We have a letter OF Gen. Francis r.
Blair written believe, less than one week ago. ana TINS
letter has been Endorsed By that Convention this after
noon by ms nomination as their candidate for the Vice
Presidency. At least am informed that he has been
nominated.
Mr. Pomeroy-Let us have the letter read. Iwant to
hear it. 49,. - q,
IL was Incorporated in IT, for the ink hardly dry be-
fore it was Endorsed by h. nomination ASK tne Ssers
Mr.. COnkling Mr.. Pomeroy ana others-Let MN fedu
the whole letter, so that It can go into me Gto1e
Mr. Mortol-I will the Secretary 10 read the whole
letter. especially that which is distinctly marked
several senators-Let us have the whole 81, letter.
The President pro tempOTe-The letter VIII be read
The Chief Clerk read as follows: %. 80,
DEAR COLONEL In reply your inquire, beg leave y that
determine consultation Sih nv Trends rom
he following What consider TIE real and only Issue IN
THE recon.,ructou policy Of the Radicals win be complete before the
beri election the ss 50 long excluded vii have brea ne
gro suffrage established and he earpetbgzs' Installed 70 ther ,sss "a
beth branches Of Csse- There 20 yo,,5 OF eaargas tas Po
s ssos irs uaS Es Rae @ " beeons,Tueuoa by Consr
viii continue repeal Must
HOY san be syer'hoTai !. can on be ogsr'hsI BY
n. S a s4S s 90 @ 90 bs pspos
P,s.p elected 6y hs Democracy enfoes permits
to enforce these reconstruction ae' the Radicals By Tie accession Of
~ spurious Senators and 20 Representatives Will control both mach
Of Congress bis Administration VI PoWeFe'' as the present
t one way to restore the and the cOntu
ton and the President elect declare these acts nul and VOID
S SBs State oe%sS allow the white people rs0rE
and elect senators ,o n S RmSest. from the YoS
,y will sdm. the Regli,'ys; ELECTED py 'qy wf'e geop
compel submit once more 70 the Obligation, Of th,
S2,gS9n ~ Fl 1 sIprSi on Ss nd%eu tai sas and
Is the sure way avoid ali future Fs to put tie Issue plainly the
repeat that TIL, real and only question which should allow
control Shall We submit 20 ne usnrpon W Nhh ls uoSern
overthrow, shall We exert ourselves for IT. iqi and
complete esor,ton II !, & to "a, 81 SH & E 5Is
ana iSr sti lie viii be powsr stop supplies
idle organized into political clubs oy which an
maintained to protect these ou's upon ls
s Government destroy eremhie the difference between
restore fnauces and do this must have President who will
sseae !hs vi" Of The .Sp % @ I rS sl' $ before d.
Convention upon this but which embraces everything else
that ueudes ali that worth and shOGs there nothing
gives dignity, hOuor value to the struggle ~ No.
Colonel }.ssiss S.iSSasSADus,Dy e - O-N'"
Mr.. President that is the Democratic platform. Cen.
SPOKEN man and he spoke the sentiments OF that CON
yention. He says "upon these sentiments want TO
stand before the conventon and those sentiments
he was nominated. Therefore. that the language
OF the Democratic Convention at NewYOrk 10 the whole
sressonai legislation the overthrow by force OF arms
the governments that have been erected in the Rebel
| States under the laws enacted by Congress; the
| continuance OF this Rebellion continuance OF this
| struggle, in somewhat different FORM but
still the struggle, cOnteDding for the same prnci
pie IL is now announced formally not at Montgomery,
not nj Richmond, but at New-York The country need
not be a loss understand the character OF the contest
upon which entering IL is not OF peace and
acquiescence OF consolidation whereby the rayages 81
war may repaired but IL is declaration Of war,
a new announcement OF the rebellion under somewhat
different circumstances, but under circumstances for
midable dangerous and solemn Let the country look
| the struggle In the face.
Gen Blair has said truly that all that is said about
geenbacks and bonds and questions Of finance is mere
nonsense The great issue Is the question OF oyerunng
the state Governments by force, the restoration OF
,he power OF the Rebels, or, they call IT, the Whlte
Mems Government In those States and all the rest Is
leather and prunea. We owe debt Of gratitude 10
Gen. Blair for his frankness There need be no deceP
ton practlced now, and there DO none Ihere can
be no other issue presented substantially TO us put hat
Of the future peace OF this country III seymour sha 90
elected upon that PLATFORM he stands pledged 70 use t