The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-08-03
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4 IOAa - Ia KRH ~ ASNta S&@ 1890 ~
which it was perfected, and the view:
of those who made it. AS you arr
aware, the Committee on Resolution!
consisted of one member from eacI
State. On assembling, it was founC
that a very great difference Of opinion
existed. Among other resolutions
offered were some declaring that the
right of suffrage belonged to the
States, and this was announced to be
good Democratic doctrine. i agreed
TO the propositions, but at the same
time said that it seemed to me they
had omitted one very vital point,
which was to declare to what States
the doctrine applied. | thought It
was necessary to guard and limit that
declaration, and to the end that we
might know at what time we could
90 back and say who were the cltl-
gems of the States. L asked that they
would declare that these questions
BELONGED to the States under their
Constitutions up to the year lS65.
Gentlemen were there from the North,
South. East and West, and by all we
were met with extreme cordIality.
They said they were willing to give US
everything we desired; but we of the
South must remember hat they had a
great fight to make, and it would not
be policy to place upon that platform
that which would engender prejudice
at the No tn. They, however, pledg-
ed themselves to do all in their power
to relieve the Southern States,
and restore to us the Constitution
as it had existed. As we were not of
such a kindly spirit, / could not but
reciprocate it. L knew that / was
representing the feelings of my peo
pie, when | did so, and | told them
that | would withdraw all the resoiu-
tons l had offered, and no doubt
other Southern delegates would do
the same, and would accept the reso-
tions offered by Hon. Mr.. Bayard, the
Senator from Delaware. which de-
clared that the right of suffrage be-
longed to the States.9 / said | would
take the resolutions, if they would al
low me to add but three words, which
you will find embodied in the plat
form. | added this: And we declare
that the reconstruction acts are revo-
I~ationary, Observation-Disclosures void.
Immense cheering.l When / pro-
posed that, every single member Of.
the Committeeman the warmest men
In it were the men of the North
came forward and said they would
carry it out to the end. Having thus
pledged themselves, | feel assured
that when the Democratic party come
to triumph they viii show US a RENE
dy for our misfortunes in their own
good time, for which | am perfectly
willing to wait. Such is the history
of our platform, aud such were the
motives which governed the commit
tee In its formation. As the repre-
sentative Of South Carolina on that
committee, / present that platform to
you in the earnest hope that it will
meet your cordial approval. AS to
my own share of the work performed
In the committee, i can assure my
fellow citizens that the only objects
for which [ Iabored were to make it a
strong and honest platform, one that
would secure the rights of the South
and protect the honor of my State.
1t is for you to say how these objects
have been fulfilled.
GLORIOUS ANTICIPATIoNs.
Now, gentlemen, the platform en-
bodying the principles of the Demo-
cratic party has been given to the
country. Upon that platform we have
placed as our candidates, for the
Presidency and Vice Presidency. Ho-
rata Seymour and Frank p. Blair.
And we accept the gage of battle Of
fered by the Radicals. [Great cheer
ing. A voice" And we'll whip ,em.
tool What are the issues involved
in this momentous struggle, [ need
not tell you, for you know they in
volve life or death. Success will
bring to you deliverance from a tyran-
ny that gals aud Expresses you every
from your borders aud consign to the
infamy they so richly have earned, the
base brood of satarps who have domin-
eered over the South. The men who
degrade the profession of arms by wag-
ing war on unarmed citizens; who
disgrace their uniforms by becoming
the sycophantic tools of q proseriptive
political party, and who use the arbi-
trary power placed in their hands
only to humiliate the white race by
seeking to establish the supremacy Of
the black. Victory will bring even
more than this TO us, for it will give
us, along with constitutional liberty,
the right to manage and control our
own State government in accordance
with the time honored provisions of
the Constitution of the United States.
Then may we hope to see the restora-
ton of honor and decency in the
conduct of affairs we may hope to
see u rulers as of old, intelligent,
| patriotic, native born-and white. In
that blessed day of deliverance we
shall have no carpet-bag or military
| Governors; the Bureau agents viii
move to more congenial chimes thar
ours; our State legislators quitting
the fields of political science, can
find more appropriate if not more
remunerative employment In the cot
ton and rice fields they have so~recent
ly abandoned; and our members o
Congress, those patriots
"Who, belt understood,
Lett their country for their country
good"
to curse ours by their presence, car
turn their attention as chdUdtier
d'induStrie to other more ~allurins
lands, or, retiring in disgust from the
midst of an ungrateful people, car
fnd occupation and accommodation
in the penitentiaries of their owl
States. Laughter and applause.
The filth, greater than that of thu
Augean stables, left on our soil b.
these v~ultures, who, for three year
have been tearing at the heart oEou
bond and PROSTATE State, can then b.
swept away along with those who pro
duced it. Our halls can then b,
cleansed of the vermin now infestiul
them, and nee again, disenthTallei
and free, our State can stand as o
yore, prinaus inter pares. God spec