The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-06-11
GRANT AND COLFAX.
TIE LETTERS OF ACCEPTANCE.

| TIE LETTERS OF ACCEPTANCE.
In the brief speech which Gen. Gran
made to the Committee that was appoint
ed by the National Republican Conven
tion to wait upon the candidates and
tender the nomination, the General init
mated that on a future day he would
communicate his views. He has done so
in the following
| GEN. GRANTS LETTER.
To Gen. JOSEPH r. HAwLEY, President
National Union Republican Conpen-
tion.
In formally accepting the nomination
of the National Union Republican Con-
vention of the 2lst of May inst, it seems
| proper that some statement of views be-
yond the mere acceptance of the nomina-
tion should be expressed. The proceed
ings of the Convention were marked with
wisdom, moderation, and patriotism, and
| believe express the feelings of the great
mass of those who sustained the country
through its recent trials. | indorse the
resolutions. If elected to the Office of
President Of the United States, it will be
my endeavor to administer all the laws
in good faith, with economy, and with the
view of giving peace, quiet, and protec-
tion everywhere. In times like the pre-
sent it is impossible; or at least eminently
/ improper, to lay down policy to be ad-
hered to, right or wrong, through an ad-
ministratiOn of four years. New politi-
cal issues, not forseen, are constantly
arising; the views of the public on old
ones are constantly changing, aud purely
administrative officer should be left free
to execute the will of the people. | al
ways have respected that WILL and always
shall. Peace and universal prosperity
- its sequence = with economy of ad-
ministration will Tighten the burden of
taxation, while it constantly reduces the
National debt. Let US have peace.
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
u. S. GRANT.
Washington, d. G., May 20, 1868.
The following is the reply of Speaker
Colfax to the Committee announcing his
nomination by the Chicago Convention:
SPEAKER CoLFAX's LETTER.
Hon. j. Z. HAwLEY, President of the
National Union Rcpubltcan Convcn-
ton.
DEAR SIR: The platform adopted by
the patriotic Convention over which you
presided, aud the resolutions which so
happily supplement it, SO entirely agree
with my views as to just national policy
that my thanks arc due to the Delegates
as much for this clear and auspicious de-
claration of principles as for the nomina-
ton with which [ have been honored,
and which 1 gratefully accept. When a
great Rebellion, which imperiled the ma
tional existence, was at last overthrown
the duty of all others, devolving on those
intrusted with the responsibilities Of leg
islatlon, evidently was to require that
the revolted States should be re-admitted
to participate in the Government against
which they had erred only on such ba-
sis as to increase and fortify, not to weak
en- or endanger, the strength and power
Of the nation. Certainly no one ought
to have claimed that they should be re-
admitted under such rule that their or
ganization as States could ever again be
used, as at the opening of the war, to de-
| fy the national authority or to destroy
the national unity. This principle has
been the pole-star of those who have in
hcxibly insisted on the Congressional
policy, your Convention so cordially in
dorsed. Baffied by Executive opposition,
and by persistent refusals to accept any
plan of reconstruction proffered by Con-
gress, justice and public safety at last
combined to teach us that only by an en-
largement of suffrage in those States
could the desired end be obtained, and
that it was even more safe to give the
ballot to those who loved the Union
than to those who had sought inefectu-
! ally to destroy it. The assured success
of this legislation is being written on the
adamant of history, and will be our tri-
uphant vindicatiOn. More clearly, too,
than ever before, does the nation now re-
cognize that the greatest glory of re-
public is that it throws the shield of its
protection over the humblest and weakest
! of its people, and vindicates the rights of
the poor and the powerless as faithfully
as those of the rich and powerful. | re.
joice, too, in this connection, to find in
your platform the frank and fearless
avowal that naturalized citizens must be
protected abroad at every hazard, as tho
they were natiYe-born. Our whole pco-
gle are foreigners, or descendants of for
eigners; our fathers established by arms
their right to be called nation 1t re-
mains for us to establish the right to
welcome to our shores all who are willing,