The Portland daily press., 1868-06-02

cal issues are constantly arising, the views of
the public on old ones are constantly chang
ing, and purely administrative officer should
always be lett free TO execute the will of the
people. always have respected that will,
and always shall. Peace, and universal pros
perIty its sequence, with economy of admins
tratlon, will tighten. the burden of taxation
while it constantly reduces the national debt
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
U. s. GRANT.
ACCEPTANCE OF MR.. CoLFAX.
The following is the reply of Speaker Colfax
to the committee announcing his nomination
by the Chicago Convention:
Washington, May 80, 1868-Hon j. r. Hdao-
ley, President Of the National Union Republican
Convention, Dear Sir The platform adopted
by the patriotic Convention over which you
presided, and the resolutions which so happily
supplement- it, SO entirely agree with my views
as to just national policy that my thanks
are due to the delegates as much for the clear
and suspicious declaration of principles as for
the nomination with which Ihave been hon
ored, and which gratefully accept.
When great rebellion which imperilled
the national existence was at last overthrown
the duty of all others devolving on those en-
trusted with The responsibilities of legislation
evidently was, to require that the revolted
States should be readmitted to participation
in the government against which they had
fortify, not to weaken and endanger, the
strength and power of the nation. Certainly
no one ought to have claimed that they should
be readmitted under such rule that their Or
ganization as States could ever again be used
as at the opening of the war; to DEFY the ma
tlonal authority or destroy the national unity
This principle has been the pole star of those
who have infexibly insisted on the Congress
sional policy, your Convention so cordially en-
dorsed. Bafied by Executive opposition and
by persistent refusals to accept any plan of re-
construction justice and public safety at last
combined to say that only by an enlargement
OF suffrage in the States could the desired end
be attained, and that it was even more sale to
give the ballot to those who loved the Union
than those who had fought Intellectually to de-
stroy 1T. The assured success of this legisla-
ton is being written on the adamant of histo-
ry, and will be our triumphant vindicaton
more clearly too than lever before DONE The
nation DOW recognizes that the greatest glory
OF republic 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 powerless as faithfully as those of
the rich and powerful.
rejoice, too, in this connection, to find in
your platform the frank and fearless ayowal
that the rights of naturalized citizens must be
protected abroad at every hazard as thougb
they were native born. Our whole people are
foreigners or descendants of foreigners.
Our fathers established by arms their
right to be called nation. 1t re-
mains for us to establish the right to well
come to our shores all who are willing by oaths
of allegiance to become American citizens
Perpetual allegiance as claimed abroad is only
another name for perpetual bondage, and would
make all slaves to the soil where first they saw
tue light. Our national cemeteries prove how
faithful the oaths OF fidelity to their adopted
land have been sealed in the life blood of thou
sands upon thousands. Should we not then
be taithless to the dead if we did not protect
their living brethren in the full enjoyment of
that nationality for which, side by side with
the native born, our soldiers of foreign birth
laid down their lives? 1t was fitting, too. that
the representatives OF party which had prov
ed so true to national duty in time of war
should speak so clearly in time of peace for
the maintenance, untarnished, of the national
honor, national credit aid good faith as regards
It's debt, the cost of our national exist
ence. l do not need to extend this reply
by further comment on platform which has
elected such hearty approval throughout the
land. The debt of gratitude it acknowledges
to the brave men who saved the Union from
destruction, the frank approval of amnesty
based on repentance and loyalty, the demand
for the most thorough economy and honesty
in the Government, the sympathy OF the party
of liberty with all throughout the world who
long for the liberty we here enjoy, and the
recognition of the sublime principles of the
Declaration of Independence are worthy of
the organization on whose banner they are to
be written in the coming contest. Its past
record cannot be blotted out or forgotten. If
there had beeh no Republican party slavery
would to-day cast its hateful shadow over the
republic: If there had been no Republican
party free press and free speech would be as
unknown from the Potomac to the Rio Grande
as 1t was ten years ago. If the Republican
party could have been stricken from existence
when the banner of therebellion was unfurled,
and when the response of no coercion
NUoG nnrA ut no Nnrfh
have had no nation to day. But for
the Republican party, daring to risk the
odium of tax and draft laws, our flag could
not have been kept flying in the field until the
long hoped for victory came. Without a Re-
publican party the civil rights bill, the guaran-
tee of equality under the law to the humble
and the defenceless as well as to the strong,
would not be to-day upon our national statute
book.
With such inspiration from the past, and fol-
lowing the example of the founders of the Re-
public who called the victorious general of the
revolution to preside over the land his tri-
umphs had saved from its enemies, cannot
doubt that our labors Will be crowned with
success; and 1T will be a success that shall
bring restored confidence, prosperity and pro-
gress, south as we'll as north, west as well as
east; and, above all, the blessings, under Prov
ldence, of national concord and peace.
,s. Very truly yours,
(Signed) SCHUYLER CoLFAx.
APARTMENTS PREPARING FOR COL. wooLEY.
The carpenters to-day are putting down a
new floor and otherwise preparing one of the
basement rooms OF the Capitol for the occu-
patton of Col Wooley.
FRACTIONAL CURRENCY ISSUE.
Fractional currency issued for the week,
$419000; amount shipped, $580,500; United
States notes shipped, $689OO; National Bank
currency issued, $199,52O; fractional currency
destroyed, 1886 ,100
THE WAR OFFICE ASSUMED BY GEN. sCHoFIELD.
The oath of office this morning was admins
tered to Gen. Schofield as Secretary of War
by Chief Justice Chase at the residence of the
latter, after which Gen. Schofield proceeded
to the Executive mansion with Col Campbell
of his staff, and after a short stay, during
which his commission was handed him by the
President, was accompanied by Mr.. johnson
and Adjutant General Thomas to the War
Department, when he assumed the duties in
that Office.
AID INTERIM IN HIS OLD PLACE.
NEW YORK, June 1.-General Thomas will
be absent from Washington for IA few days
and on his return will, it is understood, resume
his official duties as Adjutant General.
INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
The board of managers will continue their
investigations tomorrow. Many witnesses
awaiting examination. They are principally
from New York and the east, and are all con-
spicuous politicians and more or less connect
ed with different whiskey rings.
REBEL BROADER.
Brevet Brig. Gen. Miller, of the Quartermas-
ter Department, refused to subscribe to the
fund for decorating the graves of Union SOL
diers at Arlington, because the committee in
charge did not include the rebels in their me-
martial ceremonies.
sCHoFIELD AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Gen. Schofied took possession of the War
Office to-day. General Grant called on Gen
Schofield to- day and was received cordially.
CALIFORNIA.
HEAVY EARTHQUAKES.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 3O.-Two heavy shocks
of earthquake were felt at sacramento city
and vicinity at o'clock last night. The
shocks were not felt at all in San FRANCISCO
nor along the coast southwark of this city, but
were very severe in the State of Nevada, that
region being, as far as ascertained, the primer
pal seat of the disturbance. -Four heavy
shocks were felt at Fort Churchill and Virgin
ia City, but no damage was done. At Virginia
City large buildings rocked and everybody
rushed out of doors, expecting grand demo-
ltion OF things. Inc pumps in the Savage
silver mines stopped and the miners supposed
a cave occurred.
PENNSYLVANIA.
DEATH OF EX-PREsIDENT BUCHANAN
LANCASTER. June 1.-Ex-President Bucban-
on died at his residence at Wheatland, near
This CITY. at halfpast eight o'clock this morn.
inc after an illness of four weeks, in the 77tl
wear of his age