Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-12
Mr. CoIfax's Letter of : cceptance.
WASHINGTON, MAY 81, ISbe
ON. J. r. HaaCley, President National


Hon. j. r. Haacley, President National
Union Republican Conventi0n:
DEAR S1R:-The platform adopted by the
patriotic Convention over which you pre-
sided, and the resolutions which so happi-
ly supplement it, SO entirely agree with my
views as to just national policy that my
thanks are due to the delegates as much
for this clear and auspicious declaration of
principles as for the nomination with which
have been honored, and which [ CRATE
fully accept.
When great rebellion, which imperil-
led the national existence, was at last over
thrown, the duty of all others devolving Oh
those entrusted 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 warred only on such ba
sis as to increase and fortify, not to weak
en- or endanger, the strength Of the ma
ton.
Certainly no one ought to have claimed
that they should be readmitted under such
rules 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 prin-
ciple has been the pole-star of those who
have infexibly insisted on the Congression-
al policy your Convention so cordially en-
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 COM
bined to teach us that only by an enlarge
ment Of suffrage in those States could the
desired END be attained, and that it was
even more safe to give the ballot to those
who loved the Union than to those who
had sought Intellectually to destroy it. The
assured success Of this legislation is being
written on the adamant of history, and will
be our triumphant vindication. More
clearly, too, than ever before does the ma
ton now recognize that the greatest glory
of republic is that it throws the shield of
its protection over the humblest and the
weakest of it's people, and vindicates the
rights of the poor and the powerless as
faithfully as those of the rich and the pow
erful.
I rejoice, too, in this Convention, to find
in your platform the frank and fearless
avowal that the naturalized citizens must
be protected abroad cat every hazard, as
though they were native-born." Our whole
people are foreigners Or descendants of
foreigners. Our fathers established by
arms their right to be called a nation. 1t
remains for us to establish the right to
welcome 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 the light. Our
national cemeteries prove how faithfully
these oaths of fidelity to their adopted land
have been sealed in the hfe-blood OF
thousands upon thousands. Should we
No ea14l III 10 4hn fx1ynI n I'D
not protect their living brethren in the en-
ioyment 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 representa-
tives of party which had proved so true
to national duty in time of war should
speak so clearly in time of peace for the
maintenance untarnished of national honor,
national credit, aud good faith as regards
its debt-the cost of our national exist
ence.
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 ac-
knowledges to the brave men who saved the
Union from destruction-the frank appro-
val 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 Declara-
ton of Independence, are worthy of the
organization on whose banners they are to
be written in the coming contest.
It's past record cannot be blotted out or
forgotten. IF there had been no Republican
party, slavery would to-day cast it's baleful
shadow over the Republic. If there had been
no Republican party, free press and free
speech would be as unknown from the PO-
tomac to the Rio Grande as ten years ago.
If the Republican party could have been
stricken from existence when the banner
of rebellion was unfurled, and when the
response of "no coercion " was heard at
the North, we would have had no nation
to-day But for the Republican party dar-
ing to risk the odium of tax and draft laws,
our flag could not have been kept flying on
the field till the long-looked-for victory
came. Without Republican party, the
civil rights bill-the guarantee of equality
under the law to the humble and the de-
fenceless as we'll as to the strong-would
not be to-day upon our national statute
book.
With such inspirations from the past,
ana 1OllOWlng the example OF Jne 1OunuelS
of the republic, who called the victorious
General of the Revolution to preside over
the land his triun1phs had saved from its
enemies, I cannot doubt that our labors
will be crowned with success. And it will
be a success that will bring restored hope,
confidence, prosperity, and progress, South
as we'll as North, West as we'll as East, and
above all, the blessings, under Providence,
of national concord and peace.
Very truly, yours,
SCHUYLER COLFAx.
The Tax Bill -yVhIskey. Tobacco. Cigars
Important Changes.
IT, 4l,o oourco of his cpnocb on NTcp1ov