The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-06-09

the patriotic convention over Wnicu you
presided. and the resolutions which so
happily supplement it, so entirely agree
with my views a. to adjust the national
policy, chat 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 gratefully
accert. When great rebellion, which
imperiled the national existence, was 1t
last overthrown, the duty OF all others
devoiving upon those intrus'ed With
the responsibilities of Legislation evi
deutly was to require that the revolted
States should be readmitted in participa-
ton in the Government against which
they had erred only on such basis IS
| to increase and fortifv, not 10 weake nor
| endanger the strength or power OF The
nation. Certainly no one ought to have
claim ed that they should be readmitted
under such q rule that their organization
as States could ever again be used as at
the opening of the war to defy the ma.
tional authority, or to destroy the ma
tional unity This principle has been
| the polar star of those who have infiexi-
bly, insisted on the Congressional policy
your Convention 50 cordially endorsed.
Balfled by the Executive of the position,
and by the persistent refusals to accept
| any plan of reconstruction proffered by
Congress, Justice and the public safety.
at last combined TO teach us that only
by an enlargement of suffrage in these
States, could the desired end be attain
ed and that it was even more safe to
give the ballot to those who loved the
Union than to those who had sought in
affectualiy to destroy it, The assured
success of this legislation is being writ
ten on the adamant Of history, and will
be our triumphant vindication, More
clearly, too, than ever before does the
nation recognize that the greatest glory
of Republic is that it throws the shield
Of its protection over the humblest and
weakest of it's people, and vindicates
the rights of the poor and powerless as
faithfully as those Of the powerful. /
rejoice, 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
though they were native born. Cur
whole people are foreigners or descend
ants of foreigners Our fathers estab
lished by arms their right to be called Il
nation. It remains for us to establish
the right, and welcome to our shores all
who are willing by oath of allegiance to
become American citizens. Perpetual
allegiance as claimed abroad is only an
other name for perpetual bondage, and
would m axe all slaves to the soil where
first they saw the light Of our national
cemeteries prove how faithfully these
oaths of fidelity to the adopted land
have been sealed in the life blood of
thou sands upon thousands. Should we
not, then, be faithiess to the dead if we
did not protect their living brethren
in their full enjoyment of that ma
tionaiity for which side by side with the
native born our soldiers of foreign birth
laid down their lives. 1t was fitting too
that representatives OF 3 party which
had proved SO true to :he national d.ty
in the time Of war, should speak so
clearly in times of peace for the main
tenance of the national honor, national
credit and good faith as regards its debt,
the cost Of our national existence 1 do
not need to extend this reply by further
comment upon the 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 APP
prevail of amnesty based on repentance
and loyalty, the demand for the most
rigid economy and honesty in the Gov
eminent; the sympathy of the party of
liberty with all throu ghout the world
who long for the liberty we here enjoy,
and the recognition Of the sublime prin-
ciples Of the Declaration of Independ-
ence are worthy of the org anization on
whose banners they are written in the
coming contest. Its past record can
not be blotted out or forgotten. If there
had been no Republican party, slavery
| would TO day cast its baieful 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 ten years
ago If the Republican party could
have been stricken from existence when
the banner of rebellion was unfurIed, and
when the response Of "No coercion y
was heard at the North, we would have
no nation to-day But for the Republi
/ can party daring to risk all the odium of
the tax and draft laws, our flag could
not have been kept flying in the field un
til the long honed for yirtnrr nana