The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-01-08
The as'aNNesbuta 8spi'blitau
WAYNEsBURG, PENN'A.
Wednesday,, Jan. a, 'Oes.
ISSUES OF 1858.

course OF q poWeri"i ""'-
present political status and the wants
of the day, said;
The struggle. therefore, on the part
of the Democratic party, North and
South. as ] haze spoken will bel in 1868,
for the restoration of these States into
rebel hands and the administration of
the affairs ofthe States on that basis.
If you arc prepared to say that
blacks and loyal white men are to be
turned over to the rebels, then vote the
Democratic ticket. But if you are in
favor of impartial suffrage, and giving
rights to black and white, then vote
the Republican ticket.
There are numerous other questions
wrapt up in these leading ideas | have
announced. The frstone | shall men
ton is the paymenttor slaves enamel
pated during the war, And though
this has not been declared as yet to be
aouestion of the issue, | am as firmly
convinced it is to be as though read
it in the written platform Of the Demo
cratic party.
The States ofMaryland and Kentucky
have already provided for this, in anti
cipation ofthe success ofthe Democratic
party at their next election. Here
Mr.. Morton read from the Constitution
of the State of Maryland, and from a
report Of the proceedings of the Ken
tucky State Legislature, to substantiate
the statement made.
Georgia has also provided for this
and although other Southern States
NAV be silent on this subject, they will
be ready to meet the question when it
is time.
The Democratic party Of the South
will be unit ON the question and
now let Inc show that the Democratic
party of the North are ready to meet
them. l base my assertion on the fact
that the members of this party voted
without q single exception against the
amendments when they were before
Congress, and Democratic newspapers
have denounced those amendments
with one voice so it is safe to say that
in the issue the Northern wing will
concede to the South everything claim
ed by them, and if they do not, their
action will be very different tromwhat
it has been in years past for | never
knew of a demand made by the South
that was not readily conceded by the
Northcrnp portion of that party. Should
the Democratic party comcinto power,
the payment forthe slaves cmancipatcd
may be considered a settled fact.
You remember when the question
was up in Congress to abolish slavery
in 1862, and again in 1864, the Demo-
cratic members in both Houses were
then united in fayo2 ofpaying for every
slave emancipatcd, and it was denounc-
ed as morally wrong to take slave
even from a rebel, and not fairly COM
pcnsate the owner for the loss and |
say again, this question is inevitably
involved in the general issues of 1868
Another question is involved, that
will follow just as certain, and that is
the assumption and payment of the
rebel war debt. | ask you as reason
ing and thinking men when the Repre-
sentatives of the South are admitted to
Congress, and are called upon to vote
upon appropriation bills, do you think
they would vote to tax themselves for
our debt and not provide fortheir own?
The Northern States staked their
financial power in the Government
bonds, and the. South risked all she
had in the prosecution Of the war, and
lost all and you may expect in the
advent of the Democratic party into
power, that provision will be made for
the payment Of that debt but | am
glad to say that not until then viii it
be thought of. uN9 p v.rt'-.
The Democratic party were opposed
to our debt being contracted in its in
cipiency, and you may remember that
prominent member of that party
warned the people not to buy the
bonds, as they would prove worthless
on their hands. They were hostile
then to the debt, as the Southern wing
of the Democratic party are now to
being compelled to help pay it. So
that the demand on their part to tax
the people for the payment of tht
debt of the South will be as surely
conceded as the demand is made.
l come to another issue that is also
involved in the contest 4; the pension,
ing of rebel soldiers, and the widow:
and, orphans ofthose who tell fighting
for the rebellion, Does not the present
state ofallairs in Maryland indicate th'
, feeling which prevails against the sol
diers who were members Of regiments
in the Union army? Can uniol
seldier be be elected to any Office? Il
Ire not prescribed in business and soci
ETY.? Lask if Union men, who arr
lawyers or physicians, find any sue
cess in the practice oftheir profession
Are they not proscribcd' on,account o
their sentiments? Does not the SAM
condition of affairs exist in Kentucky
i see here tonight gentleman wh'
oan tell you about that much bette
than j who knows from experieno'
and observation what the feeling j:
there. Rebels, and rebels only are
elected to Office The presence o
Union men is no where tolerated. bu
their position is made uncomfortabl,
and if possible to rid the State of theil
presence. - ~ -lH..T .ru
Sir, ifyou give the power of recon-
tiou into the hands-of rebels. Won ma,