The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-09-26
declare these acts null and void, compel the

strife to put the issue plainly to the coun-
try" The,word "coMPEL" is Of the es.
sence of this manifesto.
-Four days after the date of this letter the
New York Convention assembled. Wade
Hampton and William Preston were mem.
bers of the Committee on Resolutions, and
they have since boosted that with the con-
sent and approval of their associates from
the North they squared the platform to their
programme. Beginning with questionable
modesty, they inserted conspiculously in it
these words:
"We demand:
Frst-Inmediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union under the
Constitution, and of civil government to the
American people.
Second-Amnesty for all past political
offences, and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
"And we do declare and resolve:
"That we regard the Reconstruction acts
$50 called) Of Congress, as such, as usurpa-
tons, and unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void.'
Having thus dictated the platform, the
diers.
N. B. Forrest, of Tennessee, . notorious
Rebel guerilla leader, and infamous ~ the
author of the Fort Pillow massacre.
Basil Duke, Of Mississippi, . Brisadier
General in the Rebel service, vhs accom-.
panied John Morgan in his thieving, muir.
derous raids through Ohio and Indiana in
1868.
/ This list might be swelled to more than
kundred-all Rebel officers during the war
and all now, rs then, hostile to the Union.
| Far be it from me to say, that even these
men and their associates, may not repent
and in time receive forgivness for their
manifold sins; but they did not appear at
New York in the melting mood. They did
not come with an acknowledgment of their
faults, seeking by acts of devotion to show
their attachment to that Government, to
whose mercy alone they owed their lives
They came as insulting and malignant ~
ever in their treason. They conceded moth.
ing to the loyalty of a nation they had so
persistently outraged. They came to direct,
not to submit; and they soon Installed their
worst leaders in their old positions as dicta-
tors of the Democratic party. Behold the
invincible trumvirate of Hampton, Preston
and Forrest, before whom this "National"
Convention grovels in the dirt, and from
whose dictation it accepts platforms and
candidates with the loud acclaim of univer-
sal satisfaction, as iftotally Unconscious of
its shame.
They repudiated Johnton [hisses] with a
bare nod of recognition, because he imposed
terms upon red-hot traitors before he would
recognize them as duly restored" They
rejected Chief Justice Chase because he
could not shut his eyes to the penetrating
truth, that all free men and native born cit.
liens must have some rights in Republic.
In fact, they turned down everybody who
dared to deny that the world had stood still
for the last eight years, or who had the temer.
ity to assert that the year of our Lord, 1868,
came after the year 1860. They would toll.
crate no one who would confess that such
places as Donelson and Shiloh and Chatta.
nooga and Appomattox, were known on
the face of the earth, or who would admit
that during the last two olympiads, a single
hero had died for freedom, or one
human shackle had beeu broken in all
America. [Cheers for Creswell]
Realizing at last the stupendous error they
had committed in attempting to withdraw
from the Union, and set up their independ.
o..4 G-..c-l--.----- a.----n.---.
tie in the Union, and fight it out under the
folds Of our National ensign. With this in.
tent they came North rendering nominations
in exchange for souls, and they found some
fools ready to barter. These war warm vet
Grams would not stoop to the stratagems of
their more dishonest, though less valiant,
allies They still insisted that the Union
must be destroyed by direct assault. They
could not believe that Mr.. Psndlston, and
his cohort of 70 men, could scatter their
sreenbecks over the land.
The light Of coming day illuminss the
heavens. The bondres Of rejoicing victors
spread universal joy over the Rs>k lAp.
plause.] The glory Of TIE Arst crushing
victory for the RIGHT, which crowned the
Green Mountains two vesAs ~, is fully
rivalltd by the halo 1hicA nov circles the
brow of Catahdin. Maine hes responded
to the heroic example of Vermont. ZAP.
plause.l All honor aud praise 10 the sd.
vance guard of the great Union army 1t
is my boast that was present to witness
the preparation made by the sturdy sons of
Maine for their conflict. Right jeyfully did
they don their armor. Right gsllantly did
they challenge the foe. felt the glow, the
heat and the enthusiasm that fred their
breasts. saw the light of battle ON their
faces, and knew that when the time should
come for them to charge down on their
enemies, they would overwhelm them like
descending avalanche. Applause and
cheers.
Maine and Vermont have laid bare the
popular heart. The result in those States
has driven every doubt from our prospect,
and revealed to US the face of the future
radiant with smiles. Thank God and our
brave brothers! September has shown that
the people are true to loyalty, to justice and
to freedom. October will come laden with
more convincing proofs, and November will
- n victory TOT ure..-, .--... ,.;t.
as momentous for the human race as any
ever won by Grant, the soldier. Applause.
That victory will.import, as l fondly be-
lieve, that war, sedition and conspiracy have
been vanquished; that general fellowship
and confidence have been restored that
prosperity for all the North and all the
South, for all the East and all the West
shall be wooed back to our stricken, though
still blessed, land by the gentle acts and
honest ways of wise craftsmanship. Jap
plausel 1t will import that our credit shall
be restored, that all our marts of trade shall
be filled with eager and happy crowds of
active, selfrelying men; and better still, it
will import that labor shall be elevated and
dignifed, that the rotting carcass of slavery
shall be buried out of sight forever, and
that justice shall be enthroned, and left fee
IN adinst nor scale alike for all men. An