Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-06-12
Mr.. Colfax's Letter Of Accer> /.
anCe.

d0Co.
The following is the reply Of Speaker
Colfax to the Committee announcinr HI.
nomination by the Chicago Convention:--
WASHINGTON, May 30.
10 Hon. J. r. Hd,ciey, President Of me
National Union Republican Conrention:
Dear Sir-The Platform adopted by The
patriotic Convention over which you pre.
sided. and the resolutions which 60 happily
supplement- il. 80 entirely agree with nv
views as tOa just national policv, that nv
thanks are due tO the delegates % much
Tor this clear and auspiciOus declara ia
OF principles. as for the nomination viii,
which have been honored and which
gratefully accept.
When the great rebellion which imperil.
ed the National existence was at last over.
thrown. the duty Of all others devolsing on
those entrusted with the responsibilities of
legislation evidently was to require that
the reyolted Statesshould be re admitted to
participate in the government upon which
they had warcd, only on such baeis a. TO
increase and fortify. not to weaken and en-.
danger the strength and power Of the ma.
tion. Certainly no one ought to have
claimed that they should be admitted under
such rsl- that their organization 40 .
State could ever again be used. o. at tho
opening Of the war. to defy the national
authority. or to destroy the national unity.
THIS principle has heen the pole. star Of
those who have inaexibly insisted upon
the Congressional policy which your Con-
vention 90 cordially endorsed. Baf1td ~
executive opposition, and by persistent re-
fusals to accept any plan Of rrconet nc.
tlol proffered ny Congress. justice and pub
lie safety at last combined to teach US that
only by an enlargement Of suffrage in ,hose
States could the desired end he attained,
aud that it was even more safe to give the
ballot box 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 b. our tr.uml haut viz.
dicatiOn.
More clearly, too. than ever before, docs
the nation now recognize that the greatest
glory OF the republic is that it throws the
shield OF its protection over the humhleet
and weakest OF its pee pie. and yindicates
tue rights OF the poor and pOwerlees az
faithfully as those Of the rich and the DOW
erful. rejoice. too, in this connection. to
find in your platform the frank and fea,lts "a
avowal that naturalized citizens must be
protected abroad at 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. Pernetnai
allegiance, as proclaimed abroad. is oniv
another name for perpetual bondace. and
would make all slaves to the soil where
first they saw the light. Our nation.l com.
etcries prove how faithfully tn If maths nf
fidelity to their adopted land have hccn
sealed in the life blood of tbousands nnnn
thousands, Should we not then hc fai,h.
less to the dead. if we did not nrotsct
their living brethren in the fnll en;nvroo,,t
of that nationality for which side by S;ds
with the native born. our soldiers of for.
eign birth laid down their liyes7 II wos
fitting. too, that the Representatives Of a
party which had proved SO true to national
duty in time of war. should speak an clear.
" in time of peace, for the ,na;ntenance
untarnishcd Of the National honor. not;nn.
al credit and good faith az regards its d.bt
the CO. of our national existence.
do not need to extend this renIr br fnr.
ther comment on the platform which has
elected such hearty approval throoghout
the land. The debt Of gratitude Il ac.
knowledges to the brave men who saved
the Union from destruction :the frank an.
prevail Of amnesty based on repentancc md
loyalty; the demand for the most thsronnh
economy and hone sty ia the government
the sympathy Of the party of libcrtv w;,h
all throughout the world who lonc for the
liberty we here enjoy, and the reeoenit;on
of the sublime principles of the declaration
of Independence, are worthy of the orvan.
ization ON whose banners the, are te hs
written in the coming contest. Ito mast
record cannot he blottcd out mr. forc"t,.n ''
II there had been no Rrpubliean nartr
slavery would to-day cast iis banefnl shaa'
ow over the Republic: if Il ere had i, an :, a
Republican party. free press and frer