The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-10-15
SPEECH OF SCHUYLER COLFAx.

The Hon. Schuyler Colfax delivered
his first speech of the campaign at Lafay-
cite, Indiana, on the 1st instant We
subjoin an extract =
II have felt that self respect and pro-
priety forbid my entering the political
principles and policy of those arrayed
| against us. l viii not deny that L have
thus longed to speak in this campaign, but
l have felt that when persons are selected
for the two highest offices in the nation
| as they are indeed the highest in the
world, that a sense of propriety should re-
strain them from bitter or personal attacks
or criticisms on the position and character
of opposing candidates. Whatever, there
fore, others may do, l must be faithful to
my own convictions and avoid such a
course. In regard to the principles, poll
! cy, platform, and letters of the Democratic
candidates and party, my lips are sealed.
But there Is one subject on which my lips
are not, and never can be, sealed, until
they are sealed in death, and that is the
glorious record made by the noble Repub-
lican party. That record will stand for
ever, written in letters of living truth and
light, on the most brilliant page of our
country's history. Of this record l can
feel and say, as you can-let posterity
read this, and let posterity judge. Oh,
what a record it is When this country
was racked to its very center by the shock
OF contending armies when the degener-
ate sons OF the country raised their rebel
llous hands against our flag; when men
proved themselves unworthy of their birth,
and sought to trample in the dust that
banner of beauty and glory; when they
sought to make 1t the winding-sheet of the
worlds hopes, there was one party among
whose numbers not single man was un-
faithful to the Constitution and flag, and
that was the Republican party. Where,
L ask, would have been the country to-day
if there had been no Republican party
You would not have had left country to
be proud of. Our country lives, because
We dared to stand up and say that the last
man and the last dollar shall go, if neces-
sary, to put down this internal conspiracy
We knew this war would build up large
public debt, and we knew that tax laws
must be passed in order to pay it. We
knew these things were unpopular, but we
said 1t is necessary for the salvation of cur
dear land, and must be done We said
we viii vote for these tax bills, for only
by them can our banner be kept flying in
the field. [ do not speak to-day to gain
votes. 1t would be unnecessary, if [ was
disposed to do so. The result of the cleo
tion is just as certain as if the votes were
already counted out in November.
"When the time came, liz the progress of
the war, that conscription was necessary,
we knew how unpopular a draft must be
but our soldiers were dying from sickness
in hospitals, and being shot down by rebel
bullets, and we found this was the only
way to keep our ranks full. We had but
one motive, and that was to save our coun-
try; and we said that our vote shall be
recorded in favor Of any and every law
necessary to crush the rebellion. We took
the responsibility, and the country was
saved, and you rejoice over that salvation
to-day, and do not regret that the essen
tial means were used. We had to lew
internal taxes to. pay the public debt, but
we are reducing the taxes every year, un-
til we viii tax luxuries and imported arti-
cles only. The time will soon come when
this will be sufficient to meet the wants of
the Government. This is not all. but is