The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-07-23
SPEECH BY
SENATOR MORTON.
THE DEMOCRACY SHOWN UP.
Powerful Exposition of the
Party's Infamy.

Senator Morton's speech in the
Senate, July 9th, is commented up
on by all Republicans as striking
the keynote Of the present cam
paign. 1t was. in full, as follows /:
Mr.. MORTON-"I do not rise
so much to discuss the various pro-
positions relative to counting the
electoral vote, as to say that | am
for that offered by the Senator from
Vermont, believing that it is more
specific and direct than the other
two, bu. perhaps any one of them
would answer the purpose. / de-
sire, however, to say one word in
relation to the Importance of the
measure. We have been noting
the proceedings of a Convention
held in the city of New York, which
has but just adjourned. l havo
read the resolutions adopted by
that Convention, the platform Of
principles, as laid down, and upon
which its candidates have been
placed, and i wish to call the at.
tention of tho SenQteto the issue
that is spresented to the country by
this platform, and by the charac-
ter Of these candidates.
General Grant, in his letter Of
acceptance, said:. "Let us have
peace" But the Democratic par.
Ety, by their Convention in. New
York, have said: ."Let US have war
there shall be no peace" They
have declared in substance, I might
say, perhaps, in direct terms, that
the construction of these States,
under the several acts of Congress,
shall not be permitted to stand
but shall he overturned by militia.
ry force. If they get the power
they have announced that there
shall bo no peace in this country
that there shall be no settlement o.
our present troubles, except on the
condition of the triumph of those
who have been in the rebellion
This platform and these nomina
tions are o declaration of the re
newal Of the rebellion.
Let mo call your attention to {
part of the eighth resolution, in re
gard to this very question: Ii
speaking of the reconstruction o
:he States, they 60 on to say tha
|"The power to regulate suffrag
exists with each State" making n
difference between loyal States tha
have been at peace, and States tha
5 have been in rebellion, putting
them all upon the same footing
and that "any attempt by Congress
/ on any pretext whatever'-that is
}. upon the pretext Of the rebellion
if you .ploase-.to deprive an.
State OF this right, OF interfere wit
its exercise, Is a fragrant usurra
; tion of power, which can find n
warrant in tho Constitution, an
if sanctioned by the people, wi
subvert our form Of Government.
They declared that the inter
ference ofCongress with the SUI
frago in States that have been i
r rebellion, though that Interfering
r may be absolutely necessary, as W
/ have found it to the reconstruction
Of the States, is unconstitutiona
and that no justification can b
found for it, and that.it will sub
vert our form. Of government
This convention has called upo
the rebels Of the South to regar
governments, organized by tn
8 authority of tho acts of Congress
by the people Of these States, I
q usurpations, unconstitutional, an
m it has thereby.invited them agai
u to insurreotion and rebellion
That is what thatresolution mean
There is whore the Democrat
party has placed itself and Its ca
q didates, that there shall be =
" acquiescence in the action OF Col
4 gress, but that continued resistant
Is ,s Is and shall be their policy. Tht
9 n have replied to General Grant !
il saying thatthere shall be no peae
n n but the war shall be- renewed.
+ There can be no other policy I
that party unless il acquiesces