Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-01-23


fish masses, with their practical sagacity see
that the ranks of the Republicans, Z the
struggle through which duty has led them,
have been weakened by timidity and treach-
cry that their sacred cause now needs to
be re-enforced, as 1t SO often has been, by
drafts from the most advanced men OF the
Democracy and that the selection OF Gen,
Grant will rally tens of thousands to the
cause their hearts love.
The military achievements OF Gen. Grant
are gratefully acknowledged, his adminis-
trative capacity is now conceded, and his
general views of public policy commended.
Earnest Republicans, however, whose. fidel-
ity to vital issues cannot be questioned, but
whose disirlst of public men has been quick
ened by the shameful treachery OF men they
had trusted and followed, are anxious con-
cerning the sentiments of General Grant
upon those vital issues, the right settlement
of which can alone bring permanent secu,
rity and repose to the nation. The past ana
present of the Republican party, and the in-
tegrity of General Grant, afford ample assu-
rance that their and his sentiments and opin-
ions will be distinctly ayowed in the COM
ing canvass. In the trying days OF the war,
in the summer of 1868, General Grant wrote
from his camp, on the banks of the Miss
issippi, to his tried friend Washburne:
81 have never been an nnti-siavery man;
but try to Judge Justly of what see. 1
made up nv mind, when this war COM
menced, that the North and South could
only live together in peace as one nation,
and they could only be one nation by being
free nation. Slavery, the corner stone OF
the so.called Confederacy, is knocked out,
and il will take more men to keep black
men slaves than to put down the rebellion,
Much as desire peace, | am opposed to any
peace until this question Of slavery is for
ever settled"
This emphatic ayowl fully committed
General Grant to the policy of emancipation
He was, too, for the reelection of Abraham
Lincoln, declaring to his nearest friends
that his defeat would be dreadful calamity
to the country. Since the close of the war,
he has been in accord with Congress, In its
efforts to protect the loyal black and white,
secure the equal rights of all, and restore the
rebel States to their practical relations. :
| When the pending Constitutional emend-
ment was before Congress, he was for its
submission to the people and when it was
| submitted, he urged the leading men of the
rebel States to vote for its adoption. After
| its rejection by the rebel Legislatures, he
| pressed Southern men, who sought his adj
vice, to reconsider their action, adopt it,and
give suffrage to the freedmen. To leading
| Southern men he said: You must look to
| Congress; the Republicans have the power;
consult them; do not seek the counsels of
men in the North who opposed the war; the
people will never trust that class of men
with pswer; the more you look to them for
advice, the more exacting Congress will be
and ought to be; the rejection of the amend
ment and the legislation against the freedom
will cause Congress to require universal suf-
frage, and you should at once give it."
| Some of these men were wise enough to
accept and act upon his advice. To the re-
construction policy of Congress-the vital
and oyelshadowing issue of the day-Gen.
Grant gave his earnest support, and he has
zealously striven to carry the legislation OF
Congress into effect. On the reconstruc-
ton policy, Gen. Grant has been and now is
in accord with Congress and the Republican
party So anxious was he to have that pol
Icy promptly carried into effect, that he
urgently pressed upon members of Congress
the vital importance of SO arranging the ad-
iournments as to be able to meet at any
time, should the needs of the country re-
quire it.
Upon the Republicans in Congress rest
the most mighty responsibilities. II they
intlcxibly adhere to the policy of equal JUS
tice for ALL and wisely legislate on the, ma
tional debt, the currency taxation, and ex-
pendiures, it will be in the power of the
Republican party to win victory grander
far than the decisive victory of 1864. 1t can
give General Grant three millions of votes
the votes of thirty, possibly thirty-two OF
the States; and House of Representatives
with one hundred majority. With General
Grant iu the Executive Chair, supported by
the suffrages of three millions of loyal and
| liberty loving freemen, by the electoral votes
of three-fourths of the States, and decisive
majorites in both Houses of Congress, the
| .,;f will f1to
atty will assume its sway, the spirit Of lber.
ty and the sense of justice will accord to all
men equality of rights, and the wicked cries
, of ''nsgro supremacy ''the white mans
Government" ssthe war of races" will be
awed and shamed into silence. Then liber-
, ty and justice to all, and equal protection
for all, will be the fixed policy of the Gov
crnmcnt and the settled practice of the peo.
pie, and the nation having decreed liberty
and Justice, will move on, blessed and ap-
plauded, to tie accomplishment of its high
destiny.