The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-06-10

Z
economy of administration, will tighten
the burden of taxation, while it constantly
reduces the national debt. Let US have
peace.
With great respect your obedient SER
want. y. ,. GfIAN L.
MIR. CoLFAx's LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
WASHINGTON, May 80.
Hon. j. r. Hawley, President Natiou0l Re
publican Convention
DEAR SIR: The platform adopted by
the patriotic Convention over which you
presided, and the resolutions which so
happily supplement it, so entirely agree
with my views as to o just national policy,
that my thanks are due to the delegates
as much for this clear and auspicious de-
claration of principles as for the nolnina-
tion with which have been llonored, and
which l gratefully accept.
When a great rebellion, which imper-
iled the national existence, was at last
overthrown, the duty, of all others, de-
yolving Oh those entrusted with the re-
sponsibilitios OF legislation evidently was
to require that the rcvolted States should
be readn.itted to participation in tho Gov
ern,nent against which they had warrcd
onlv on SUCH q basis as to increase and
fortify, not to weaken or endanger, the
strength, and power OF the nation. Ger
tainly one ought to have claimed that they
should oe readmitted under such rule that
their organization as States could ever
again be used, rs at the opening of the
war, to defy the national authority, or to
destroy the national unity. This principle
has been the pole.stsr of those who have
infexibly insisted on the Congressional
policy your Convention so cordially en-
dorsed
Bafticd by Executive opposition, and by
persistent icflsals to accept any plan of
reconstruction proffercd by Congress, JUS
tice and public safety at last combined to
teach us that only by an enlargement of
suffrage in those States could the desired
end be attained, and that it was even more
safe to give the ballot to those who saved
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 be our
triumphant vindication. More clearly, too,
than ever before does the nation now re-
cognizo that the greatest glory OF repub-
lie is that it throws the shield OF its pro-
lection over the humblest and weakest Of
it's people, and vindieates the rights of the
poor and powerless as faithfully as those
of the rich and the powerful.
rejoice, too, in this connection, to find
in YOUR platform the frank and fearless
avowal that naturalized citizens must be
protected abroad at every hazard as
though they were native born. Our whole
peoplo arc Foreigners, or descendants of
foreigners Our fathers established by
arms their right to be called 4 nation. 1t
remains for us to establish the right to
welcome 90 our shores all who are willing,
by oath of allegiance, to become American
citizens. Perpetual allegiance as claimed
abroad, is only anotherlIamc for perpetual
bondage, and would make all slaves to the
soil where first they saw the light. Oar
national cemeteries prove how faithfully
these oaths Of fidelity to their adopted
land have been sealed i'll the life-blood of
thousands upon thousands.
Should we not, then, be faithless to the
dead if we did not protect their living
brethren in tie fill enjoyment of that ma
tionality for which, side by side with the
nativo.born, our soldiers of foreign birth
laid down their lives?
It was fitting, too, that the representa-
tives of Il party which had proved SO true
to national duty in time OF war should
speak so clearly in time of peace Tor the
maintenance, untalnished, of national hon
or, national credit, and good faith as re-
CARDS its debt, the cost of our national
existence.
l do need to extend this reply by fur
ther comment OH platform which has
elected such hearty approval throughout
the land.
The debt of gratitude it acknowledges