The Van Buren press., 1868-08-21

| shall bc admitted, In this ntinnsr. from the
remaining Southern states. although they
will have, in truth, no con,tilneul,, they will
have morc power IN the Senate than major
ity of the people ot this Gni"n, living w ttr'
/ line OF the great States. la vain mcmbcr, OF
the Republican party protested against the
policy that lcd to this result While the chief-
I OF The late rebellion have submitted to the r,-
suit OI tue war, AMI are now quietly engaged
/ In useful pursuits fort the support of oftle,ns,l,e,
and their families, and are trying by the folcc
ot their example TO lead back the people of
the South to the order and industry not only
essential to their well being. but to the great
ness aud prosperity of our country. all 81
that those, without ability or Influence, VIII
have been thrown by the ayitation- OF civil
conyulsions into positions of honor or prot
are striving 10 keep alive the passions 10 which
| they owe their elevation. and they clamoroIss-
/ ly insist they are the only friend, four Union.
Proof of that can only have sire foundation
In fraternal regard and u common desire io
promote the peace, the or,icr and the happi-
/ ness OF all portions OF our land.
Events in Congress since the adjournment
of the Convention have vastly Increased the
| importance OF political victory by tho e
who are seeking to bring back economy, sim
| plictty and Justice in the administration of
our national affairs. Many Republicans have
heretofore clung to their party Who hayc re-
grctted the extremes of violence 10 which it
has run. They have cherished faith that.
While the action of their political friends has
been mistaken, thcir motives have been good.
They must now see that the Republican party
Is III that condition that il cannot carry out
peaceful policy whatever It's motives may be-.
II Is Il misfortune not only to u country. but
10 government party iisclf, wirn it, action
Is unchecked by any form of opposition. IL
has been the misfortune of the Republican
party that the events OF the past few years
have given il so much power that IL has been
able 10 shackle the Executive to trainlncl the
Judiciary, and carry out the views OF the most
unwlse and violent of Ds members. Wmn
this state Of things exists ia any party. it has
ever been found that the Judgment ofits ablcst
leaders does not control. There l. hardly All
able man who has helped to build up the Re-
publican organization, who has not within the
past three years warned il against ~ cNet.a-
cs; who has not been borne down aud forced
to give up his convictions of what the inter-
ests OF the country call for, or. il too patriotic
to do 50, who has not been driven from its
ranks. II this has been the ease heretofore,
what will be its action with this new infusion
oimcn who, without decent respect tor the
views Of those who had just given them their
positions, begin their legislative career With
calls Tor arms, and demands that States shaH
be regarded as in 4 condition Of civil war, and
a declaration that they are ready and anxious
to degrade the President Of the United state,
whenever they can pIlrsuadc or force Com
grcss TO bring forward new article, Of i'm
pcachment? The Republican party as Web
rs We, Is interested In putting soulc cheek up
on this violence. IL Must be cSar to every
thinking man that disposition of political
power tends to checks the violence of party
rfttulitq III iieit,G qpd d.901 3rlerW
Executive and majority of Democratic mem
',ers to the House of Representatives wesllA
not give that party organization power to-
make sudden or violent changes, but would
serve to check these extreme measures whicls
have been deplored by the best nIcn Of both
organizations. The result would most ccr-
tainly lead To that peaceful restoration ofthe'
Union aud re-establisl,ment Of fratcrnal rcl,s-r
tionship which the country desires. anr
sure the best men Of the Republican, party de-
| plore as deeply as do the spirit OF VIOLENCE
| shown by those recently admitted to seats Inv
| Congress. The condition of civil warwuicls
they contemplate, must be abhorrcnt to every
rigit-thlnking mand as.AaA
have no mere personal wishes which mis-
lead my judgment In regard to the pending
election. No man, who has Weighed ami
measured the duties OF the Office Of President
| Of the United States, can fail to he impressed
with tllc duties, cares and tolls OF him who liz
10 meet it, demands. IL Is not merely to tsoat
with popular currents. without 4 policy or a
purpose. On the contrary, while our tonsti-
tuition gives juSt weight to the public will, it-
distinguishing feature is that II SEEKS to pro-
tect the rights of lniuorties. Its greatest
glory Is that 1t put restraints upon power. 1t
gives force and form To those niNims and
principles OF civil liberty FOR which the mar
tyrs of freedom have struggled through ages.
1t declares the right of the people to be secure
in their persons, houses and papers against un-
reasonable search and seizures, That Con-
grcss shall make nolaws respecting the cstab-
lishncnt of religion, or the free eNerci,e there
OF, or abridging tile freedom OF speech or OF
the press, or the right OF the people to petition
| for the redress of grievances. IL secures the
right OF II speedy and public trial by an inl-
partial jury. No man can rightfully enter
upon the duties Of the Presidential Office un-
less he Is not only willing to carry out tho
wishes Of the people expressed ina constitu-
tional way but |. also prepared 70 stand up
! for the rights of mnorities. lie must DC
ready TO uphold the free exercise of religion.
lie must denounce measures which would
wound personal or home rights, or the religi-
Gus conscience Of the humblest citizens of the
land. lie must maintain, without distinction
ofcrced or nationality, all the privileges ofan
| American citizenship. The experience Oi
! every public man who has been faithful 10 his
| trust, teaches him that no one can do the dti-
! ties On the office ofPrcsident unlcsshe Is ready
not only to undergo the falschoods and abuse
of the bad but to suit,r from the ccnsurc OF
! the good, who are ndslead hy prejudiccs and
! Interpretations There are no attractions
| In such positions, which deceive my Judgment
when | say that great change Is going On in
| the public mind. The mass oi the Republican
! party are more thoughtful tempered and Just
! than they were during the excitement Which
attended the progress and close Of the civil
war; As the energy Of the Democratic party
! springs from their devotion TO their cause and
to their candidates, | may with propriety
speak of the fact that never In the political
history of our country has the action OF amy
| like body been hailed with such universal and
real enthusiasm as that which has been shown
| in relation to the position of tho National
| Democratic Convention, With this the cant
didatcs had nothing to do. Had amy others
OF those named been selected this spirit
would have been, perhaps, moro marked tho
| zeal and energy OF the Conservative masses.
coming from desire to make a change ofpol-
! Icy, and from "a tAoughtr tliatthey can carry
out their purposes. In this faith they, arr
strengthened by the cooperation of the great
| body of those who served IN the Union army
1