Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-02
WASHINGTON, May 80, 1868.

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ff-%, r,..q WASHINGTON, May 80, 1868 Il
Hon! j. e. Haavley, President National Union
Republican Convention :. -
DEAR SIR-The platform adopted by the
patriotic Convention over which you presided,
and the resolutions which SO happily supple
ment it, so entirely agree with my views as to
lust national policy, that my thanks are due
to the delegates as much for this clear and aus
picious declaration of principles as for the nomi
nation with which [ have been honored and
which l gratefully accept.
When great rebellion which imperilled the
national existence was at last overthrown, the
duty, of all others, devolving on those entrust-
ed with the responsibilities of legislation, evil
IDENTITY was to require that the reyolted States
should be readmittcd to participation in the
Government against which they had warred,
only on such basis as to increase and fortify,
not to weaken or endanger the strength and
power of the, nation. Certainly, no one ought
to have claimed that they should be read mitted
under such rule that their organization as
States could ever again be used, as at the open
ing of the war, to defy the national authority
or to destroy the nationalunty. This principle
has been the pole star of those who have IN
hexibly insisted on the Congressional policy
by Executive opposition, and by persistent re-
fusals to accept any plan of reconstruction prof
fered by Congress, justice and public safety at
last combined to teach US that only by al en-
.largement 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 loved
the Union than to those who had sought lnet-
fectually to destroy it. The assured success Of
this legislation is being written on the adamant
of history, and will be our triumphant vlndlca-
ton. More clearly too, than ever before, does
the nation now recognize that the greatest
glory of Republic is that it throws the shield
,of it's protection over the humblest and the
weakest Of its people, and vindicates the rights
Of the poor and the powcress as faithfully as
those OF the rich and the powerful: -..
| re ioice, too in this connection, to find
in your platform the frank and fearless
avowal that Daturazed citizens must be
protected abroad at every hazard as though
they were native born Our whole people are
foreigners or descendants of foreigners. Our
fathers established by arms their right to be
called nation. 1t remains for us to establish
the right to welcome to our shores all who are
willing by oath of allegiance, to become
American citizens. Perpetual allegiance, as
claimed abroad, is only another name for per-
petual bondage and would make all slaves to
the soil where first they saw the light. Our
National cemeteries prove how faithfully these
oaths of fidelity to their adopted land have
been sealed in the life blood Of thousands upon
thousands. Should We not then be faithle to
the dead if we did not protect their living
brethren in the full enjoyment Of that national"
-ity for which, side by side with the native born,
our soldiers Of foreign birth laid down their
lives? It was fitting too, that the representa-.
tives OF party which had proved so true to
national duty il time of war should speak so
clearly in time of peace for the maintenance,
untarnshed, of national honor, national credit
and good faith, as regards it's debt, the cost OF
our national existence.
I do not need to extend this reply by further
comment on platform which has elected such
hearty approval throughout the land. The
debt of gratitude it acknowledges to the brave
men who saved the Union from destruction,
the frank approval Of amnesty based on repen-
lance and loyalty, the demand for the most
thorough economy and honesty in the Govern
ment, the sympathy Of the party of liberty with
all throughout the world who long for the liberty
we here enjoy, aud the recognition Of the sub
lime principles Of the Declaration of lndepend'
ence, are worthy of the organization on whose
banners they are to be written in the coming
contest. Its past record cannot be blotted out
or forgotten. If there had been no Republican
party, slavery would to-day cast it's baleful
shadow over the Republic If there had been
no Republican party, O. free press and free
speech would be as unknown, from the Poto
mac to the Rio Grande, as fen years ago. If
the Republican party could have been stricken
from existence when the banner Of rebellion
was unfurled and when the response Of mo
coercion" was heard at the North, we would
have had no nation to-day. But for the Repub-
lican party daring to risk the odium OF tax and
draft laws, our flag could not have been kept
flying in,the field till the long hoped for victory
came. Without Republican party, the Civil
Rights bill, the guaranty OF equality under the
law to the humble and the defenceess, as well
as to the strong, would not be to-day upon our
National statute-book. l., r. .z.o -
With such inspirations from the past, and
following the example of the founders OF the
Republic who called the victorious General Of
the Revolution to preside over the land his tri-
umphs had saved from its enemies, I cannot
doubt that our labors will be crowned with
success, and it will be success that will bring
restored hope, confidence, prosperity and pro-
gress South as we'll as North, West as well
as East-and, above all, the blessings, under
Providence, of national concord and peace
Very truly, yours, q
SCHUYLER CoLTAx. 2a.
4 British war steamer is cruising in the