The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-21

with US in restoring the peace Of the country
and reconstruetipg the Southern State Gov
erLments upon the basis Of impartial Justice
aud equal rights, are received back into the
communion Of the loyal people; and we favor
the removal Of the disquali6catiops and re.
strictions imposed upon the late rebels In the
same measure as their spirit Of loyalty will
lirect, and as may be consistent with tho
safety Of the loyal people.
Resolved, That We recognise the great prin.
ciples laid down in the immortal Declaration
Of Independence As the true foundation OF
democratic government and We hail with
gladness every effort toward making these
principles living reality on every inch Of tho
American soil.
GRANT AND coLrAx-THErR LETTERS OF Ac.
cErrAScE-rHB PLATFORM ENDORSED.
The following are to letters Of General Gran
and Hon Schuyler Colfax, accepting the nomi.
nation for the Presidency aud Vice Presidency
of the United States by the Republican Ma
tional Convention:
wAsusoroS, D. c., May 20, 1868.
Gen. Joseph X. Harley, Prtsideni National
Union Rpubiiedn Communicable formally
accepting tho nomination of the National
Union Republican Convention, Of the 2lst Of
May instant, II seems proper that some state
ment of views beyond the mere acceptance Of
the nomination should be expressed.
The proceedings Of the Convention were
marked with wisdom, moderation and patri-
otism, and believe express the feelings ofthe
great mass Of those who sustained the country
through its recent trials. I endorse their re
| solutions. If elected TO the Office Of Prtsi-
dent Of the United States, Il will be my en-.
deavor to administer all the laws in good faitf,
| with economy, and with the view Of giving
peace, quiet and protection everywhere. In
4 times like the present IL 10 impossible, or, at
least, eminently improper, to lay down poll
cy to he adhered to, right or wrong, through
an administration Of four years. New politi-
cal isSres, not foresecp, arc constantly aririug;
the views Of the public on old ones are con.
stnntly changing, and a purely administrative
officer should always be left free to execute
the will Of the people. Ialwsys have respected
that will and always shall.
Peace and universal prosperity, its sequence,
| with economy Of administration, will tighten
the burden of taxation, while II constantly
reduces the national debt. Let US have peace
With great re'pect, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT.
WASHINGTON, May 30.
Hon. J. Il. Uarlsy, President National
Ulion Republican ConpGRtion-DEAR Sin.
The platform adopted by the patriotic conven.
tion over which you presided, and the resolu.
tions which SO happily supplement 1t, SO en-
; tirey agree with my yicws Ss to q just national
policy, that my thanks are due to the dele.
gates, as much for this clear and auspiciou,
declaration Of principles as for the nomination
with which have been honored, and which
gratefully accept.
Whom great rebellion which imperiled the
national existence was at last overthrow,
tho duty Of all others devolying on those en-.
trusted with the responsibilities Of legislation
evidently was to require that the revolted
! States should be re admitted to participation
In tho Government against which they had
warred only on such basis as to increase and
. fortify not to weaken or endanger the strength
| Of the nation.
Certainly no one ought to have claimed that
they should be re.admit,cd under such rule
that their organization as States could ever
again DO used, as at the opening Of the war,
to defy the national authority, or 10 destroy
the national unity. This principle has been
the pole star Of these WHO have ipaexibly in.
sisted on the Congressional policy your con.
vention so cordially endorsed. Bafled by Ex.
eeutive opposition, and by persistent refusal.
to accept any plan Of reconstruction profered
by Congress, justice and public safety at last
. combined to teach US that only by an enlarge
n ment Of suffrage in those States could the de
; sired end DO attained, and that 1t was ever
i more safe to give the ballot to those who lovel
the Union than to thote who had sought in
Of this legislation is being written on the ada
mant Of history, and will be our triumphant
! yindication. More clearly, too, than ever be,
fore does theIIii on now recognize that the
: greatest gloryo republic is, that 1t throws
the shield Of its protection over the humblesi
: and the weakest Of Its people, and vindicatei
the rights Of the poor and the powerless n
faithfully Us those Of the rich and the power
8 fui.
G | rejoice, too, in this connection, to End Il
i your platform the frank and fearless svowa
. that the naturaliEed citizens must DO protecte,
70 abroad sat every hazard, as though they wer
native born" Our whole people are foreign
= ers or defendants of foreigner. Our father
y established by arms their right to DO called
i nation. II remains for US to establish the RICH
+ to welcome to our shores all who are willinI
o by Oaths of allegiance to become American
II citizens. Perpetual allegiance, as elaine,
abroad, Is only another name for perpet ia
. bondage, and would make all slaves to the sol
d where first they saw the light. Our nationa
cemeteries prove how faithfully these oaths o
u fidelity to their adopted land have been seaet
n in tho lifc-blood Of thousands upon thousands
= Should We not then be faithless to the dead |
i wo did not protect their living brethren in tn,
i enjoyment of that nationality, for which sid,
by side with the native born our soldiers OIL
Z foreign birth laid down their lives
1t was fitting too, that the representative
! of a party which had proved SO true to nation
! El duty in time Of war, should speak so CLEARLY
, in time OF peace for the maintenance unfair
d nished of national honor, national credit, ant
good faith as regards its debt, the cost of gu
d national existence.
: do not need to extend this reply by furthe
o comment on platform which has Gillette,
y such hearty approval throughout the land
l. The debt Of gratitude it acknowledges to tn
y brave mon who styed the Union from destruc
J. tion-the frank approval Of amnesty based o.
g repentance and loyalty-the demand for tn
e most thorough economy and honesty In tn
e Goyernment--the Fynpathy Of the party O
= liberty with all throughout the world who lon
= for the liberty We here enjoy-and the reoog
i milton Of tho sublime principles Of The Dscla
0 ration Of Independence. are worthy Of tn,
o organization on whose banners they are TO b.
y written in the coming contest,
:. Its past record cannot be blotted out or for
n gotten. If there had been no republican
party slavery would to-day cast its balefu
Is shadow over the Republic. If there had Doe
D. no Republican party, free press and fire.
J speech would be IS unknown frcm the Potc
n mac to the Rio Grands as ten years ago.
n the Republican party could have been stricke
J. from existence when tho banner Of rebGllio
y was unfurled, and when thu respOnse of IN
coercion waI heard at the North, we wouI
d have had no nation to-day. But for the lie
IS publican party daring to risk tho odum of Ia
! and draft laws, cur dag could not have bee
n kept flying on the field till the long -looked.fo
victory came. Without n Republican party
i the civil rights bill, tho guarantee Of equalit
= undor the law to the humble and the defence
les' rs we'll as TO the strong, would not DO Ia