The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-07-23
Speech of Governor Morton i'm the Uni.
ted States Senate.

IS commented On by all Republicans a
striking the keynote of the present cam
palgn. 1t was in full, as follows:
;. Mr.. Morton. do not rise SO much tt
discuss the various propositions relative
to counting the electoral vote, as to sa,
thaS am for that offered by the Senator
from Vermont, believing that it is NOR,
specific than the other two, but, perhaps
any one of them would answer the pur
pose. L desire, however, to say a wore
IN regard to the Importance of this meas
ure- We have been noting the proceed
| Ings OF a convention held in the city O.
New York, which has but Just adjourn
ed. l have read the the resolutions adop.
ted by the convention, the platform O
principles it has laid down, and upor
which its candidates have been placed
and wish to call the attention of the
Senate to the issue that is presented tc
the country by this platform, and by the
character OF these candidates Genera
Grant, in his letter of acceptance said
Let us have peace" But the Demo
cratic party, by their convention in New
lor k, have said, Let us have war;there
shall be no peace. They have declared
IN substance, in direct terms, that the re-
construction OF these States under the
several acts of Congress shall not be per-
united to stand, but shall be overturned
by military force if they get the power.
| They haye announced that there shall be
no peace III this country that there shall
| be no settlement of our troubles, except
| upon the condition of the triumph OF
those who have been in rebellion. This
platform and these nominations are a de-
al RAT nf % IL In
Let me call your attention to a part of the
eighth resolution in regard to this yerv
question. In speaking of the reconstruc-
ton OF the States, they go on to say that
the power to regulate suffrage exists with
each State, making no difference between
loyal States that have been in rebellion,
putting them all all upon the same footing
and that any attempt by Congress or any
pretext whatever, that is, upon the pre-
text OF the rebellion, if you please, to
deprive any State of this right, or inter
tere with Its exercise as fragrant usur-
patton of power which can find no war
rant IN the constitution. and if sanction
ed by the people will subvert our form of
government. They declare that the in
reference of Congress with suffrage in
the States that have been in rebellion,
though that interference may be abso-
lutely necessary as we have found it, to
the reconstruction of the States, is I'M
| constitutional, and that no justification
can be found for it, and that it will sub
vert our form OF government. This con-
ventlon has called upon the rebels of the
south to regard these governments organ
lzed by authority of the acts of Congress
by the people of those States as usurpa-
tons, unconstitutional and void, and has
thereby invited them again to insurrection
and rebellion. That Is what resolution
means. There is where the Democratic
party has placed itself and It's candidates
that there shall be no acquies ence in
the action of Congress, but that continu-
ed resistance is and shall be their policy.
They have replied to General Grant by
| saying, There shall be no peace, but the
war shall be renewed" There can be nc
other policy for the party unless it acqui
esces. Ii 1t does not accept these Re-
construction acts there can be no other
| policy but that of resistance and renew
al of the war. They declare these Re
construction acts to be unconstitutional
and void. Being void, nobody is bound
to regard them. They have no authority
| over any one to coerce or to punish, and
may be resisted by ~ one with impunity.
That is not the language of this resolu-
| ton, but it is the substance and meaning
OF 1t, and in consequence of this it re-
ceived the endorsement and the appro-
baton OF the hundreds of rebels who
were in that convention from the South
men who organized the rebel govern
ment and organized and led the rebel ar
mics in battle.
This, then, is the issue. A continu-
ance OF the war, a renewal of the rebel
lion, because it is either that or it is sub
mission, acqulesence to what has been
done. But, Mr. President, we are not
LETT to grope for the meaning of this con-
ventlon. We are not left even to seek for
1t by inference. We have the letter of
General Francis p Blair, written, l be-
lleve, less than one week ago, and this
letter has been endorsed by that conven-
ton thisatternoon, by his nomination as
their candidate for the Vice Presidency
1t Is as much part Of their platform as
If 1t was incorporated in it, for the ink
was hardly dry before it was endorsed by
his nomination. | repeat, sir, this letter
Is a part of the Democratic platform.
General Blair, whatever you may say of
him, Is bold, outspoken man, and he
spoke the sentiments of that convention.
He says: Upon these sentiments [ want
to stand before the convention" And
upon these sentiments he was nominated
Therefore, | say that the language of the
Democratic Convention of New York to
the whole country, is war, resistance by
force OF arms to Congressional legislation;
the overthrow by force of arms of the
governments that have been created in
the rebel States under the laws enacted
by Congress; the continuance of this
struggle in a somewhat different form, but
still the same struggle, contending for
the same principles 1t is now announc-
cd formally, not at Montgomery, not at
Richmond, but at New York. The
country need not be at a loss to under
stand the character of the contest upon
which we are entering. l. IS not one of
peace and aequiesence, o consolidation,
whereby the ravages of war may be re-
paired, but it Is a new declaration of war
to a new announcement of the rebellion
under somewhat different circumstances,
but under circumstances formidable, dan
gerous ana solemn.
Let the country look the struggle in
the face. General Blair has said truly
that all that has been said about green
backs and bonds and the question of f.
nance, Is mere nonsense The great is
sue IS the question of overturning the
new State governments by force, the res
! toratlon OF the power of the rebels. or,