Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-02-27

the last Dian ana the last uOiiar III nceu De
and the unconquerable armies which theiI
Congressional Legislation called 10 the field
finally coerced the rebellion into subjuga-
tiOn. In the darkest days OF the struggle,
when at every street corner we were taunt-
ingly told by Democrats, you cannot con-
quer the South, there was Ole party that
never despaired of the republic, and that
party was the one whose delegates now
meet at our State capital. When unpre-
cedenied and onerous taxation became ne
cessary 10 maintain our credit, to pay and
SUPPLY our heroic soldiers, and toy keep our
flag flying in the field, we dared 10 defy
the prejudice which every Democratic
speaker and editor attempted TO infiame
against the burdens of taxation, and thus
daring, triumphed. When subscription
laws became a military necessity to fill up
our regiments. dccimated again and again
by the bullets vi die enemy andthe diseases
of the camp. the siege and the march, and
when the country was filled with Demo
cratic denuuciations Of these laws, we
risked popularity, victory and all by de-
Tending them as bravely as, our veterans
defended the country In the field. When
Mr., Lincoln at last struck at slavery as The
cause OF all oIr woes. as well as tine right
arm of the rebellion, and when Democrat
ic orators ard writers sill more scanda-
lously and pcrsiStently illuminated us as
having converted the war for the Union
in.n an abolition war to free negroes. we
fearlessly allied our cause To that of the
humble and the helpless. and Providence
rewarded us for our fidelity by that bril-
liant succession of triumphs which gave
salvation to the Union as well as freedom
TO the slave. Jfseal
| When the National Convention of our
opponents at Chicago dared TO hang out
the white flag of surrender, by proclaiming
the war failure, and demanding an i'm
mediate cessation of hOslilities, we prompt
ly accepted the issue; and the soldier with
his cartridge box. and the nation with the
ballot box, united in stamping their indig-
nant condemnation on the disgracelul
avowal.
When .he Government was compelled
TO issue bonds by the hundreds of millions
for the preservation of our national exis-
tencc, Democrats ridiculed them as worth
less and cautioned the people against risk
ing their means in them; but the loyal
people were deaf 10 their warnings, and
now the same party denounce them as
having made too good an investment in
their purchase.
When .'grecnbacks" were authorized by
q Republican Congress, who can forget the
Democratic predictions that il would ulti-
mately take hat full of them To buy a
hat? And now they have the assurance TO
seek TO make political capital out of their
popularity.
when the Thirty ninth Congress reject
cd The Presidents policy of reconstruction
and insisted on one which should embody
the Constitutional guarantees for the flu
ture. with full protection for all who loved
the flag and the Union. our enemies de-
nounced Us as wishing to postpone recon-
struction; while now the same Democrats
with their ally, the President. are striving
to put every possible stumbling block in
the way of their return.
When the 81 iih Article" was proposed
as an amendment to the Constitution, en-
bodying no mandatory suffrage enactment,
hut protecting equally the civi, rights of
all, naiivc-bOrn and naturaliZcd, making a
voter in Indiana Just as potential as one IN
South Carolina and no mole, barring the
door of the Treasury against any payments
on account Of tho rebel debt or the eman.
cipation Of slaves the whole Democratic
party denounced il. and urged the South
ern rebels TO spnrn il as they did. Now,
1.-The two Democratic States of Kentucky
and Maryland demand payment out of the
lpcOrlc's taxes in the Treasury for the
slaves the nation emancipatel; and tie
A two Democratic Legislatures of Ohio and
New jersey cndeavor to withdraw the as
sent cf those States TO this bcneficent Con
stitu;ional amendment, leaving the door
open for the presentation of these Demo
cratic claims If Democratic Congress
could he chosen.
I Twill not extend this letter by defence
0f the Congressional pulley of reconstruc-
liion for Senator Morton's able yindication
of il has covered the whole ground unan
lswcrabIy. Suffice il to say that Congress
having authorized the suffrage of every
freeman in tho late rebel States, rebels and
all, except those who, by violating official
oaihs. had added perjury to treason, and
the Democratic party having denounced
us for this limited and temporary disfran
cl,isement, the same party shouts its rejoi
cings over the fact that the remainder o
ihe unrepentant rebels in Alabama hav,
recently and voluntarily disfrancbisct
: themselves in the vain attempt 10 preven
the reorganization of that State on loya
!. basis.
Nor Is this all. The President, now II
fun syf,pasay with the same Democrat,
party which opposed his election-th'
same person who, as a candidate, declared
: that treason should be made odious, bu
. who, rs Chief Maistraie, is the hope ant
admiration of every one who still love
: l'the lost cause"-whose oath binds him I,
: 'take care that the laws be faithfully exc
! cuied," and who keeps itby striking dow
lf0fficer after officer fi,r the performance o
his duty---who retains in Office and unde
: salary as his attorney General (presidin!
lover one of the departments which, In
: tclaims in his anti Stanton message to th
Senate should be in unison with th
4 President "a Z gentleman who says publicl
that he wiit not appear before the court 4
4 defend "thc laws from hostile attacks
! stands at last self convicted before th
p country as having strivcn to induce tn
! General of our armies 10 defy law he'd,
I not himself dare tn resist Signally failip
h lin this, his Democratic supporters. writ
! now in bitter denunciati0ns ofthat single
|, hearted and illustrions officer, with epithet
! which 1 will mot soil these pages by re
! peaiing. But the heart of the country, al
! ways generous and just, turns towards thi
!. gallant and yslandlcred' commander Wit
n even moro affectimthan before, and long
!. for the hour, when at the baIiot-box, th
I lpeople will vindirate his fair fame frot
III these malignant aspersions and call him I
that seat of power and responsibility whic
a has been honored by the Father OF tn
r country which our greatest soldier saved
d And the Congress, 10 whose fidelity an
4 infiexible firnness the nation, despite th
n tcriticism of friend and foe, owes the PR
: yention Of rebel reconstruction in th
South, will, instead of taking any bacl
ward step "speak to the people that the
; go forward" until every star on or bar
ner, paled though they may have been b
n treason, shall shine with that 'brillianc
e which only loyalty insures.
81 isiia Very truly yours.
al lni-grD = SoHU YLER CoLFAx.
~ After the reading had been concludes