Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-10
Grant and COlfaX.


future day he would communicate hi,
Jews. lie has done so in the following
GEN. GIANTS LETTER
10 Geh JOSEPH r. HAwIEY, President Ma
ffoHai CaiOn Republican Conrention
In formally accepting the nomination o.
the National Uhjon Republican Convention
OF the list of May inst, 1T seems propeI
that some statement of views beyond the
mere acceptance Of the nomination shouIC
he expressed. The proceedings of the Con
vention were marked with wisdom, modera
tion, and patriotism, and | believe express.
the feelings OF the great mass Of those who
sustained the country through it's recent
trials | endorse the resolutions If elected
to the Office OfPresident of the United States
1t will be my endeavor to administer all the
laws in good faith, with economy, and
with the view Of giving peace, quiet, and
protection everywhere. In times like the
present 1t is impossible, or at least en j.
nently improper, to lay down a policy to be
adhered to, right or wrong, through an
administration of four years. New political
issues. not tOreseen, are constantly arising
the views Of the public on old ones are con
Atantly changing and purely administrative
officer should always be left free to execute
the wIll of the people always have
respected that Will, and always shall. Peace
and universal prOsperIty-its sequence-with
economy of administration will tighten the
burden Of taxation, while it constantly
reduces the national debt. Let us have
peace.
With great respect, your obedicnt servant.
Washington, D. C., May %, 1868
The following is the reply of Speaker
Colfax to the Committee announcing his
nomination by the Chicago Convention
SPEAKER coLFAx's LETTER.
Hon. J. r. HAwLEY, President of the Ma
tI0na' Union Republican Conuenti0n
DEAR SIR The platform adopted by the
patriotic Convention over which YOU pre-
sided, and the resolutions which so happily
supplement it, entirely agree with nv
views as u a Just national policy, that nv
thanks arc due to the Delegates as much for
this clear and auspicious declaration of
principles for the nomination with which
| have been hOnored, and which [ gratefully
accept When a great Rebellion, which
lmperiled the national existence, was at last
overthrOwn, the duty of all others, devov-
ing on those Intrusted with the responsible
titles Of legislation, evidently was to require
that the revOlted States should be readmitted
to participation in the Government against
which they had erred, only on such a basis
as to increase and fOrtifv, not to weaken or
endanger, the strength and power of the
nation Certainly no one ought to have
claimed that they should be readmitted un-
der such rule that their organization as
States could ever again be used, as at the
opening Of the war, to defy the national
authority or to destroy the national unity.
This principle has been the poie-star of
those who have infexibIy insisted on the
congressional policy, your convention so
cordially indorsed. Baffled by Executive
opposition, and by persistent refusals to
accept any plan Of reconstruction profered
10y congress justice and public safety at last
combined to teach us that only by an 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 Intellectually to destroy it. The
sured success of this legislation is being
written on the adamant Of history, and will
be our triumphant vindication More clearly
too, than ever before, does the nation now
recognize that the greatest glory of a re-
public i that it throws the shield of its
protection over the humblest and weakest
of its people, and vindicates the rights of
the poor and the powerless faithfully as
those of the rich and the powerful.
rejoice, too, in this connection, to find in
your platform the frank and fearless avowal
that naturalized citizens must be protected
abroad at every hazard, as though they were
native-born. Our whole people are foreign
ers, or descendants Of foreigners our
fathers established by arms their right to
he called a nation. 1t remains for us to
establish the right to welcome to our
shores all who are willing, by oaths OF
allegiance, TO become American citizens
Perpetual allegiance, as claimed abroad. is
only another name for perpetual bondage,
and would make all slaves to the soil
where nrst 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 faithless to the dead if we did not
protect their living brethren in the full
enjoyment of that nationality. for which,
side by side, with the native born our
soldiers of foreign birth laid down their
lives 1t was fitting, too, that the rep
resentatyes of party which had prov
Ell 50 true To national duty in time ofwar
should speak clearly in time of peace
for the maintenance untarnished Of the
national honor, national credit and good
faith as regards its debt, the cost of our
national exstence. | do not need to extend
this reply by further comment on a platform
which has elected such hearty approval
throughout the land Thedebt of gratitude
II dthHONleugtS 10 the brave men who
saved the Union from destruction, the
frank approval of amnesty based on repent-
ance and loyalty, the demand for the most
thorough economy and honesty in the
Government. the sympathy of the party of
liberty with all throughout the world who
longed Tor the liberty here enjoy and
the recognition of the sublime principles of
the Declaration OF independence 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 forgot
ten If there had been no Republican party
Slavery would to-day cast its baleful shadow
over the republic IF there had been no
Republican party, free press, and free
speech would be as unknown from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande as ten years ago.
If the Republican party could have been
stricken from existence when the banner of
Rebellion was unfurled, and when the
response of " No Coercion was heard at
the North, We would have had no nation
to-day But for the Republican party
daring TO risk the odum of tax and draft
laws, flag could not have been fying in
the field until the long-hoped for victory
came. Without Republican party the
Civil Rights blll-the guarantee of equality
under the law to the humble and the de-
fenseless, well to the strong would
not be to-day upon our National Statute
book. With such inspiration 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 triumphs had saved from its
enemies, l cannot doubt that our labors will
be crowned with success and it will be a