The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-06-11

Estab blished in 1046.
LETTER FROM GRANT AND
COLFAX.
They IndOrSe the Platform and Accept
the Nomination.
GENERAL GRANTS LETTER ACCEPTING
THE NOMINATION.
WASHINGTON, June l.
The following is General Grants
reply to tho nomination Of the Chi
cago Convention:
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 20, 1868.
General Joseph r. Hawicy, President Ma
tional Union Republican Convention:
In formally accepting the nomina-
ton of the National Union Republi-
can Convention of the 21st of May,
instant, il seems proper that some
statement of my views, beyond the
mere acceptance of the nomination,
should be expressed. The proceed.
ings of the convention were marked
with wisdom, moderation and patriot
ism, and, ] believe, express the feel
ings of the great mass OF those who
sustained the country through its
trials. / indorso their resolutions,
and if elected to the office Of Presi-
dent ofthe United States, it will be
my cndeavor 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 it is impossible,
or, at least, eminently improper, to
lay down policy to be adhered to
right or wrong. Through an admin
istration offour years, new political
issues, not foresecn, are constantly
arising; tho views OF thepublic on old
ones are constantly changing, and a
purely administrative officer should.
always be left to execute the will of
the people. | always have respected
that will, and always shall. Peace,
and universal prosperity, itsscqucnce,
with economy of administration, will
tighten the burden oftaxation, while
it constantly reduces the national
debt. Let us have peace.
With great respect, your obcdient
servant, q. s. GRANT.
MR.. CoLFAx's LETTER or ACCEPTANCE.
The following is thereby Of Speak
er Colfax to tho committee announ-
cling his nomination by the Chicago
Convention:
WAsHINGToN. d, G,
May 80, 1865.
Hon. j. r. Hawley, President of the Ma
tional Union Republican Convention:
DEAR SIR-The platform adopted
by the patriotic convention over
which you presided, and the rcsolu-
tions which SO happily supplement
it, SO entirely agree with my views
as to just national policy, that my
thanks arc due to the delegates, as
much for this clear andauspicious de-
claration of principles, as for thenom-
ination with which have been hon.
ored, and which ! gratefully accept.
When great rebellion which i'm.
periled the national existence was 9t
last overthrown, the duty Of all 9th
cis devolving on those intrusted with
the responsibility Of Legislation evil
IDENTIFY was to require that the revolt
cd States should be readmittcd to a
participation in the Government
against which they had erred, only
on such a basis as to increase and
fortify, not to weaken or endanger,
the strength and power of the nation.
Certainly no one oughtto have claim
ed that they should be readmitted
under such rule that their or
ganization as States could ever again
be used, as at the opening of the war;
to defy the national authority OF to
destroy the national unity. This
principle has been the pole star of
those who have infcxibly insisted on
the Congressional policy which your
convention so cordially indorsed.
I,affied by Executive opposition,
and by the persistent refusals to ac-
cept any plan of reconstruction pro-
posed by Congress, justice and pub
lie safety at last combined to teach
us that only by an enlargement ofthc
suffrage in those States could the de-
sired end be attained, and that it was
even more safe to give tho ballot to
those who love the Union than to
those who had soughtineffectually to
destroy it. Tho assured success of
this legislation is being written on the
adanant 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 Republic is that it throws the
shield of its protection over the hum
blest and weakest ofits people, and
vindicates the rights of the poor and
the powerless, as faithfully as those
Of the rich and the powerful.
] rejoice, in this connection, to
find in your platform tho frank and
fearless avowal that our naturalized
citizens must be protected abroad ut
every hazard, as though they were
native born. Our whole people are
foreigners, or descendants of foreign
ers; our fathers established by arms
their right to be called nation. 1t
remains for US to establish this right,
and welcome to our shores all who
are willing, by oaths Of allegiance, to
become American citizens. Perpetu-
al allegiance, as claimed abroad, is
only another name for perpetual bon
dage, and would make all slaves to
the soil whore first they saw the
light. Our national cemeteries prove
how faithfully these oaths of fidelity
TO their adopted land have been seal
ed in the life-blood of thousands up
on thousands. Should we then not
be faithless to the dead il 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
| It was fitting, too, that the repre-.
sentatives of party which had
proved SO true to national duty in
time of war, should speak 80 clearly
| IN tisnn of snaNca for tho maintenance