The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-07-16
SPEECH BY SENATOR MORTON
The DemOcraoy Shown Up.
Powerful Exposition OF the Party'l
1nfamy.
special Dispatch to The Cincinnati Gazette.

Otuhte iaSb evening" 10 commented
upon by all Republicans as striking
the key note Of the present cam
paign. 1t was, in full, as follows
Mr.. MoRToN--"I do not rise Sc
much to discuss the various propo-
sitions relative to counting the cleo
toral vote as to say that | am for
that offered by the Senator from
Vermont, believing that it is more
specific and direct than the other
two, but perhaps any one Of them
would answer the purpose. l desire,
however, to say one word in regard to
the importance Of this measure. We
have been noting the proceedings Of
a Convention held 10 the City of New
York, which has but just adjourned.
| have read the resolutions adopted
by that Convention. The platform
Of principle, as laid down, and upon
which its candidates have been plao.
ed, and [ wish to call the attention
of the Senate to the issue that is pre-
sented to the country by this platform
and the character of these candidates.
General Grant in his letter of ac.
ceptance, said "Let US have peace. ="
But the Democratic party by their
Convention in New York have said /:
"Let US have war, there shall be no
peace" They have declared in sub
stance, l might say perhaps on direct
terms, that the reconstruction of
these States under the several acts of
Congress shall not be permitted to
stand, but shall be overturned by
military force. Ifthey get tho pow
er they have announced that there
shall be no peace 10 this country /;
that there shall be no settlement of
our troubles except upon the condi
ton of the triumph of those who
have been in rebellion. Let me call
your attention to a part of the eighth
resolution, iu regard TO this very
question In speakiLg of the recon.
structiou of the States, they 60 on to
say that "the power to regulate suf.
frage exists with each State" making
no difference between loyal States
that have been at peace, aud States
that have been in rebellion, putting
them all upon the same footing, aud
that "any attempt by Congress, on
any pretext whatever that is upon
the pretext Of the rebellion, if you
please-"to deprive any State of this
right, or interfere with its exercise,
10 fragrant usurpation of power
which can fnd no warrant in the
Constitution, and if sanctioned by
the people will subvert our form Of
government. They declare that the
interference Of Congress with the
suffrage in States that have been 10
rebellio o, though that interference
may be absolutely necessary, as we
have fou nd il, to the reconstruction
of the States, is unconstitutional,
aud that no justification can be found
FOR it, and that it will subvert our
form Of government. This Couven.
tion has called upon the rebels Of
the South to regard these govern
ments, organized by the authority
OF the acts Of Congress, by the peo
pie OF these States, as usurpations,
unconst itutional, and it has thereby
invited them again to insurrection
luu rebellion. That is what the
means. There is where
The Democratic party has placed it.
self and its candidates. that there
shall be no acquiescence in tae &C
lion Of Congress, bu that continued
is and shall be their policy.
They hav replied to General Grant
by saying that there shall be no
peace, but the war shall be renewed
There can be no other policy for
that party unless it acquiesces in our
work. If it does not accept these
reconstruction acts, there can be no
policy but that Of resista nee, and
renewal of the war. They declare
these reconstruction acts TO be null
Ind yoid. Being void. nobody is
bound to regard them they have no
authority over ny one to cOerce, or
TO punish, aud may be resisted by
any one with impuGity, That may
not be the language of this resolution,
but 1t is the substance an I mSaning
'fit. Aud in consequen CO Of this u
received the Endorsement aud the ap
probation of the hundreds of rebels
tho were in that Convention from
he South men who organized the
rebel government mcn who organ
Sed and led the rebel armies in bat
lie. This, then, is the issue--A con
Iiuuance of tho war, renewal of the
rebellion, because it is either that or
{ is submission and acquiescenee to
What has been done.
But, Mr., President, We are not left
to grope for the meaning of this
Convention. We are not left even 90
seek for it by Inference. We have
he letter Of Gen. Francis p. Blair,
Eritten, | believe. less than a week
lgO, and this letter has been indors-
ID by that Convention this afternoon
BY his nomination as their candidate
or Vice President. II is as much
part of their platform as If it wero
Incorporated in it, for the ink was
hardly dry before il was indorsed by
iis nomination. | rep eat, sir, that
his Ietter is a part Of the Democrat
c platform, General Blair, whatever
Iou may say Of him, is bold, out
spoken man, aud he spoke the senti-
N ents Of that Convention. He says.
'apon these sentiments l want to
tand before the Convention" Upon
hesa sentiments he was nominated.
Therefore | say that the language of
he Democratic Con veution of New
York to the whole country is war,
by force of arms to Con.
,ressiOnal legislation, the overthrow
" forcO Ofarms Of the Governments Is
hat have been erected in tho rebel
'tates under the laws enacted by