Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-07-17
SPEECH BY SENATOR MORTON.
The Democracy Shown Up.
POWERFUL EXPOSITION or THE pARTY's
fNfAMY.
wAsnisoroN. July 10.

WASHINGTON. July 10.
Senator Morton's speech Ia the Senate
last evening 10 commented upon by all Re.
pubicans as striking the key note Of the
present campaign. IL was, In full, as
follows:
Mr.. Morton al do not rise 70 much 10
discuss tho various propositions relative
to counting the electoral vote az 10 say
that ! um for that offered by the Senxtpr
from Vermont believing that IL Is more
specific and direct than the other two, but
perhaps any one OF them would answer
the purpose. | desire, however, 10 say
ono word In regard to tho importance OF
this measure. We have been noting the
proceedings ola Convention held In the
City Of New York, which has but Just
adjourned. ! have read tho resolutions
adopted by that Convention. The plat.
form Of principle. MS laid down, aud upon
which the candidates have been placed,
and wish 10 call the attention Of the
Senate TO the Issue that Is presented TO
the country by this platform aud by the
character Of these candidates.
General Grant, In bis letter OF accept
ance, said "Let us have peace" But
the Democratic party by their Convention
Ia New York have said Let us have
war; there shall be no pence" They have
declared IN substance, | might say per-
haps In direct terms, that the recohstfuc-
ton OF these States under the several acts
OF Congress shall not be permitted TO stand
but shall be overturned by military force.
Ii they get the power they have announced
that there shall be no peace in this country:
that there shall DO no settlement Of our
troubles except upon the condition OF the
triumph OF those who have been in re-
bcllion. This platform and these nomina.
tons are declaration Of the removal OF
the rebellion let me call your attention
to part Of the eighth resolution, 10 70.
gard to this very question. In speaking Of
the reconstruction Of the States, they 80 on
to say that "tho power to regulate suffrage
exisis with each State" making no diff
ference between loyal States that have
been at peace. aud States that have been
in rebellion, putting thon all upon tho
same footing, aud that "any attempt by
Congress, on any pretext Whatever" that
Is upon the psetext Of the rebellion,
II you please-"io deprive any State Of
this right or interfere with Its exercise, IL
u aagrant usurpsiion Of power which can
God no warrant 10 tho Constitution, and
IL sanctioned by tho people will subyert
our form Of Government" They declare
that the interference Of Congress wit h
tho suffrage In States that have been IN
rebellion, though that interference may
be absolutely necessary, NJ We have found
II In the reconstruction OF the States, !.
unconstitutional. and TIA no justification
can be found for IL, and that Il will sub.
vert our fora Of government. This Con
yention has called upon the rebels Of III,
South TO regard these governments, or
gained by the authority Of acts Of Con-
gress, by the people OF these States, NJ
usurpations, unconstitutional, and II hat
thereby invited them again TO insurrec
ton aud rebellion. That is what thai
resolution means There is where thu
Democratic party has placed itself aud Ia
candidates, that there shall be 40 ac-
quescence in the action Of Congress, bu
that continued resistance is aud shall bs
their policy. They have replied to Gen
eral Grant by saying that there shall be
no peace. but the war shall be renewed
There can be no other policy for that part,
unless II acquiosces in our work. If /
does not accept these reconstruction acts
there can be no policy but that OF rcsis
lance, and renewal Of the war. They
declare these reconstruction acts to BIO un.
constitutional ond void. Being void, no.
body is bound to regard them; they have
no authority over any one to coerce or tc
punish, and may DO resisted by any on,
with impunity. That may not be the
language Of this resolution, but il is the
substance and meaning oft. And in
consequence OF this il received the in.
dorseinent and the appreciation Of ,b'
hundreds Of rebels who wero In that Con
vention from the South, men who organ
zsd the rebel government; men who or
ganized aud led the rebel armies in bat
tie. This, then, is the issue-a eontinu
ance Of the war, renewal Of the rebellion
because il is either that or il is submis
sion and acquiescence to what has been
done.
But, Mr.. President, we are not left 10
grope for the meaning of this Convention
We arc not left even TO seek for il by in.
ference. We have the letter of Gen
Francis p. Blair, written, | believe, les'
than week ago, and has been Endorsed
by that Convention this afternoon by his
nomination as their candidate for Vice
President. Ii is as much part Of their
platform as If it was incorporated in it, fol
tho ink was hardly dry before II was in
dorsed by his nomination. l repeat. sir
that this letter is part Of the Democratic
platform. General Blair, whatever you
may say of him, is a bold, outspoker
man, and he spoke tho sentiments Of that
Convention. He says, "upon these senti-
ments / want TO stand before the Con
vcniiou" Upon these sentiments be wa'