New-York tribune., 1868-01-23
LETTER FROM SPEAKER eOLFAx.


HE DECLINES TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR COW
ERNOR-THE POLICY CONGRESS WILL
PURSUE. b3.lI IIILLt tf
The following letter from Speaker Colfax to
J. s. Harvey esq., OF Indianapolis, is published in lie
Indianapolis Journal OF Saturday: -..r...frt
Although do not believe in declining nominations be.
candidate for any office whatever, yet frank reply
is due to your inquiry relative TO the gubeatora nomi
Conventions now being held. When my name was
first suggested fort happened to be IN Evansville; and
The EUdnsre Journal replied. he afterward pub
shed. that was not and could not be candidate for
Governor My fellow members have honored me with an
election their Speaker the term OF which office does
not expire until March 1862 and since that election
declined remuneraye business offer because prncpie
and duty required me 10 out re full term OF tho
Office whose obligations and responsibilities had accept
ed 1t would be- therefore, both unjust ana lossioe "
change the determination thus publicly announced
The hopeful boastng Of our opponents s by no means
When the XXXYIIIh Congress adjourned lts nrst
session. the OF 1864, enemies were even
more ae ey no t sweeping OSae T
tory at the polls; and at the Chicago Convention, this
oonhdence was most arroganty ana enutnyy ha KY ea-
coin would have to flee from Washington the ensuing
March, in Scotch cap &C. cannot pe iorgoten py any
Indnanan who heard then Win me Increased taha &
tou compelled by the protraeton OF the war; ana mo
draft law In operation as military necessity an oyer,ne @
land during tie canvass the people turned tnet ooast
ngs into grief and I'm spite OF the preudlces these acts
invoked against us we won he most We
In the Summer OF 1896, when the XXXlXth Congress
adjourned its first session our opponents encouaged by
the apOstacy Of the Administration, Wlch tnhed W.
whole power against the party that had conferred H.
less sangune and boastful than they nau pee
two years before but again the people overwhelmed
them at the polls, as they will once more In lsG8 Dy our
unity and energy we prove that we desire and deserve
success.
Congress will again prove itself worthy Of the eon,
fdence loyal and patriotic people have 20 long epOeei
in it, We shall fearessy face and settle all the financial
questions growing out OF the enormous cost OF he Demo
cratic Rebellion OF course, do not attempt to predict
this early period of the session. all the details 9i us
legislation; but speaking only as one ineinoer % 90 o @ ,
wisely burden the people with attempts pay on he ma.
tiona debt by excessive taXao that VIII stop the CON
peal of the SECRETARY Treasury but which has par
ayzed business without reducing the gold premium or
not Consent that so large an of gold shall be
lessly boarded up the Treasury vaults when IL ngns
he applied proably and wisely TO the reduction OF
the interest the national debt; IL VIII retrench gov
expenditures, in every branch OF the
army navy. civil &c-aways excepting the sacred d,Ds
of pensions disabled soldiers and Sailors ana the
families of our fallen defenders 1t VII compel lpe e94sg
thus placing OF millions per year III the treasury
which are now %orse than Gsti it WI redgee laASpon
taxnayers generally from every possible burden, consist
/ al ufh the maintenance OF our national honor anu
have the fullest faith that 1t VIII agree upon s' nat
acceptable financial p0Sy Upon an @ 4neI t rt nor
Will neither dshonor the Rnpec impair s & GreI enbadv my
creditor or citizen Beside i ss urctection and
vindcatOn Of the rights Of every American '4SiS ~
born or nauralized at home or abroad. =. ,o tha
charge OF negro supremacy" They Will seek by s 70
darken the counsel and TO invoke and excite prejudice
But the issue plain and palpabe for them To nys
ty misrepresent. Ihey demand that the men OF the
South, who used the power OF their state 10
organize the ConfedeTacy TO involve the country IN
long and bloody war, to hurl the armies OF tie rebellion
against the defenders Of the unon and to carry anguish
aud desolaton million hearth stones, shall be rein
stalled in supreme aud undisputed power ~ the govern
ments OF those States and demand that they shah not
be- but that loyal men shall shall rule the states that
loyal sacrifices saved On this ISSUE to use the language
of our lamersed Chief invoke the consderae judg
ment OF mankind. and the gracious favor OF Almighty
God" Yours truly, SCHUYLER COLtAA-
j 3 Harvey, esq, indianapolis, Ind.