The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-07-24
NUMBER 81.
TIE NEW DECLARATION OF VAR.
speech OF Senator Norton.

the democratic nominations and platform
hav" read the resolutions adopted by
that convention, the platform OF principles
u has 'aid down, and upon which It's can.
didates are placed; and wish to call tho
attention OF tho Senate to the issue that Is
presented to the country BY this platiorm
and by the character Of these candidates.
Gen. Grant, in his letter Of acceptance
snid. "lct us have pcace;'but the Demo.
cratic party by their convention in New
York have said, "let Us have war; tbere
shall be no peace" They have declared
in substance, might say in 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 II they get the power.
They have announced that there shall be
no settlement Of our troubles, except upon
the condition Of the triumph Of those who
have been in the rebellion. Let me call your
attention to nlpart OF the eighth resolution in
regard 10 the very question. In speaking
Of the reconstruction Of the States, they 40
on TO say tllnt the power TO regulate sui.
fmgc exists with each State, making no dif.
ference between loyal States that have been
ut peace aud States that have been in rebel.
| lion, putting them oil on the same footing.
"And that any attempt by Congress on
any prctext whatever"
That Is, upon the 'prctcxt Of the rebel.
lion. IL you please,
"to deprive any State OF this right, or In.
terferc with It's exercise, is fragrant usur.
patton of power which can find no warrant
In the Constitution, and. if sanctioned by
the pcople,will subyet our form Of govern.
ment"
They delare that the interference of Con.
grcss with suffrage in States that have been
in rebellion, though that Interference may
he absolutely necessary, rs we have iound
Ii. to the reconstruction Of the States, is un.
constitutional, and that no justification can
be found for il, and that II will subvert our
form Of government, and must end In q
single centralized aud consolidated Govern.
mcnt, In which the separate existence Of the
States will be entirely absorbed, , and an un-
qualified despotism 'be established in place.
Of Federal Union Of CO equal States, aud
that we regard the reconstruction acts (so.
called) Of Congress rs such-are usurpa.
tons and unconstitutional, revolutionary and
void.
This convention has called upon the reb.
els Of the South to regard these governments
organized by authority Of acts Of Congrrss
by the people Of those States rs usurpations
unconstitutional, and void, and has thereby
invited them again to instruction and re-
bellion. That Is what the resolution means.
That Is where the Democratic party has
placed itself and its candidates, that there
shall be no acquiescence TO the action of
Congress, but that continued resistance is
and shall l'e their policy. They have re.
Piled TO General Grant by saying. "thcre
shall be no peace, but the war shall be re-
newed.' There can DO TO other policy for
that party unless Il acqnicsces. lf Il docs
not accept these Reconstruction acts, there
can be no policy but that of resistance and
arenewal Of the war, They declare these
reconstruction acts to be unconstitutional
and void. Being void, nobody is bound to
regard them: they have no authority over
any ono to coerce or to punish; and may bc
resisted by any ono with impunity. That is
not the language Of the resolution, but IL is
the substance and the meaning Of IL and in
consequence Oi this II received the endors-
ment and the appreciation Of the hundreds
OF rebels who were In that convention from
the South, men who organized the rebel gov.
ernrnent, and organized and led the rebel
armies in battle. This, then, is the issue.
continuance Of the war; renewal Of the re-
bcllIon; because il is either that, or il Is sub
mission and acqnicsccncc to what has been
done.
But, Mr.. President, we arc notle even TO
seek for il by inference. We have letter
OF General Francis p. Blair, written, be-
lievc less than u week ago, and this letter
has been endorsed by that convention this
afternoon by his nomination US their candi-
date for The Vice Presidency.
After reading i,lair's letter which wo
have already published, Senator Morton
continued.
Mr.. President. that is the Democratic
platform. General Blair whatever you may
say Of him Is n bold, out.spoken man, and
lio spoke tho sentiments Of that convention.
lie says, "upon these sentiments want to
stand before the convention" and upon
those sentiments he was nominated. There
fore, say that the lnuguagc Of the Demo-
cratic convention NJ New York tn tho whole
country Is, war; resistance by force OF arms
To Congressional legislation; the overthrow
by force ofauns Of the governments that
have been erected in the rebel States under
the laws enacted by Congress the contin-
uance OF this rebellion continuance Of this
struggle IN somewhat different form, but
still tho same struggle, contending for tho
same principle. II Is now announced for.
nully, not nj Montgomery not at Richmond,
but ut New York. Tho country need not
tu NJ sat tnS. a., a,,I sb, ,har rta
Of the contest npon which we arc entering.
Il Is not ono Of peace and acquiesencc, OF
consolidation whereby the ravnges OF war
may be repaired; but It isa new declara'
ti0n of war, n new announcement OF the
rebellion under somewhat different circiim.
sinnces. hut under circumstances fonnida.
ble. dangcrois and solemn. Let the country
look the struggle in tho face.
Genernl blair has said truly that all that
is said about greenbacks and bonds and
questions OF finance Is mere nonsense. Tho
great issue is the question Of overtuming tho
new State Governments by force, tho resto.
ration oi the power Of rebels, or, as they
call it the white men b government In those
States, and all the rest Is leather and pru-
nclla. We owe debt Of gratitude to Gen.
ernl Blair for his frankness. There need be-
no deception pmc,ised now, and there can
be none. There can be no other issue pre-.
scnted substantially 10 us but that Of tho fu-
ture peace OF this country. II Seymour
shall be elected upon that platform, he stands
pledged TO use the army Of tho United
states ior the purpose Of ovcrtuming the
governments Tint have been established In
the South by tho voice ofibe whole people,
and by that army to place the power beck
ngain into the hnnds OF the rebels. They
were there with him in that convention.
They have given TO them their counsel.
They have endorsed Mr.. Seymour, and the
convention and all have endorsed General
Funcis p. blair. an trs. e..
The great issue underlying the whole
contest, and we lave the solemn declsnlon
Of their candidate for Vice President 70 ua1
effect, will be the renewal OF TIE WAT, 20