The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-09-10
MIR. coLFAx's LETTER.
WASHINGTON, May 30,


Hon T. R Ha,clfy, President Nat Union
Republican ConUe,,tion DEAR SIR:-
The platform adopted by the patriotic
convention over which you presided and
the resolutions which so happily supple
to just national policy, that my thanks
are due the delegates, as much for this
clear aud auspicious declaration of prinoi-
pies asfor the nomination with which, have
been honored, and which l gratefully ac-
cept
When great rebellion, which imperil-
led the national existence, was at last over
thrown, the duty Of ali 9th ers devolving
on those intrusted with the responsib iii
ties Of legislation evidently was to require
that the revolted States should be read
mitted to participation In the government
against which they had warred only on
such a basis as to increase and fortify not
to weaken or endangor the strength Of the
nation
Certainly no one ought to have claimed
that they should be readmitted under such
rules that their organization as States
could ever again be used, as at the open
ing Ct the war, to1iefy the nationa! author
ity, or to destroy the national unity. This
pie has been the pole star of those
who have infexiby insisted on the con-
gressional policy your convention so cor
daily endorsed. Baffled by executive op-
position and by persistent reiusals to accept
any plan of reconstruction proffered by
Congress, justice and public safety at last
combined to teach Us that only by an en-
largemeat of suffrage IN those States
could the desired end be attained, and that
it was even more safe to give the ballot TO
those who loved the Union than to those
who had sought Intellectually to destroy
it. The assur d success of this legislation
| is being written on the adamaut Of histo-
ry, and will be our triumphant win dica-
| ton. 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
humblest and the weakest of its people,
and vind:cates the rights of the poor and
| the powerless as faithfully as those Of the
rich and the powerful.
1 rejoice, too, in this convention, to
! find in your platform the frank and fear
| less avowal that the naturalized citizens
must be protected abroad, cat every hazard
as though they were native born" Our
whole people are foreigners or descendants
of foreigners. Our fathers established by
arms their right to be called nation. Il
remains for us to establish the right to
welcome to our shores all who are willing
| By oaths of allegiance TO become Ameri
can citizens Perpetual allegiance,
as claimed abroad, is only another
name for perpetual bondage, and would
make all slaves to the soil where first
they saw the light. Our national ceme-
-teries prove how faithfully these oaths of
fidelity to their adopted land have been
sealed in the life blood of thousands upoo
thousands Should we nottheu be faith less
| to the dead if we did not protect their liv-
ing brethren in the enjoyment of that
nationality, for which, side by side with
the Eative born, our soldiers of foreign
birth laid down their lives
1t was fitting, too, that the representa-
tives of party which had proved so true
to national duty in time of war should
speak SO clearly in time of peace for the
maintenance untarnshed OF national honor,
national credit, and 5ood faith as regards
Its debt, the cost of our national existence.
| do not need to extend this reply by
further comment on platform which has
ELECTED such hearty approval throughout
the land. The debt of gratitude it ac-
knowledges to the brave men who saved
the Union from destruction-th frank
approval of amnesty based on repentance
and loyalty-the demand for the most
thorough economy and honesty in the
Government-the sympathy of the party
of lioerty with all throughout the world
who. long for the liberty We here enjoy
and the recognition OF the sublime princi-
pies of the Declaration of Independence,
are worthy of the organization on whose
banners they are to be written in the COM
| ing contest.
Its past record cannot be blotted out or