The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-15

Certainly no one ought to have claimed that
they should be rc-admitted under such rule
| that their organisation az States could ever
again DO used, as at the opening Of the war,
to defy the national authority, or to destroy
the national unity. This principle has boon
the polo star Of those who have inaexibly In.
sisted on the Congressional policy your con.
vention SO cordially endorsed Bafled by Ex
eeutive opposiuon, and By persistent refusals
to accept any plan Of reconstruction profered
by Congress, justice and public safety at last
combined to teach US that only by An enlarge.
ment Of suffrage In those States could the de.
sired END DO attained, and that 1t was ovon
more safe to give the ballot TO those who loved
tho Union than TO those who had sought In.
eaectually to destroy It. The assured success
Of this Liquidation 10 being written on the ada
mant Of history, and will be our triumphant
vindicstion. More clearly, too, than ever DO.
| fore does thelEi on now recognize that the
greatest gloryo . republic IL, that II throws
the shield Of Its protection over the humblest
and the weakest Of Its people, and vindicatcs
the rights Of the poor and tho poweress as
faithfully ss those Of the rich and the power
fui.
rejoice, too, in this connection, to fud in
! your platform the frank and fearless avowal
that the naturalired citizens must DO protected
abroad "at every hazard as though they wero
native born" Our whole people are foreign.
ers or defendants Of foreigners. Our fathers
established by arms their right to be called o
nation. II remains for US to establish the right
to welcome to our shores oil who are willing
by oaths Of allegiance 10 become American
citizens. Perpetual allegiance, as claimed
abroad, lie only another namo for perpetual
bondage, and would make all slaves to the soil
whore FIRST they saw the light. Our national
cemeteries prove how faithfully these osths Of
fidelity 10 their adopted land have been sealed
in the life.blood Of thousands upon Thousands.
Should wo not then DO faithless to the dead II
we did not protect their living brethren In the
enjoyment of that nationality, for which side
by side with tho native born our soldiers Of
foreign birth laid down their lives.
II was fitting, too that the representatives
Of party which had proved so true to nation.
al duty In timc Of war, should speak so clearly
in time Of peace for the maintenance unfair
nlshed Of national honor, national credit, and
good faith as regArl il its debt, the cost of our
national existence.
10 not need tc extend this reply by further
comment on II platform which has ELECTED
such hearty approval throughout the land.
The debt Of gratitude it acknowledges to the
brave man who saved the Union from destruc.
tion-the frank approval Of amnesty based on
repentance and loyGlty-the demand for the
most thorough economy and honesty in the
Governmeut--tho sympathy Of the party Of
liberty With all throughout the world who long
for the liberty we here enjoy-and the reoog-
milton Of the sublime principles Of he Deola-
ration OF Independence, arc worthy Of tho
organization on whose banners they are to be
written in the coming contest.
Its pact record cannot he blotted out or for.
, gotten. If there had been no republican
. party slavery would to-day cast its baleful
shadow over the Republic. If there had been
no Republican party, u free press and free
, speech would De as unknown from the Poto.
mao 10 the Rio Grande as ten years ago. II
, the Republican party could have been stricken
from existence when the banner of rebellion
was unfurled, and when the response Of mo
coercion" wsJ heard at the North, we would
have had no nation to-day. But for the Re.
publican party daring to risk the odium Of tar
and draft laws, our flag could not have been
kept flying on the fcld till the long looked for
victory came. Without a Republican party,
the civil right. bill, the guarantee Of equality
under the law to the humble and the defence.
less rs we'll as TO the strong, would not be TO-
day upon our national statute BOOK.
With such Inspirations from the past, and
following the example Of the founders Of the
Republic, who called the victorious General oil
the Revolution to preside over the land his
triumphs had saved from Its enemies, / cannot
doubt that our lAbors will DO crowned with
success. And it will be q success that will
, bring restored hope, confidence, prosperity
and progress, South as well as North, West a.
we'll as East, and above all, the blessings IN
der Providence Of national concord and peace
Very truly, yours.
SCHUYLER CoLpAx