Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-02
GRANT AND C0LFAX.
Their Letters Of fAceepsanee-The Platter m

Inc following are the Ietters OF General Grant
and Hon. Schuyler Colfax, accepting the nom.
Of the United States by the Republican National
7 wAsHINsroH, d. O., May %, isse.-ee.era,
yestpA X, Hartsy, Prssids.t NGfionai Usson Re.
domination of the National Union Republican
Convention, Of the 2lst Of May instant, !,
seems proper that some statement of views be.
yond the mere acceptance Of the nomination
The proceedings Of the convention wert
marked with wisdom, moderation, and patriot.
Ism, and believe express the feelings Of the
great mass Of those who sustained the country
through its recent trials. endorse their res.
oluttons. II elected to the ONCE of President si
the United States, II will be my endeavor to ad.
minister all the laws in good faith, with econ.
omy, and with the view of giving peace, quiet
and protection every where. In times like the
present ii is Impossible, or, at least, eminently
improper, to lay down policy to be adhered
to, right or wrong, through an administration
Of four years. New political issues, not fore
seen, are constantly arising: the views of the
public ON old ones are constantly changing
and purely administrative officers should al
people. l always have respected that will,
and always shall.
Peace and universal prosperity its sequence,
with economy of administration, will tighten
the burden OF tax alton, while It constantly re.
duces the national debt Let us have peace.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
U. 5. GkANT.
WASHINGTON, MAY 3e 1ses:-Hon. J. X. Ha,r.
ky, President Natioaal Onion Reputiican Conren :
lton:-DKAR SIR The platform adopted by the
patriotic cOnyeAton over which you presided,
and the resolutions which so happily supple.
mept ii, SO entirely agree with my views as to
q inst national policy that my thanks are due
to the delegates, as much for this clear and
suspicious declaration Of principles as for tn
nomination with which have been honored,
and which l gratefully accept.
When great rebellion which lmperilled the
nationsl existence, was at last overthrown, the
duty OF all others devolving on those entrusted
with the responsibility, OF legislation evident
ly was TO require that the revolted States
should be readmitted to participation In the
Government against which they had warred
only on such basis as to increase and fortify,
not to weaken or endanger the strength Of the
nation. f..r..
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 opening Of the war, to
defy the national authority, or to destroy the
national unity. This principle has been the
pole star Of those who have infiexibly insisted
on the Congressional policy your convent on
so cordially endorsed. Bafied by Executive
opposition, and by persistent refusals to accept
any plan of reconstruction prcffered by Con.
sress, justice and public safety at last combin-
ed TO teach us that only by an enlargement of
suffrage in those St2tes could the desired end
be attained, and that it was even more safe TO
give The BE- Hot TO those who loved the Union
than TO those w bo had sought Intellectually to
destroy il. The assured success of this legis-
lation is being written on the adamant of his
tory. and will be our triumphant vindcation.
More clearly, too, than ever before does the
na ion now recognize that the greatest glory Of
republic is that it throws the shield Of its
protection over the rrmb blest and the weakest
Of its people, and Yindicates the rights of the
poor ana the powerless az faithfully as those
Of the rich and the powerful. e 80 .-.
rejoice, too. in this convention, to find IN
your platform the frank and fearless avowal
that the natIralized citizens must be protected
abroad sat every hazard, as though they Were
native born Our whole people are foreign.
ers or descendants of foreigners. Our father.
established by arms their right to be called a
nation. 1t remains for US 70 establish the right
by oaths Of allegiance, to become American cit.
izeDs. 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 hood of thousands upon thousands
Should We not then be faithless to the dead il
We did not protect their living brethren in the
enjoyment Of that nationality, for which side
by side with the native born our soldiers OF
foreign birth laid down ther lives. .fr-,.--.
1t was fitting, too, that the representatives Of
q party which had proved so true TO national
duty in time Of war, should speak so clearly in
tune of peace for the maintenance untarnished
VI 02uOu0l uO0OI. n&tOndl Cfo0lt, and RO00
faith as regards its debt, the cost of.our na.
tiOnal existence ..r., ..-t gayJ .Is ..r. @
do not need to extend this reply by further
comment on platform which has ELECTED such
debt OF gratitude 1t Acknowledges to the brave
men who saved the Union from destruction
the frank approval OF amnesty based on repen-
nnce and ioyaity-the demand for the most
thorough economy and honesty in the Govern
ment-the sympathy of the party of liberty
with all throughout the world who long for
the liberty We here enjoy-and the recogniu 81
OF the sublime principles Of the Declaration of
lnoependence, are worthy of the organization
on whose banners they are to be written in the
coming contest. .H''i .'.'F ~ ID.
It's paet record cannot be blotted cut or fer
gotten. If there had been no Republican party
slavery would to-day cast its baleful shadow
over the Republic. II there had been no Re-
publican party, free press and free speech
Wou1d be rs unknown from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande as ten years sgo. If the Repubii-
can party could have been stricken from exist.
anee when the banner Of rebellion was un.
furled and when the response of mo coercion
nation to-day. But for the Republican party
daring to risk the odium OF tax and draft laws,
our flag could not have been kept flying on the
field till the long-looked-for victory came.
bill. the guarantee of eq uallty under the law to
the humble and the defenceless as well as to
the strong, would not be to-day upon our ma
uOnal statute book. = = ... ~.
With such inspirations from the past, and
following the example Of the founders of the
Republic, who called the victorious general of
the Revolution to preside over the land his
trlumphs had saved from its enemies. I cannot
doubt that our labors will be crowned with
success. And it will be a success that viii
bring restored hope. confidence, prosperity,
and progress, South As we'll as North, West as
well as East, and above all, the blessings un-
der Providence of national concord and peace.
Very truly, yours,
s-.r... SCHUYLER CoLPAE