The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-06-12
GRANT AND COLFAx.r
The Letters Of Acceptance.

In the briet speech which Gen. Grant made
to the Committee that was appointed by the
National Republican Convention to wait
upon the candidates and tender the nomina-
ton, the General intimated that on future
day he would. communicates his views. He
has done SO in the following:
GEN. GRANTS LETTER
10 Gen JosRPH z, HAwLEY, President Ma
tiondI Union Republican Convention 49,
In formally accepting the nomination Of
the National Union Republican Convention of
the 2lst of May inst, it seems proper that
some statement of views beyond the mere
acceptance Of the nomination should be ex-
pressed. The proceedings Of the Convention
were marked with wisdom, moderation, and
patriotism, and | believe express the feelings
of the great mass of those who sustained
the country through its recent trials. in
dorse the resolutions. If elected to the office
of President of the United States, it will be
my ehdeavor to administer all the laws in
good faith, with economy and with the view
of giving peace, quiet and protection every
where. In times like the present, it is i'm
possible, 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 fOreseen,
are constantly arising the views of the
public on old ones are constantly changing,
and purely administrative Dficer should
always be left free to execute the will of the
people, always have respected that. will,
and always shall. Peace and universal pros
perIty-its sequence--with economy Of adj
ministration will tighten the burden OF taxa
tion, while it constantly reduces the National
debt, Let US have peace. t..
With great respect,
Your Obedient servant,
,....., y. s, GRANT. d.
WAsHINaToN, D. c., May 20, 1868.
The following is the reply Of Speaker Col
fax to the Committee Announcing bis nOmi-
nation by the Chicago Convention ~,
SPEAKER goLFAx's LETTER.
Hon ]. r, HAwLEY, President Of The National
Union Republican Gonpention; 5,'ls gr -
DEAR SIR: The platform adopted by the
patriotic Convention over which you pre-
sided, and the resolutions which so happily
supplement it, so entirely agree with my
views as to just national policy that my
thanks are due to the delegates as much for
this clear and auspicious declaration of
principles as for the nomination with which
have been honored, and which gratefully
accept. When great rebellion, which i'm
periled the national existence, was at last
overthrOwn, the duty of all others, devolv-
ing on those intrusted with the responsible
ties of legislation, evidently was to require
that the revolted States should be re.admit-
ted to participation in the Government
against whrch they had erred only on such a
10, 20 nd a., - - A.
en- or endanger, the strength and power of
the nation. Certainly no one ought to have
claimed that they should be re-admitted un-
der such rule 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 principal has been the pole-star Of
those who have inhexibly insisted on the
Congressional policy, your Convention so
cordially indorsed.' Baffled by Executive
opposition, and by persistent refusals to ae-
cept any plan of reconstruction proffered by
Congress, justice and public safety at last
combined to teach us that only by an en-
largement Of suffrage in those States could
the desired end be attained, and that ii was
even more safe to give the ballot TO those
who loved the Union than to those who had
sought Intellectually to destroy 1t. The as
sured success of this legislation is being
written on the adamant of history, and will
be our triumphant vindication. More clearly,
too than ever before, does the nation now
recognize that the greatest glory of Repub-
lie is that II throws the shield Of its protec-
tion over the humblest and weakest Of its
people, ane vindicates the rights Of the'poor
c.sk fall Al. q
the rich and the powerful rejoice, too, In
this connection, to fud in your platform the
frank and fearless avowal that natural:zed
citizens must be protected abroad at every
hazard, as though they were natiye-born.-
Our whole people are foreigners, or descend
ants Of foreigners; our fathers established
by arms their right TO be called nation. II
remains for US to establish the right to well
come to our shores all who are willing, by
oaths Of allegiance, to become American
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 Ma
tienal cemeteries prove how faithfully these
oaths Of fidelity to their adopted land have
been sealed in the life blood Of thousands
upon thousands. Should we not then, be
faithless to the dead IL we did not protect
their living brethren In the full enjoyment oi
that nationality for which, side BY side, with
the native-bOrn, our soldiers Of foreign birth
laid down their llyes2 Il was fitting, too,
that the representatives OF party which
had proved 30 true 10 national duty In tims
of war, should speak 50 clearly Ia time ol
peace for the maintenaneo untarnlshed. ol
the national honor, national credit aud good
faith is regards lie debt, the cost Of or ma
tional 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 grattuda
IL Acknowledges 70 ihe brave men who saved
the Unipn from destruction, the fank ap-
proval Of amnesty based on repentance and
loyalty, the demand for The most thorough
economy and honesty Ia the Government,
the sympathy 81 The party Of liberty with
all throughout the world who ionged for tbs
liberty We here enjoy, and the recognition ol
the sublime principles Of the Declaration Of
A