Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-10-22
Greeley's Letter Of Acceptance.

Of the State precluded a prompt response
to the nomination you have seen fit to ten
der me. I improve the earliest moment
to reply to your kind notification.
You do not need to be told that did
not want the nomination any more than
expected it, and that l do not desire the
office. But L clearly comprehend that po-
litical life has its responsibilities and its
duties as well as its opportunities and its
honors, and / accept without hesitation,
thanking you for the faith you have
evined in my devotion to the Republican
cause. | trust that some friend may be
able to say with truth at my grave that my
political friends never were asked by me
for any favor, and never required of me
any honorable service that did not cheer
fully render.
There are those who would persuade us
that the Republican party has finished its
work, and should now dissolve and pass
| away. They say this in full view of the
Fifteenth Amendment, whereof the ratifi
cation by the States is still pending, and by
no means assured. They say it in defiance
Of the fact that we are called to vote this
fall directly to abolish or retain the prop
erty qualification whereby part of our
own citizens, who were required to serve
and did serve, in the armies of the Union,
are yet denied the right of suffrage. Four
colored men from the township adjoining
mine fell dead on the single field of Olustee,
fighting bravely for freedom and their
country; and now their sons are denied a
voice in the government of that country
by the efforts and votes of men who have
no more properly and no better education
than they, and who took excellent care
never to risk their lives in defense Of the
Union. If there be one Union soldier
even one-who votes to deny the right of
suffrage to the sons of those who fell fight
ing for the Republic, I must believe that
he was impelled to eplist rather by love of
bounty than love of country.
For myself, having all my life done
what [ could to secure legal and practical
recognition of the equal rights of Ameri-
can citizens, having on two occasions stood
at the polls, as usually do on election
days, and distributed ballots in favor of
abolishing this most invidious and iniqui-
tous property qualification, rejoice in
the third opportunity now afforded me for
so doing, and shall thankfully improve it.
In the course of nature, cannot expect
to live many years longer; but | hope to
be spared long enough to see this relic of
slavery erased from the fundamental law
VI Jul btdoC. Ii uIoUCCCSolul uOW, L
shall urge resubmission of the question
at the earliest day. and so again and again
until sham Democracy shall be wearied or
shamed into saying, like it's prototype, the
Unjust Judge of old, "Though l fear not
God, neither regard man, yet will I do
justice to this poor sutton, lest by continual
coming he weary me-" In no State with
in my knowledge has this question of inn
partial suffrage been repeatedly submitted
that a large gain of votes to the right side
was not realized at each successive trial
until victory crowned the exertions of the
champions of equal rights. Let us never
doubt that such will be the result in our
| State, and with steadfast faith in the ulti-
mate triumph of justice, let us thank God
and take courage.
This is the off-year in politics. Men
whose patriotism barely suffice to take
them to the polls when President, or
when at least Governor and members of
| Congress, are to be chosen, will not come
out this fall. The great army of disap7
pointed office seekers and selfish aspirants
to live off the public will also contribute
vastly to the legions of sullxy stay at-homes.
Gen. Gillet, lacking the miraculous power
which fed multitudes to repletion on few
small loaves and fishes, has offended these
| pau ICY AOpC VI pICSCllt lOl
giveness. Let me, therefore, entreat them
to go to the polls, and there work and vote
simply for the constitutional amendment
securing impartial suffrage. They will
thus proclaim that their personal disap-
pointments have not affected their princi-
Piles, and that their past professions of Re-
publicanism were not insincere. They
shall be most welcome to vote against me,
and still claim to be better Republicans
than | am, if they will thus evince un-
abated devotion to the cause.
l congratulate you on the assured tri-
umph of equal rights regardless of color
in a future by no means remote. The gem
eral adhesion of the South to this principle
insures its success. There will be, as there
has been, great party throughout the
South which calls itself Conservative and
stigmatizes its opponents as Radical; but
the former claims to be as heartily and
thoroughly for equal rights as the latter,
puts colored men on its tickets, and in
every way manifests its faith by its works.
Even though this position were reluctant
ly taken, l do not believe it insincerely
held, and | clearly see that it can in no
case be abandoned. Nor can great
national party base itself on equal rights
in the South and on prescription and caste
DIT IlC 4NOllu. IL Will ldNC w GdhC a VIC
cided and unequivocal position in prepar-
ing for the next Presidential contest; and
that must be one which does not divest il
of hope of carrying single State south
of the Potomac. The line of battle of the
advocates of "a white mans government
is thus fatally broken, and their total dis.
comfture merely a question of time. Il
behoves us to take care that New York be
not taught her duty to the humble and de
spised by South Carolina, but that she re
sumo her proper place in the van of the
mighty host that strikes for justice, pro
gress and universal liberty.
While slavery endured, the prescription
of the blacks rested on a perfectly intel
} ligible and logical foundation. 1t was
deemed fit that the men who voted Should
be palpably distinguished from the man
, who were sold at auction. The reaso
having vanished, the prescription remain
only as tree cut off and stuck in the
ground may serve as a party standard OF
rallying- post long after its vitality has de-
parted but all know that its days are
numbered, and that it must soon fall of its
ouyY. 'yxsaigbf ~ rSYf auiafty fakap lNms.