The New York herald., 1870-08-10
POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.
Address Of the Republican Congressional
Committee.

To THE RrrUBLlCANs OF TIE UNITED sTArEs:--
The Executive and Legislative Departments OF
the national government and two-thirds OF the
State governments have been committed 10 your
keeping. such power carries with 1t grave
responsibilities The people, as Is their right,
WIN hold you TO a strict accountability fof the
exercise OF this great trust Elections are soon TO
CO held for the national House OF Representatives
These elections will determine the political COM
plexion OF the popular branch OF Congress. They
viii, too, determine the political character OF
several State governments. And these results viii
be accepted as the verdict OF the people upon the
IDEAS, principles ann policies OF the republican
party, and upon the measures ana character af the
national administration To these responsibilities,
and to the gravity OF these issues your thoughtful
consideration Is invoked.
In the present jyncture 1t bchooves the repub-
lican party no. to forget its origin nor
Its history. Amid the difficulties that beset
IT, and the responsibilities and labors which
the needs OF the country In the now and untried
condition OF Affairs imposes 1t should remember that
twas born OF the nations necessities ana thus far
1t has grandly met the eyigences for which II was
formed. Having passed triumphantly through three
great eras of its history, II ls now summoned TO
enter upon its fourth. Gathering therefore. inspi-
ration from past successes, 1t should grapple hope
fully and with unshrnking confidence With the du-
ties Of the present and future. D,. ~, "
Recurring to their origin republicans viii remen.
bar, when the land was the theatre Of stern and
irrepressble conflict between the demons of slavery
and caste and the spirit Of liberty and equality,
when the slave power held great Interests and
powerful organizations in its grasp and ruled the
nation with imperial sway, that the founders
Of tile party, instructed by passing events,
With Convictions deepened and zeal quickened
and inspired by the deathless words OF the patriots
statesmen and heroes OF our earlier time, rose TO
The eXgencies OF the hour opposed the naughty
ambitions, the maddening passions the cruel preju-
dices and the disOrganizng theories OF the donnat-
ing majority, and, although long Overb0rne by mum.
bers, still struggled on amid jeers Insults, mobs,
blows and assasslnaton5 TIL under the lead OF fAbra
ham Lincoln they achieved success and grasped the
Entering upon its second era appalling RESPONSE
bilitles at once arose. The slave masters. In the
pride aud arogance Of power, instantly plunged the
nation into the fire and blood OF civil war. But the
republican party rose with the crisis. 1t raised
created powerful navies, fought bloody battles,
crushed the most gigantic rebellion of all recorded
history and saved che nations life. 1t was then,
amid the clash OF arms that the republican
party saw that slavery was the relentless ana unap
peasabe foe of the country: was the inspiraion the
would be the annihiation of the rebellion the unity
OF the republic and The Development OF tree nstiti
unreasoDIng passions and preudices II pronounced
the doom OF that hideous and hOrrid system OF
human DOuuaGc, tnONgH III was upneld Dy the
aggregated interests of three thousand million
of dollars hedged about by the accumulated
passions and prejudjces, pridcs end ambitions OF
seven generations ana lntrenched within the social
political and ecclesiastical organizations and aiia.
lions flife Ay series OF executive and legisla-
ton acts 1t broke the chains and lifted nom the
depths of chatelhood up to the SUBMITS OF manhood
four and o half millions or hapess bondsmen, ana
stood before the nations with their riven fetters in
SHS StSel eaaa sna sF s''e deeds 70 freedom in the
The war ended, the rebellion subducd the bond.
upon the third era OF its eventiul history. Though
conquered by arms the rebels did not accept the
@ a "a Ideas the
os e caSss they remained rem unS unsaSdaeSS 'hs ia
pose. Though made free the bondmen were home.
less without property without employment, subject
had always dIsgraced southern legislation and In
the midst Of q people eXasperated by defeat and
and oppress. Property was swept away, Industry
osorganlzed, society disntegrated, States were
Upon the republican party devovea the task Of re.
construction. 10 its Intrinsic difficulties added
long me b. s ss @
system. the tiud counsels OF conservatism
the oa posSy Of tine nAecuy Great
so reconstruct tile South to place the power in tho
hands Of the late slavenolding class, and leave the
cal serfdonl. Seldom In history has there been I'M
posed upon any body or Of men york Of greater mag.
shrunk from aud avoided it. They were sorely
tempted to do SO. But they resisted the temptation
OF 0ea power and nd 1T a. the threats Of ex
and with sublime fidelity and courage addressed
themselves to the nerculean task.
TO aid in reOrgan1Zlng dsordered industries,
caring for protecting and instfuctIng the emanci-
pated bondmen in the new duties Of their changed
mems Bureau, Which, by the wise expenditure Of
few millions Of dollars, did an incalculable work
for order, peace and the rehabilitation of south
the solid basis Of equal rights they gave suffrage
to the freedmen In the reconstruction measures.
TO secure citizenship and civil rights to a wrOnged
and hated race, they proposed and adopted the
fourteenth amendment and enacted the bnl Of civil
equal political rights and privileges, they adopted
the fifteenth amendment, and az crowning net for
freedom they paoylded BY law for the enforcement,
cans. against the sternest opposition, against
struggled on until tue rebel States, RECONSTRUCTED on
the basis OF impartial liberty. have been restored
ana the sublime doctrines OF the Declaration OF IN
dependence made assured and practical realities.
In the progress OF the ages 1t has been given to few
in any form or by any modes, to achieve work SO
oy history and appauded and remembered by COM
through these three eras oil Its history, the republl
can party. entering on It's fourth era was snnl-
natioua debt tie currency, finances and taxation.
to reforms In the military, naval and Indian
service, and whatever remaining burdens anu
legacles were left by the war. Concerning these
questions there ore apparent diverstIes OF inter-
ess and real differences OF opinion. The solutions
OF some Of them are embarrassed by grave dilcul.
ties. They require time as well as financial skill
and practical craftsmanship for their adjust.
ment. Differences of opinion on matters SO recon.
ditc ana complex, in an organization embracing SO
many men Of large intelligence, trained TO habits
of action, are inevitable. They are, indeed, TO
be expected and desired for from such freedom
Of discussion truth Is ELECTED and proper modes
of action are deduced. The men, therefore, who
STOOD SO firmly while IN q minority. amid the de-
nunclations. arrogance and scorn of power the
men who met the stern exlgencies OF civil war
with such heroic courage, who assailed the slave
power aud extirpated the slave system; the
men who grappled so successfully with the perpeX.
ing and pregnant issues OF reconstruction. lifted
helpless freedmen up TO citizenship, exalted them
to the heights OF civil and political rights and privi-
cQes and made the nation free In fact as well as in
name, should NOT shrink from the less momentous