The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-04-27
SPEECH OF SENATOR MORTON.

On Saturday night, April Sth, Senator
Morton was serenaded at the National
Hotel, in Washington, by the Indiana
Republican Association aud other resident
Republicans. President Grant, Vice
President Colfax and several Indiana de-
legates, appeared at the balcony, and were
loudly cheered. Representative Will
liams read series of resolutions. pledg.
ing fealty to aud confidence in the inte.
gritty OF the Republican party; Gepreca-
tiUg any attempt to disunite the organiza-
ton expressing hearty and sincere ap-
proval of the course and policy that have
marked the administration of the General
Government during the past two years !;
recognizing in President Grant one who
has proved himself true to his promises
to the people and to the great principles
of the Republican party thanking Sena
tor Morton for his devotion to Republi
can principles, and referring with pride
and pleasure to the course of Vice Presi
dent Colfax, after which Senator Morton
spoke substantially as follows:
The Southern people are committed to
slavery, because they have declared that
slavery was wrongfully and illegally
abolished. The result Of such a policy
would be the disfranchiesmeut Of the col
ored people, taking from them the right
OF suffrage. They would be able to dis
franchise the colored man in 60 days
They would do 1T now were it not that
the Government is 10 the hands of Re-
publicans Having the military power,
they would drive the coored men from the
polls, or vote their disfrauchisement. If
not, they would reduce them to slavery
or to serfdom What are to be the issues
10 1872? 1t is said in the Senate that
the Reconstruction acts are of no more
effect than if passed by mob or a town
meeting, and that the amendments are
fraudulent. The Democrats have never
accepted these amendments, with the ex-
ception here aud there of newspaper
like the New York World, which is wiser
than most OF its friends. The Democra.
tic party, North and South, are unani-
nous against suffrage and civil rights to
the coiored people.
Another pout is, shall Republicans in
the South live in peace and be protected
in life, liberty and property This is a
great question. They are struggling for
this protection to day. The Democrats
say that they are against National banks,
yet they would not restore the old State
banks. They say they are for free trade,
yet they do not say that money to sup
port The Government shall be raised by
direct taxes. They are not in harmony
with the tariff. The Democrats are in
favor of high duties where there is any
thing to protect, and free trade every
where else laughter but they dare not
carry it out 10 its results Although our
distinguished Chief Magistrate is here, |
can safely say we have not had better
Administration 10 half century, if we
ever had better one. We may. how
ever, have had as good When the Re.
public was smaller han it is now, every de-
partmeHt was administered with ability,
integrity and success. Under this Ad-
miuistration we have funded the debt at
lower rate of interest than the cid bonds.
and the prospect is the new bonds will
soon be subscribed to their full limit. To
25 months S204 ,000, 600 of the public
debt have been paid off An annual in.
terest of 81 ,000,0 900 has thus been saw
ed. During these 25 months Congress
has repealed taxes to the extent of over
sS3,0O0,0 900, and by retrenchmept in
every part of the Government large sums
of money have been saved, which have
hitherto been squandered and by sue
cessful and honest enforcement OF the re
venue laws larger sum has collected
IRON smaller taxatiors than under pre-
yious Administrations, apd the work will
still go on At The next session the Re-