The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-11
ADDRESS +.-
OF THE ..l
REPUBLICAN COMMIT TEE
TO THE
PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
NATIONAL POLITICS.

i NATIONAL POLElECS. q ..I g.
Fello,o- Citizens-The elections to be held
in November call for d reinstatement of par
ty issues. They will turn more directly
upon questions of State policy; but pre-
lininary glance is proper over the general
field of politics. The Republican party of
Virginia is identical in its general objects
and principles with the Republican party of
the Union.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESERVED
THE UNION, SAVED THE SOUTH, AND
RE-ESTABLIsHED THE REPUBLIC ON
JUST PRINCIPLES.
The National Republican party is the
one, which, by its vigorous policy, conduct
ed the late civil war to a successful conclu-
sion; which, by conquering, rescued the
South from an act of suicide; and which,
having saved the Union, has rendered it
permanent, by abolishing the revolutionary
element of slavery, and by establishing as
its basis the enduring principles OF equal
rights, and of freedom, citizenship and suf-
frage, regardless of rank, class or color.
II our government is q democracy, this is
the truly democratic party; because it has
made it a government of the people rather
than class. If we are a nation, this IS
the truly national party because it has
rescued the Union from disastrous DISCO
luton. And, in SO far as our system is a
federation, it has preserved the decorative
principle from utter discredit and abandon
ment, by battling and defeating that states
manship of section, which, too imbecile to
conduct to success war for secession, be-
gun in its own time, manner and advantage
even in the event Of an accidental triumph,
would soon-by the same imbecility
sunk both its section and its cause in dis
graceful ruin. i,e.e.. +
That we have Union strong, safe and
intact, is due to the fact that we have a
Republican party. That the Southern
States failed in their mad endeavor for seq
regation, and were held from launching
upon the career of the feeble, decaying, dis
tracted, and helpless republics of Central
and South America, is due to the fact that
we had Republican party, in the land,
strong and resolute enough to conquer them
from their fate. That we had re9stab-
lshed Union of universal right and justice,
with homogeneous institutions throughout
its borders, entering at last upon career Of
enduring harmony, rapid development and
progressive prosperity, is due to the wis
dom, courage and perseverance of the Re-
publican party which refused to be fright
ened or cajoled from that line of recon
struction which has brought our nation tc
the threshold of happy, great and glorious
destiny. Let any candid man, let any In
telligent patriot, reflect upon these actual
these historical achievements, and then con
slider what would have been the mournfu
condition and calamitous fate of the coun
try, if strong arm, stout heart and untiinch
ing purpose had been wanting to the Re
publican party; and he will be rejoiced al
the success of its noble work and be APP
palled in contemplating the disasters which
both North and South have escaped through
its agency. If the tree is to be Judged by
its fruit, then does the Republican party
challenge the judgment Of all the worlt
upon its title to respect. If it has beer
employed by Divine providence as thu
agent of the most bemgnant purposes to
ward our Republic, both of salvation ant
advancement, then it can regard with dis
dain the villitications of those whose sec
tional preiudices it has offended and who's
provincial antipathies it has incensed.
IT'S MEASURES WERE DEMANDED b,
THE SITUATION AND ARE UNAs
sAILABLE ON PRINCIPLE.
The more recent measures which hav
been enacted by the Republican party 0
the nation can not be assailed, either on tn
score of justice, expediency or necessity
They all flow as logical corollaries from
the result of the war. By the proclama
tons of president Lincoln; by the mil
itary acts of Congress, and of its armies
and by the terms of the oaths of allegianc
taken by the whole mass Of Southern pee
pie; emancipation became universal an
complete in all the reyolted States, ON tn
surrender of Lee and Johnston.
THE SITUATION AFTER THE WAR.
Peace and emancipation brought mos
anomalous state of things, demanding mea
sures for which history furnished no prece
dents. Four and half millions of colore,
people found themselves merely mhd6itul
the South !; possessing only the character {
human beings, and enjoying no political o
legal status; while such rights as they pos
sessed were held abjcctly at the mercy {
the governments which were about to b
organized in the States. The nation coul
not ignore the duty of settling their lega
and political status, and of providing mea
sures of self protection for the people
whom, for good-or evil, it had thus Sc
free. EiHnfH lLNE tELEs
What could have been more natural, ne
cessary or just, therefore, than the first c
the amendments which were engratted upol
the Constitution Slavery had indeed bee
abolished, but the question of slavery sti
subsisted; and threatened to revive tn
controversies that had well nigh brough
the country to ruin. Therefore, in orde
to its settlement and in the interest of so
cial, sectional, domestic and public peace
The Thirteenth amendment. forecer prohit
tied the re-establishnsem Of SLAVERY IN III
United States.
To say nothing of its rightfulness, thi
enactment was a measure of necessity;
say nothing of the duty Of the nation to il
wards, this measure was duty which tn
nation owed to itself, under the oyer-rulin
law of self preservation.
EMANCIPATION DID NOT FULLY NEE
THE EMERGENCY.
But this enactment met the existin
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