New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-03
General Sigel.
HIS Views National POiitics-Grant aud
Wilson Endorsed.

Wilson Endorsed.
NEW YORK, September -, 1872
Colonel l.. f.. Dndley, Secretary Soldiers and
Sailors National COMMITTEE.
DEAR SIR: Your kind letter inviting me
to be present at the Soldiers and Sailors
Convention at Pittsburg, on the 18th instant
is received. l remember with pride and pleas
ure the first great convention held in that
same city in september, 1866, when resolu-
tons were passed indorsing the policy of Com
gress, and especially the passage of the four
teenth amendment by that body. At that
time there was no doubt in our mind that
certain constitutional guarantees were neccs-
sary to prevent reaction, define American
citizenship and create uniform system Of
national representation throughout the Re-
public.
The work Of the convention was good and
noble, but it is a remarkable fact that only
in 1868, two years afterward. the fourteenth
amendment was ratified. while it took two
years more, March 81, 1900 before the fif-
teent amendment, i'll regard to universal sut-
fragc, was finally adopted.
There was one fierce and continuous pOlit-
ical struggle for more than five years after
the war was closed-in Congress, in the
press, on the stump, and in every nook and
corner of the land, surprising in its earnest
ness and grandeur even the great debates
of the French revolution, when the ''rights
of man. were discussed and declared. Of
course, before the new basis of the future
life Of the Union was established, there was
not and could not be peace and harmony be-
tween the North and the South. This at
least was the opinion of those very men who
now go back on their own acts by disavownG
as tyrranical and unnecessary the means,
without which no such basis would exist at
the present time. If anything is absurd it is
this absurdity of accusing and defaming the
executive instruments of their own self-di-
yined plans and purposes, and to curse the
children of their own love. If anything is
unjust it is the endeavor of takin. man to
account for official acts which were forced
upon him by Congressional legislation, mas
much as political ostracism and military rule
in the South after the war were neither pro-
posed nor inaugurated by General Grant. If
there is treachery it is this indirect appeal to
the South to revolt against the passed policy
of the Government, on which to-day rest the
unity, the security and liberty of the Repub-
| lie.
AS in 1861, so we are now again on the
defensive -nOt against Il formidable enemy
in the iield-but against coalition which
we distrllst, as il is influenced by ambition
and disappointment, and tends to the revival
| OF questions which VIC regarded as settled.
| Under the profession of reconciliation, AM
nesty and reform, with nothing to stand upon
except nicely framed platforms and proauneia-
meatoS, this strange alliance Of Guelphs and
! Gibelines tries to put its double-faced policy
into practice. We cannot trust mere pro-
! feSsions. We cannot intrust ourselves to a
house divided in itself and built on sand.
| We cannot mtrust the most sacred rights,
interests, and liberties of the American
people to a coalition which is not based
on real facts and deeds, and above all sus-
picion and apprehension to undo, or change,
or cripple what was attained by a terrible
struggle, and paid for by the best blood of
our people and milliards of dollars.
For. these reasons, and others of second
airy consideration, | cannot be i'll favor of
the Cincinnati nominees, but shall stand
with you on the side of General Grant and
Wilson.
Bnt while am in their favor, hope to see
in their election not a mere personal and
temporary triumph. l hope that abuses,
where they exist, will be abolished; perfect
harmony between the North and South re-
stored by wise measures of Cancellation and
material support; that civil service reform,
will be extended and perfected by recog.
nizing the right Of the whole people, with
out difference of party, to be represented in
the administration of offices, and that the
soldiers of the Union will be, as they have
always been, the most jealous and faithful
supporters of our civil Government, the Con
stitution and laws Of the American Republic
VAPv raspactfullv ond fyY1lx, yo,,,.s