The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-06-20
ENATOR WILSON'S LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE.

ACCEPTANCE.
WAsH1NaroN, D. G. June IL, 1872.
Hon. Thos. Settle and others, President and
Vice-Presidents of the National Republican Con-
vention, Philadelphia:
GENTLEMEN Your note of the
10th instant, conveying to me the &C.
ton of the National Convention in
placing my name in nomination for tho
Office Of Vice-President, is before me.
I need not give you the assurance of
my grateful appreciation Of the high
honor conferred on me by this action
of the fifth National Convention of the
Republican party. Sixteen years ago.
in the same city, was held the first
meeting Of men who amid the darkness
| and doubts of the hour of slavcholding
ascendency and aggression, had assem-.
bled in National Convention to con.
fer with each other on tho exigeucies
| to which that fatal domination had
brought the country. After all their
conference the highest point of re.
solve they could reach, the most they
dared recommend was the avowed pur.
pose to prohibit the extension of slave
~ in the Territories. Last week the
| same party met by its representatives
from thirty.seven States and ten
Territories at the same great Gen.
ter of wealth, intelligence and pow
or, to revise the past. take note
Of the present, and indicate its
line OF action for the future. As
typical facts and headlights of the ma
TONS recent history, there sat on its
platform, taking prominent and hon.
orable part in its proceedings, admit
ted on terms of perfect equality at the
leading hotels Of the city, not only COL
ored representatives of the race which
were ten years before in abject slavery,
but one Of the oldest and most promi.
nent of tho once despised abolitionists,
to whom was accorded, as to no 9TH
OF, the warmest demonstrations of
popular regard and esteem-an ova-
ton not TO him alone, but to the
cause he had so ably and so many
years represc nted, and to men and
women living aud dead, who had toll
cd on through long years Of obloquy
and self-saori6ce for the generous
frultion of the hour. 1t hardly need
ed the brilliant summary Of its plat
form to set forth it's lllustrious achieve
ments. The very presence OF those
men was alone significant OF the vic
tories already achieved, the progress al
ready made aud the great distance
uhich the nation had travelled between
the years 1856 and 1872, But grand
as has been its record, the Republican
party rests net on its past alone-it
looks to tho future and grapples with its
problems of duty and danger. It pro-.
poses, as objects of its immediate &C.
complishment, complete liberty and
exact equality for all; the enforce.
ment Of recent amendments to the
national constitution reform in the
civil service the national domain to
be set apart for homes for the people !;
the adjustment Of duties On i'm ports, 50
as to secure remunerative wages to
labor extension of bounties to all SOL
diers and sailors who in the line Of
duty became disabled; continued and
careful encouragement and protection
to voluntary immigration, and guard
ing with jealous care tho rights Of
adopted citizens the abolition of the
| Thanking privilege and the reduction
Of the rates of postage; the reduction
of the national debt and rates of inter-
est, and the resumption of specie pay
ments encou agement of American
commerce and ship building; suppress
sion Of violence aud protection Of the
ballot box. It also placed on record
the opinion and purpose Of the party
in favor of amnesty ; against all forms
Of reputation, aud endorsed the hu-
name and peaceful policy of the ad-
ministration in regard to Indians.
But while clearly defining and distinct.
ly announcing the policy Of the Re-
publican party on these questions of
legislation and administration, the con.
ventiou did not ignore the great social
problems which are pressing their
claims for solution and which deD.and
the most careful study and wise con.
sideration. Foremost stands the labor
question. Concerning the relations Of
capital and labor, the Republican par
ty accepts the duty of so shaping legis-
lation as to secure full protection and
the amplest field for capital and for
labor, the creation Of capital, the lars-
est opportunities and just share Of
the mutual profits Of these two great
servants of civilization. To woman, too,
and her new demands it extends the
hand Of grateful recognition, and prof.
fers its most respectful inquiry. 1t
recognizes her noble devotion to the
country and freedom, welcomes her ad-
mission to wider fields of usefulness
and oommends her demands fer ad-
ditional rights to the calm and careful
consideration Of the nation. To guard
veil what has already been secured,
to work out faithfully and wisely what is
now in hand, and to consider the
questions which are looming up to
view but little way before US, the Re.
publican party is to be what it was in
the gloomy years of slavery, rebellion
and reconstruction-a national uecessi-
ty. 1t appeals therefore for support
to the patriotic ard llberty-loving-
to the just aui humane-to all who
woald educate, elevate and tighten the
burdens of the sons and daug bters Of
toll. With its great record and works
still to be done, and under the great
soldier whose renowned and whose euc.
cesstul administration for the last
three years begot such popular COD.
hdeoce, that the Republican party may
confidently, in the language Of the
Convention you represent, start on a
new march to victory" Having &C.
cepted thirty. six years ago the distin-
gushing doctrines of the Republican
party OF to-day-having, during the
years of that period lsbored for their ad-
vancement; subordinated all other is
sues, acting and cooperating with pol
itioal organizations with whose leading
doctrines I often had neither sympathy
nor beliet-haviug labored necessarily