The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-06-22
Senator Wilson's Letter of Acceptance.
WASHINGTON, June IA, 1872

WASHINGTON, June IA, 1872.
| To the Hon. Thomas Settle, and others,
President and Vice Presidents of the
| National Republican convention, held at
Philadelphia, on the 9TH and 9th of the
present month:
| Gentlenen-Y our note of the 10th instant,
conveying to me the action OF the Conven-
ton in placing my name in nomination for
the office of Vice President Of the United
States, is before me- l need not give you
the assurance of my grateful appreciation
of the high honor conferred upon 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 the men who amid the darkness
ascendency and aggression, had assembled
in National Convention to confer with each
other upon the exigencies in which that
fearful domination had brought the coun-
try. After full conference the highest
point of resolve they could reach, the most
they dared to recommend was the avowed
purpose to prohibit the existence of slavery
in the Territories. Last week the same
party met by its representatives from thir-
| ty-seven States and ten Territories at the
same great centre of wealth, intelligence
and power to review the past take note OF
the present, and indicate its line of action
. Az xyy, or
of the nations recent history, there sat on
the platform, taking prominent and honor
able part in the proceedings, admitted on
terms of perfect equality to the leading
hotels of the city not only the colored rep
resentatives of the race which was ten
wears ago in abject slavery, but one OF the
oldest and most prominent OF the once
despised abolitionists, to whom was &C
corded as to no other the warmest demon
strations of popular regard and esteem, an
ovation not to him alone, but to the cause
he had so ably and for so many years rep
resented, and to the men and women, hv-
/ ing and dead, who had toiled through the
long years of obloquy and self-sacrifics for
the glorious fruitions of that hour. 1t
! hardly needed the brilliant summary OF its
platform to set forth its illustrious achieve
ments. The very presence Of those men
was alone significant of the victories al
ready achieved, the progress already made,
and the great distance which the nation
had travelled between the years 1856 and
| 1879. But grand as has been its record the
Republican party rests not on its past
| alone: it looks to the future and grappes
with its problems of duty and danger. 1t
proposes as objects of its immediate ac-
complishment complete liberty and exact
equality for all; the enforcement of the
recent amendments to the National Con-
stitution; reform in the civil service; the
national domain to be set apart for homes
to the people, the adjustment of the duties
on imports so as to secure remuneratlve
wages to labor; the extension Of bounty to
all soldiers and sailors who in the line OF
duty became disabled; the continuance and
careful encouragement and protection OF
voluntary immigration, and the guarding
with Jealous care the rights of adopted
citizens; the abolition of the ranking priv
ilege, and the speedy reduction of the rates
of postage; the reduction of the National
debt and the rates of interest, and the
resumption of specie payments; the en-
enlargement of American commerce and OF
shipbuilding; the suppression of violence,
la ho11 LOT hny
also placed on record the opinions and pur-
pose of the party in favor Of amnesty;
against all forms of reputation, and en-
dorsed the humane and peaceful policy OF
the Administration in regard to the
Indians.
But, while clearly defining and distinctly
announcing the policy of the Republican
party on these questions of practical legis-
lation and administration the Convention
did not ignore the great social problems
which are pressing their claims for solution,
and which demand the most careful study
and wise consideration. Foremost, stands
the labor question. Concerning the rela-
tons OF capital and labor the Republican
party accepts the duty of so shaping legis-
lation as to secure the full protection of
and the amplest field for capital, and for
labor, the creator of capital, the largest
opportunities and just share of the mu-
tual profits of these two great servants of
civilization.
To woman and her demands it extends
the hand of grateful recognition, and prof
fers its most respectful inquiry. 1t recog-
nizes her noble devotion to the country and
freedom: welcomes her admission to wider
fields of usefulness, and commends her
demands for additional rights to the calm
and careful consideration of the Nation.
To guard well what has already been
secured, to work out faithfully and wisely
what is now in hand and to consider the
the questions which are looming up to view
but little way before us, the Republican
party is to-day what it was in the gloomy
years of slavery, rebellion and reconstruc-
tion-a national necessity. 1t appeals
therefore for support to the patriotic and
liberty loving, to the just and humane, to
|
all who would dignity labor, to all who
would educate, elevate and tighten the bur-
dens of the sons and daughters of toll
With it's great record, the work still to be
done under the lead of the great soldier
whose history, renown and whose success
full Administration for the last three years
begot such popular confidence, the Repub-
lican party may confidently, in the Ian
guage Ct the Convention you represent,
start on a new march to victory.
Having accepted thirty years ago the
distinguishing doctrines of the Republican
party of to-day; having during years of
that period for their advancement subor-
dnated all other issues; acting in and
cooperating with political organizations
with whose leading doctrines l sometimes
had neithrq sympathy nor belief; having
labored ipcessantly for many years to found
and build up the Republican party, and
having during its existence taken an hum
Bile part in the great work, gratefully