Year: 1868

L read It In tho written platform ofthe Dem


ocratic party.


The States Of Maryland and Kentuck


have already provided for this in anticipa


ton of The success of the Democratic part


at the next election. Here Mr.. Mortoi


read from The Con stitution of the State O
Marylan and from a report of the pro


ceedings uf the Kentucky State Legislature


tn substantiate the statements he had made.


Georgia has already provided for this


and although other Southern States ma,
be silent on this subject, they will be read,
to meet The question when it is time.


The Democratic party of the South vii


be unit on that question; and now let m,


show that the Democratic party of tho


North are really TO meet them. / base my


assertion on the fact that The members o


this party votsd without single exception


against the amendments when they were


before Congress, and Democratic news


papers have Denounced those amendments


with one voice; so il is safe TO say that in
the issues the Northern wing will concede
to the South everything claimed by them
and if tl;ev do not their action viii be very
different from what it has been in wears
past; for | never knew of demand made
by the South that was not readily conceded
by the Northern portion Of that party.
Should the Democratic party come into
power, the payment for the emancipated
slaves may be'considered a settled fact.


You remember when the question was ~
in Congress to abolish slavery in 1862. and
again In s6t, the Democratic members in
both Houses were then united in favor of
paying for every slave emancipated. and il
I.ranDAoI lie -.
slave even from rebel, and not fairly
compensate the owner for the loss; and /
say again, this question is Inevitably in
volved in the general isrues Of 1868.


Another question involved and will fol-
low Just as certain; and that is the assump-
tion and payment of the rebel war debt.
ask you as reasoning and thinking men,
when the representatives Of the South are
admitted to Congress, and are called TO
vote upon appropriation bills, do you
think they would vote 10 tax themselves
for our debt, and not provide for their
own?


The Nolfhcrn States stake,l their fnan-
cial power in the Government bonds, and
the South riskcd all she had in the prose-
cution of the war and lost all; and you may
expect in the advent of the Democratic
party into power, that provision will be
made for the payment of that debt: but
am glad tn say that not until then will 1t be
thought of.


The Democratic parry were opposed to
our debt being contracted in its incipiencv.
and YOU NAV remember that prominent
member OF that party warned the people
not to buy the bonds, as they would prove
worthless on their hands. They were hos
tile then TO the debt, as the Southern wing
OF the Democrstic party are now 10 being
compelled 10 help pay IT, So thai the de-
mand on thci. part To tax the people for
the payment of the debt OF the South will
be as surely conceded as the demand is
made.


come 10 another issue that is also in
volved in the c)ntcSi-the pensioning of
rebel soldiers. and the widows and or
phans OF those Who fell fighting for the
rebellion. Dos not the recent state OF a.
fairs in Msryis nd indicate the feeling
which prevails against the soldiers who
were members regiments in the Union
army? Can q Cnion soldier be elected TO
any Office? Is he not prescribed in bust
ness and in society? ! ask if Union men,
who are LAWYERS or physicians, find any
success in the practice OF their professions
Are they ret prescribed on account of
their sentiments? Does not the same con-
diiion of affairs exist in Kentucky? / sec
here To night a gentleman who can tell
you about that much better ihSn I--wllo
knows from experience AMI observation
what The feeling is there. Rebels and or
w rebels. are elected to office The pres
ence OF Union men is nowhere tolerated,
and their position made Uncomfortable.
and. if possible, they rid the State of their
presence.


So. if you give the power of reconstruc-
ton into the hands Of rebels. you may ex
pecf the same condition OF affairs in all the
Southern States. And you may ask, wha,
do | argue from all this? / viii tell you.
When the Democratic party again gets In
10 power. do YOU suppose the representa-
lives from the South viii vote for pension
ing the soldiers and widows of The North
and not provide for their own in The
South? is il human nature, | ask, for men
do such things? And when you bring
hem into power their rebel soldiers will
~ surely be- placed on the same footing
with the Union soldiers of the North.
This question. then, / say, is involved in
lifC ic>uCH TIC itilllbH


The point make here to night is the
consequences OF the Democratic
party comiug into power. Some men may
ike the financial policy OF The party, and
vote for il solely on that account; but let
him remember that he is voting to elevate
he rebel soldier to the same position as
hose who fought TO preserve the Union


The military policy of the party Is fore
shadowed in the order promulgated by
General Hancock on assuming command
IF the Fifth Military District; and as il has
been presented 10 Congress by the Presi-
ieli for is admiration, think that criii
cism upon il Is perfectly tair. / will read
he order THE order was read. and has
been published. The idea is, like the ap-
pies of the Dead Sea, fair to the eye, but
rumble to powder if but touched to the
lip.


The noticeable feature of this order is
hat it does not mention the subiect of re
for which, by authority of
Congress, he is sent there and empowered
10 carry out. He goes on 10 say that the
,ivil rights Of the people must not be in
erfered with BY military rule, and openly
declares by this order that the very pur-
pose for which he was sent there is to be
and ignored


Mr. Morton then read from acts of Con-
yress defining the authority and duties of
of the military districts. BY
hese | show that tins order is in contra
liction and defiance of the laws enacted
,y Congress. The very State governments
which by these acts are abrogated and de-
dared illegal are the ones which General
hancock, by his advent, has regarded in
, general order Congress. to he explicit,
las at later day defined itself on this
subject, and declared. if these State gov
were allowed to exist, illegal and
as they are. il would only be
Trough the sufierance ofthe military com
nanders. s7i go th 4


But General Hancock expresses open
for Congressional authority, and
lows allegiance to the civil authority of
he State of Louisiana, and implies thereby
he recognition Of a State government that
las been declared Illegal and unauthorized |
xpressly by Congress What does he /