Year: 1865




Was announced by the Democratic Convention
al Chicago less than one year ago, but has re
suited in an honorable peace; not by conces
sion to rebellion or compromise with slavery
but by the valor of the soldiers, the faith of ths
people, the wisdom of the government, and
firm adherence to principle; a peace which set,
ties the vital questions of the war-the powe
and stability of republican government, tn
paramount sovereignty of the nation, and the
=. extinction of slavery in the United States.


2. That we venerate the memory of Abraham
Lincoln under whose wise and faithful guild
ance this honorable peace was won; and while
we deplore his untimely death, we look to his
example of prudence firmness and moderation
as our best guide in dealing with the delicate
questions now requiring solution.


s. That President Andrew johnson, by his
bold denunciation of traitors at the, e,outbreak OF
the rebellion, by his devotion to the Union
through the severest trials and by his conduct
in the discharge of the difficult duties imposed
upon him, has secured our highest confidence;
and we cordially commend the policy of his ad-
ministration thus far indicated, and pledge to
him our cheerful and united support we point
+. to him, a-man springing from the ranks of the
people, as fitting type and exponent of dem
ocratic republican principles, and while ne
mourn the loss of the lamented Lihcoln, we re-
1OiCG tQdU his lidilbiG Ids ldiICH upOu ollc ny
, birth and education position and associations,
admirably qualified to deal with the perplexng
questions of the time. 4..5


4. That while We believe that the masses of
the people of New ersey have been true to the
National cause, we yet declare that the infu-
entail leaders aud presses OF the democratic
party-those that have shaped and controlled
its policy, have pursued course throughout
the war, utterly inconsistent with any manly
faith in the cause of the country, or any earn
est purpose to sustain it against rebellion. And
in support of this grave charge we appeal to
the records of their public action:


Through an Ex-Governor of the Stale, they
put forth manifesto, advising that New Jer-
sey should adopt the Montgomery constitution
and cast her lot with the South


In the darkest hour of the conflict they in
famed the passions, and appealed to the fears
of the people, prolonging the war by evidences
Of sympathy with treason and anticipation of
its ultimate success:


ia They endeavored to cast odium on the war
and discourage volunteering, and thus contri
buted to the necessity of the large bounties
which have burdened our communities with
debt:


They denounced, as unconstitutional and op-
pressive the draft which their own conduct had
made necessary, though it was plain that the
armies must be filed, or the nation destroyed ::


They persistently opposed the enlistment of
negro troops, in spite of the obvious fact, that
for every negro they kept out of the ranks one
of our own citizens must incur the dangers of
the field
tional taxes which their steadfast loyalty
would have greatly diminished by shortening
the war:


They repeatedly refused the elective fran
chise to our citizen soldiers in active service
denying to them voice in the Government of
the country, until they should cease fighting to
save it ::


They recklessly increased during the war,
the ordinary expenses of the State Government
which had been growing more extravagant since
they obtained control of the legislature, in
1850.


In dealing with the National Government, to
which was committed the safety of the Re-
public in times of public danger, they caviled
where they should have co-operated they de-
nounced where they should have encouraged
they thwartcd where they should have strength
ened, and thus became largely responsible for
the evils of conflict which united people
would have speedily ended.


And in view of these facts we are assured
that in their defeat at the coming election lies
the only hope that New Jersey will bear wor-
thy paart in the solution of the great questions
of National policy which remain to be decided,
and in securing the just fruits of our victory
ever rebellion.


5. That we pledge the unanimous support of
the Union men of New Jersey to the Constitu-
tional amendment abolishing slavery and we
feel deeply humiliated by the position of our
State as the only free State which has refused
to ratify that amendment that this position is
u IL 80 h. ,oll,
our State legislature, misrepresenting, as we
believe, the will of a majority of the people !;
that while all men claiming to be oyal in the
slave States, admit the necessity of this Consti-
tutional overthrow of the slave system, and ev-
en- such open rebels as Gov. Brown, of Georgia,
and Gov. Magoffin, of Kentucky, accept it, as
inevitable and just, the Democratic party of New
Jersey, with blind love for past barbarism,
and vain hope of some alliance with its form
er upholders still strive against the spirit of
the age, the conscience of the people, and the
irresistible tendencies of freedom by thwarting
policy plainly essential to the future security
and welfare of the nation.


6. That the trials and sacrifices of four years
of war, have awakened US to new sense of the
value of the fundamental principles of freedom
and equality in shaping political action, and
have led us to assert with new emphasis that
the words of Jefferson as immortaized in the
Declaration of Independence, that all men are
created equal that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain iuaienabe rights; that
among those are life liberty and the pursuit of
happiness that to secure those rights govern
ments are instituted among men, deriving their
Just powers from the consent Of the governed" "
are no longer ''glitterirg generalites, but are
vipdicated as immutable truths.


T. That we express with renewed fervor
our gratitude to the heroic men of the national
army and navy, to whom we owe the safety of
the republic and especially do we give thanks
and honor to the soldiers and sailors of New
Jersey, whose galantry and heroism alone has
preserved the State from the disgrace which
disloya leaders at home would have inflicted
upon her. To the dead we pledge the perpetu-
al memory Of a grateful people; to oar return
ing veterans the welcome due to heroes, and
the just rewards Of faithful service in a glori-
Gus cause.


s. That we will urge Congress to give the
full amount of the offered bounty to soldiers
honorably discharged, and we consider it but
simply justice that those who have fought for
the country should be exempted from the poll
tax imposed by State laws for the payment of