Year: 1868

w uuc l.
GRANTS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.


WAsHINToN, D. c., May 80, 1868
10 General Joseph r. Ha,oley, President Ma


tional Union Republican Conrention
In formally accepting the nomination Of the
National Union Republican Convention Of the
2lst OF May inst, 1t seems proper that some
statement of views, beyond the mere accep
tance Of the nomination, should be expressed.


The proceedings Of the Convention were
marked with wisdom, moderation and patriot
ism, and | believe, express the feelings Of the
great mass OF those who sustained the country
through its recent trials [ endorse their reso
lutlOns


If elected to the office of President of the
United States, it will be my endeavor to ad
minister all the laws In good faith, with econo
my, and with the view Of giving peace, quiet
and protection everywhere. In times like the
present 1t is impossible, Or at least emlnently
improper, to lay down policy to be adhered to,
right or wrong Through an administration
Of four years new political issues, not foreseen,
are constantly arising, the views OF the public
on old ones are constantly changing, and pure
ly administrative officer should always be left
free to execute the will of the people. [ al
ways have respected that will, and always shall.
Peace, and universal prosperity, its sequence,
with economy Of administration, will tighten
the burden of taxation, while it constantly re-
duces the national debt. Let US have peace.


With great respect,


Your obedient servant,


ISigned] U. S. GRANT


CoLFAXs S LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.


WASHINGTON, May 30th, 1863
Hon. j. r. Haaoley, President National Union


Republican Convention:


Doon ILL., II, tp,r,,, ,Joo+od by tl,o ,,o
triotic Convention over which you presided,
and the resolutions which so happily supple
ment it, so entirely agree with my views as to
just national policy that my thanks are due
to the delegates as much for this clear and aus
picious declaration Of principles as for the nom
ination with which have been honored, and
which | gratefully accept.


When a great rebellion which imperilied the
national existence was at last overthrown, the
duty Of all others devoving on those entrusted
with the responsibilities of legislation evidently
was to require that the revolted States should
be readmitted to participation in the Govern
ment against which they had warred, only on
such basis as to increase and fortify, not to
weaken or endanger the strength and power OF
the nation Certainly no one ought to have
claimed that they should be readmitted under
such rule that their organization as States could
ever again be used, as at the opening Of the
war, to defy the national authority or to destroy
the national unity. This principle has been the
pole star Of those who have inhexibly insisted
ON the Congressional policy your Convention SO
cordially endorsed. Baffled by Executive op
position, and by persistent reiusals to accept
any plan Of reconstruction prOffered by Con-
gress, justice and public safety at last combined
| to teach US that only by an enlargement of sui
frage in those States could the desired end be
attained, and that it was even more safe to give
the ballot to those who saved the Union than
to those who had sought Intellectually to destroy
| it. The assured success of this legislation is
| being written on the adamant OF history, and
will be our triumphant vindcation. More
clearly too than ever before does the nation now
is that it throws the shield of it's protection
| over the humbest and weakest Of its people,
and yindicates the rights Of the poor and the
powerless as faithfully as those Of the rich and
the powerful.


| rejoice too, in this connection to find in
your platform the frank and fearless avowal
that naturalized citizens must he protected
abroad at every hazard as though they were
native born. Our whole people are foreigners
or descendants of foreigners Our fathers es-
tablished by arms their right to be called a ma
ton. 1t remains for US to establish the right
to welcome to our shores all who are willing, by
oaths of allegiance, to become American citi-
zens. Perpetual allegiance, as claimed abroad,
is only another name for perpetual bondage,
and would make all slaves to the soil where
first they saw the light. Our National Gene
teries prove how faithfully these oaths of iidel-
ity to their adopted land have been sealed in
the life blood of thousands upon thousands. =
Should we not then be faithess to the dead, if
we did not protect their living brethren in the
full enjoyment of that nationality for which,
side by side with the native born, our soldiers
of foreign birth laid down their lives? 1t was
fitting, too. that the representatives of party
which had proved so true to National duty in
time of war, should speak so clearly in time of
peace Tor the maintenance, untarnished, of
National honor, national credit and good faith
as regards its debt, the cost of our National ex
istence


do not need to extend this reply by further
comment on platform which has elected such
hearty approval throughout the land The
debt of gratitude it acknowledges to the brave
men who saved the Union from destruction,
the frank approval Of amnesty, based on re-
pentance and loyalty, the demand for the most
thorough economy and honesty in the Govern
ment, the sympathy of the party Of liberty
with all throughout the world who long for the
liberty we here enjoy, and the recognition OF
the sublime principles Of the Declaration OF In