Year: 1868

FELLOW CITIzENs-The first words
uttered by the republican convention, in
their resolutions congratulatipg the coun'
try upon the success of their scheme OF
reconstruction the last words uttered by
their presses and their speakers declare
that reconst ruction is failure; that the
south is still in condition of rebellion
that its social disorders demand the pres
ence of great armies; and that the first
duty Of congress, when it meets, will be to
turn the reconstructed Georgia out of the
union again [Applause.]


At the outset Of this canvass the repub-
lican party asked to be continued in pow
er upon the ground that it had governed
the country for the past four years wisely
and we'll and they demanded a popular ap-
proval of their policy. After full dis
cussion of three months touching the Wis
dom, the integrity, of the policy of the
government with regard to the reconstruc-
tion and finance, it is to be found that or
der has not been restored at the south !;
that the burdens of debt have not been
lirhtened, or the evils Of oppressive taxa
tion have not been lifted off from the labor
and Industry of the country as they should
have been.


Driven from their first ground, and
feeling that the people Of the country
were unwilling to approve their acts, they
now try to hold power by making the Peo-
pie believe, not that they have done we'll,
but that the democratic party would do
worse if they succeeded at this time. 10
proye this, they aver that the success OF
the democratic ticket will involve the
country again in civil war. They feel that
nothing short Of civil war would be worse
They have declared that the democratic
nominees are ready to overthrow their
legislation by force.


To make the charge still more dramatic,
Lam to be sent to my final account by the
hands of my political supporters, and Pen.
Blair is then to trample beneath his feet
the reconstruction laws as ruthlessiy as
Gen. Meade stamps them out of his military
orders with the concurrence Of this same
republican party. fl am to go to my
last account. trust i shall be judged by
a kinder and more charitable tribunal than
my republican friends have proved to be-


If the democratic ticket is elected, and
Gen. Blair should reach the presidential
chair. how would the case stand? lie
would be confronted by a republican SEN
ate, by house of representatives full OF
generals, by the army ofthe United States,
fanked by the loyal leagues aud by the
grand armies of the republic, under the
command of their own candidate for the
presidency, whom they declare to be the
first captain of the age. And yet we are
gravely told that, standing alone, shackled
by congressional restraints, he can crush
out all this power, and plunge the country
into civil war If this te true, then Gen
Blair is either the most vigorous man who
has lived iu the history of the world, or
republican senators, members OF congress,
and commanders OF armies are the most
jmbecile men who ever disgraced public
positions.


Now, | admit there is q fear ia the
minds of the republican leaders b1t it is
not this absurd fear. 1t is the dread that
the public mind, having been turned to
its political and financial policy, is reach
ing conclusions that will sweep them from
political power. Therefore they seek to
change the issues; therefore they have
changed their front in this contest. We
are admonished it is dangerous thing to
change front On the eve of battle.


I propose, in the course Of the canvass,
on occasions like this, te discuss the policy
and conduct of the men in power. To-
night must confna myself to few points.
Elsewhere, l shall! speak Of other wrongs
and errors.


When this war ended, nearly four years
ago, it left the southern states discouraged
and impoverished. The duty of restoring
peace and prosperity to that section, anc
putting it into condition where it could add
to the national prosperity and aid to beal
its burdens, fell upon the republican party
The difficulties of the task were increased
BY the facts that lis population was com
posed Of two distinct races, one of which
had been held in slavery, and was now
suddenly, untutored as they were, to act
new part in our social and political system
do not wish to underrato the dificultie.
with which they had to contend; but tn,
magnitude of these difficulties demanded