Year: 1868

was, in full, as follows;


Mr.. MORTON-nI do not rise so
much to discuss the various PROPOSE
tions relative to counting the electo-
raj vote, as to say that am for that
offered By the Senator from Vermont,
believing that it is more specific and
direct than tho other two, but per-
haps any one of them would answer
the purpose. I desire, however, to
say one word in relation to the i'm
portance Ofthe measure. We have
been noting the proceedings of a Con-
ventiOn held in the city of New York,
which has but just adjourned l have
read the resolutions adopted by that
Convention, the platform Of princi
pies, as laid down, and upon which
its candidates have been placed, and
I wish to eallthe attention of the Sen
ate to the issue that is presented to
the country by this platform, and by
the character of these candidates.


General Grant, in his letter of ac-
.ceptance, said "Let us havepeace."
But the Democratic party, by their
Convention in New York, have said:
"Let us have war; there shall be no
peace" They have declared in sub
stance, 1 might say, perhaps, in di-
rect terms, tnat the reconstruction of
these States, under the several acts of
Congress, shall not be permitted to
stand, but shall be overturned by mil
itary force. If they get the power,
they have announced that there shall
be no peace in this country; that there
shal! be no settlement of our present
troubles, except on the condition of
lhe triumph of those who have been
in the rebellion.


Let me call your attention to a part
of the eighth resolution, in regard to
this very question : In speaking of
the reconstruction of the States, they
60 on to say that 'sThe power to reg
ulate suffrage exists with each State"
making no difference between loyal
States that have been at peace, and
States that have been in rebellion,
putting them all upon the same foot
ing, and that "any attempt by Con-
gress, on any pretext whatever
that is, upon the pretext of the rebel
lion, you please-''tO deprive any
State Of this right, or interfere with
its exercise, is a fragrant usurpation
.of power, which can find no warrant
IN the Constitution, and if sanctioned
by the people, will subvert our form
of Government"


They declare that the interference
of Congress with the suffrage in States
that have been in rebellion, though
that interference may be absolutely
necessary, as We have found it to the
reconstruction of the States, is uncon
stitutiOnal, and that no Jurisdiction
can be found for it, and that it will
subvert our form of Government.
This Convention has called upon the
rebels Of the South to regard these
governments, organized by the au-
thority of the acts of Congress, by the
people of these States, as usurpations,
unconstitutional, and has thereby in
vited them again to insurrection and
rebellion. That is what that resolu-
ton means. There is where the
Democratic party has placed itself and
lis. candidates, that there shall be no
acgUiesceneeri in the eaction of Congress,
but that continued resistance is and
shall be their policy. They have re-
piled to General Grant by saying that
there shall be no peace, but the war
shall be renewed. There can be no
other policy for that party unless it
.acquiesces in our work. If it does
not accept these reconstruction acts,
there can be no policy but that of re-
.sistance, and a renewal Of the war.
They declare these reconstruction
acts to be Unconstitutional aad void.
Being void nobody is bound to regard
them; they have no authority over
any one to -coerce or. to punish, and
may be resisted by any one with i'm
punity. This may not be the LAM
guage of this resolution, but it Is the
substance oft. And in consequence
of this it received the endorsement
and the appreciation of the hundreds
of rebels who were in that Conven-
ton from the South, men who organ
lied the rebel government; men who
organized and led the rebel armies in
battle. This, then, is the issue-a
continuance of the war, renewal of
the rebellion, because it is either that
or it is submission and aoqRiescence to
what has been done.


But, Mr.. President, we are not left
to grope for the meaning of this Con-
vention. We are not even left to
seek for it by inference. We have the
letter of General Francis P. Blair,
written, 1 believe, less than week
ago, and this letter has been indorsed
by that Convention this afternoon by
his nomination as their candidate for
Vice President 1t is as much q part
of their platform as if it was incorpo-
rated in it, for the ink was hardly
dry before it was indorsed by his
nomination I repeat, sir, that this
letter is a part of the Democratic plat
form. General Blair, whatever you
may say of him, is bold, outspoken
man, and he spoke the sentiments of
that Convention. He says, "upon.
these sentiments I want to stand be-
fore the Convention" Upon these
sentiments he was nominated. There
fore 1 say that the language of the
Democratic Convention of New York
to the whole country is war, resis-
tance by force of arms to Congression-
al legislation, the overthrow by force
of arms of the governments that have
been erected in the rebel States under
the laws enacted by Congress, the
continuance of this rebellion, continu


ance of this struggle, in a somewhat
different form, but still the same strug-
gle, contending for the same princi-
pies.