Year: 1865

/


sent, or to give me the instructions OF
resolutions committing the subject to you


This accidental omission would be of nc
consequence, since l know you both to be
members of the Union party of this State
and, though we have scarce seen each
} other for some years, have believed you
to be personal friends of mine; but my
: relations to the Union men of Ohio are
lsueh that it may become of some import
ance to know who are those with whom
you are acting and for whom you declare
that hearty and honest concurrence In
1.-THE principles which you and other loyal
lpeople of Ohio adopted In Convention on
the 21st ultimo, expressly as the basis OF
united political action in the coming State
/ election, shall not be sufficient to secure
your votes.


4 Political organizations, like every other,
are founded upon a mutual Waiving OF
some articles of personal belief for the
sake of securing united and effective ac-
ton upon others which are avoWed as the
common creed; and the bond of union
can hardly be said to be kept in good faith
when individuals of party PROFOUND as
tests to a candidate, questions which were
not acted upon by the convention, especi-
ally when such questions were notorious
/ ly excluded from the list of those upon
which community of belief was demand
ed, because the opinions of loyal and pat
triotic men had not yet fully ripened or
taken definite form in regard to them, and
the time had not come when, IN the logic
of events, 1T was necessary to act upon
them. In the political phase of the great
conflict we have upon us, as in the militia
ry strife which has just ended, organiza-
ton will be found to be of vast import
ance; and though guerilla warfare has its
attractions, | am well convinced that re-
suits will be determined by the surer if
slower march of the heavy columns.


II have always believed that adherence
to party platforms does nnt exclude free
dom of opinion or of discussion upon
matters not included In it, though it does
imply that such discussion should be
a free and friendly interchange of views
with the object of throwing all possible
/ light upon subjects which may sooner or
later become topics of Importance, and
upon which we may have to form a def
mite policy When the time comes for
action, all thoroughly loyal men should
agree to support that policy which the
wisdom of the majority may agree upon,
unless it shall be in conflict with some
principle conscientiously held; in which
case those who so dissent have the un-
doubtedrighttoW withdraw their connection,
not from candidate simply, but from the
party. This view of political organization
is the only one [ have been able to find,
which will secure proper unity and power
of action, and at the same time afford full
scope for true progress of opinion and
that liberty of individual thought which,
beg you to remember, is as much the
right of candidates as, those who nomi-
nate them.


Our Convention adopted platform, of
which the doctrinal part is substantially
1a6 81
slavery and its institutions are irreconcil-
ably opposed to freedom and free institu-
tions, and must be finally and completely
eradicated. I'd. That President John
sons policyof reconstructionis Endorsed"
with the proviso that the complete resto-
ration of the rebel States shall be at such
time and upon such terms as will give un-
questioned assurance of the peace and
security not only of the loyal people of
the rebel States, but also of the peace and
prosperity of the Federal Union"


The spirit and disposition which should
control us in determining the "time and
terms" or reconstruction, and all other
questions of policy accumulating upon us,
were likewise stated in two resolutions,
one, urging the example of our martyred
President in waiting for the solution OF
difficulties to be furnished by the progress
of time and the logic of events :" the





steadily in view the great principles of our
| Government, as set forth in the Declara-
ton of Independence.


/ To condense still more, the essence OF
the position of the party may be said to
be the determination of the political re-
suits of the war by the united and har-
monious action of truly loyal men, act
uated by g spirit at once cautious, and
controlled by an earnest belief in the
broadest doctrines of human rights.


To those principles 1 have given my
public and sincere adhesion. You are
the only members of the Union party OF
the State whom have found impatient
to commit your brethren in advance OF
the meeting of Congress to definite pol
liey upon subject upon which the con-
vention had by strongest implication de.
clared it premature to decide what course
ought to be taken The State election
decides no such issues; the progress o1
J events in the South will probably throw
} increased light upon all such questions
yet you insist that | shall give you my


views, not for the purpose of mutual as
sistance in arriving at a solution of {
difficulty, but under notice that the votes
of your people will be determined for Of


against me by my answer think tina
in so doing you wrong both yourselves
: and the members of the political organi
zation to which we belong, and to whicl
you gave pledge of cordial cooperation
upon the platform as adopted, through
! your delegates who were present at tn
l convention.


For myself, [ have no secrets as to m,
opinions, and have never hesitated to de
, clare them on proper occasions. So ia
! have I been from desiring to concea
them, that I had sent, before the receip
: of your letter, private note to Professo
I, Ellis, of your place. indicating my plal
3 for the final solution of the problem o
reconstruction, and seeking his criticism
upon it. No restrictions were place.
! upon him in making it known, excep
q such as his OWE discretion and friendship
. might impose. You are misinformed a
. to my having requested my views to b
. published at my home or elsewhere
: You must act upon your own responsi
! bility in determining what publicity yol
! shall give to this. The Importance t.


our country of determining rightly tn
q grave questions which must probably b.
! settled within the coming year, is to-


great to make me willing to omit usini


whatever influence or information l ma,
q have in assisting at the solution. Wheth
q er in public or private life, l shall freel


give the results of my experience and OBJ


servation in the South during the war
. and the conclusions to which my study o
! both has led me. l shall expect the fact
: that I have been an anti-slavery man iron
: nv youth up, that l assisted at the origi
noI or0a oi1otiop Of fhe Ranu hlican partv