Year: 1868

all Republicans as striking the key
note of the present campaign. 1t was
in full, as follows:


Mr.. Morton-''I do not rise so mu ch
to discuss the various propositions rela-
tive to counting the electoral vote, as
to say that am for that offered by the
Senator from Vermont, believing that
it is more specific and direct than the
other two, but perhaps any one of them
would answer the purpose. | desire,
however, to say one word in relation to
the importance of the measure. We
have been noting the proceedings OF a
Convention held in the city of New
York, which has but just adjourned. l
have read the resolutions adopted by
that Convention, the platform of prin'
ciples, as laid down, and upon which
its candidates have been placed, and l
wish to call the 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 &C
ceptance, said: "Let US have peace. /"
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, might say, perhaps, on dilect
terms, that the reconstruction of these
States, under the several acts of Con.
gress, shall not be permitted to stand.
but shall be, overturned by military
force. If they get the power, they
have announced that there shall be no
peace in the country; that there shall
be no settlement Of our present trou'
bles, except on the condition OF the
triumph of those who have been in re-
bellion. The platform and these nomI-
nations are declaration of the renew
al Of the rebellion.


Let me call your attention to part
of the eighth resolution, in regard to
this very question: In speaking Of the
reconstruction of the States, they go on
to say that "The power to regulate suf-
frage 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 footing. and that
'any attempt by Congress, en- the any
pretext whatever"-that is, upon the
pretext Of the rebellion, if you please
ito deprive any State Of this right,
or interfere with its exercise, is hag-
rant 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 neces-
sary, as we have found it to the recon
struction of the States, is unconstitu-
tionsl, and that no justification can be
found foRit, and that it will subvert
our form of government. This Con-
yention has called upon the rebels OF
the South to regard these governments,
organized by the authority of the acts
of Congress, by the people of these
states, as usurpetions, unconstitutional,
and it has thereby invited them again
to insurrection and rebellion. That is
what that resolution means. There IS
where the Democratic party has placed
itsef aRd its candidates, that there
shall be no acquiescenee in the action
of Congress, but that continued resist
ance is and shall be their policy. They
have, replied to General Grant by say
ing 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. II it does
not accept these reconstruction acts,
there can be no policy but that OF re-
sistance, and q renewal Of the war
They declare these reconstruction acts
TO be unconstitutional and void. Be-
ing void, nobody is bound to regard
them; they have no authority over any
one to coerce or to punish, andmsy be
resisted by any one with impunity.-
That may not be the language Of this
esolution, but it is the substance and
meaning of it. And in consequence OF
this it received the Endorsement and
the appreciation Of the hundreds of
rebels who were in that Convention
from the South; men who organized and
lead the rebel armies in battle. This
then, is the issue-a continuance OF the
war, a renewal of the rebellion, because
it is either that OF its submission and
acquiescence to AAat has been done.


But, Mr.. President, we are not left
to grope for the meaning of this Con-
vention. We are not left even to seek
for it by inference. We haYe the letter
of Gen. Francis P. Blair, written, L BE-
lieve, less than a week ago, and this
letter has been indorsed 0y that Con-
Vention this afternoon by his nomins-
tion as their candidate for Vice Pfesi-
dent. 1t is as much part of their plat
form as if it was incorporated in it, for
the ink was hardly dry before it was
indorsed by his nomination. l repeat,
sir, that this letter is q part of the
Democratic platform. Gen. Blair, what
ever you may say Of him, is bold.
outspoken man, and he spoke thesen-
timents of that Convention. He Iays,
upon these sentiments l want to stand
before the Convention" Upon these
sentiments he was nominated. There
fore l say that the language OF the
Democratic Convention of New York
to the whole country is war, resistance
by force of arms to Congressional legis.
lation, the overthrow by force of arms
of the governments that have been
erected in the rebel States under the
laws enacted by Congress, the continu-
ance of this rebellion, continuance OF
this struggle, in 8 somewhat different
form, but still the same struggle, con-
tending for the same principles.


1t is now announced formally, not at
Montgomery, not at Richmond, but at
New York. The country need not be
at loss to understand the character OF
the contest upon which we are enter
ing. 1t is not one of peace and &C
quiesence, of consolation, whereby the
rsyages of war may be repaired, but il
is a new announcement of the rebel
lion under somewhat different circum-
stances, but under circumstances for.
midable, dangerous and solemn.


Let the country look the struggle in
the face. Gen. Blair has said truly
that all that is said about greeDbacks
and bonds and the question of finance,
is mere nonsense. The great issue is
the question of oyerturning the new
State governments by force. The resto.
ration Of the power of the rebels, or,
as they call it, 1.-THE white mems gov,
ernment," in those States. and "all the
rest is leather and Prunells."


We owe 8 debt of gratitude to Gen
eral Blair for his frankness. There need
be no deception practiced now, and
IL L a L = l.