Year: 1865

noI llcluueu III III. CnOuRn III does imply


that such discussion should be free and


friendly Interchange Of views with the OBJ
Ject of throwing all possible light upon sub
jects which may sooner or later become
topics of Importance, and upon which we


may have to form adefinite policy. When
the time comes foraction,al thoroughly 10y
al men should agree tosupport that policy


which the wisdom of the majority may
agree upon, unless itshall conflict with
some principle conscientiously held; In
which case those who so dissent have the
undoubted right to Withdraw their con-
nection, not from candidate simply, but
from the party. Thisyiew of political org
ahization is the only one Ihave been able to
flnd, which will secure proper unity and
power faction, 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 of those who nominate
them


| Our Convention adopted platform, of
which the doctrinal part is substantially,
embodied in two propositions: 1st. "That
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 Johnson's
policy of reconstruction is endorsed"
with the provisO that the completed restor-
alton of the rebel States "shall be at such
time and upon such terms as will give un-
questioned assurance of the peace and se-
curity not only of the loyal people of the
rebel States, but also of the peace and pros
perity of the Federal Union"


The spirit and disposition which should
control us in determining the 'time and
terms" OF reconstruction, and all other
| IN Of


were likewise stated in two resolutions, one,
urging the example OF our martyred Presi-
dent "in waiting for the solution of diff
culties to be furnished by the progress of
time and logic of events, the other declar-
ing the necessity 'of keeping steadily in
view the great principles of our Govern
ment as set forth in the Declaration of In
dependence"


| 10 condense still more, the essence of the
position of the party may be said to be- the
determination of the political results of the
war by the united and harmonious action
of truly loyal men, actuated by a spirit at
once cautious and controlled by an earnest
Oclief in the broadcast doctrines of human
rights.


TO those principles have given my pub
lie and sincere adhesion. You are the only
members of the Union party of the State
| NhOlb ldNC lOullu GO COIn nlU
your brethren in advance of the meeting of
Congress to definite policy upon subject
upon which the Convention had by strong
est implication declared itpremature to de-
eide what course ought to be taken. The
State election decides no such issues: the
| progress of events in the South will proba-
| bly, throw increased light upon all such
| questions; yet you insist that | shall give
| you my views, not for the purpose of mutl-
al assistance in arriving at solution of
| difficulty, but under notice that the votes
of your people will be determined for or
against me by my answer. | think that in
so doing you wrong both yourselves and
the members of the whole political organ
ization to which we belong, and to which
you gave pledge of cordial cooperation up
on the platform as adopted, through your
| delegates who were present at the Conven-
| ton.


For myself, | have no secrets as to nv
opinions, and have never hesitated to de-
clare them on proper occasions. So far
have been from desiring to conceal them,
that had sent, before the receipt of your
letter, private note to Professor Ellis, of
your place, indicating my plan for the final
solution OF the problem of reconstruction,
and seeking his criticisms upon it. More
striction were placed upon him in making
it known, except such as his own discretion
and friendship might impose. You are
misintormed as to my having requested INV
views to be published at my home or els
where. You must act upon your own re-
spOnsibility in determining what publicity
you shall give to this. The importance to
our country of determining rightly the
grave questions which must probably be
settled within the coming year, is too great
to make me willing to omit using whatever
influence or information | may have in as
sisting at the solution. Whether in public
or in private lite, shall freely give the re-
suits of my experience and observation in
the South during the war, and the conclu-
sions to which my study of both races has
led me. l shall expect the facts that have
been an anli-slavery man from my youth
up, that | assisted at the original organz-
alton of the Republican party, and acted
with it and the Union party ever since, and
that have been u federal soldier form the
surrender of Sumter to the surrender of the
last armed rebel, will secure me a candid
and even friendly hearing from all who
have loved the country and earnestly taken
its part in the late terrible struggle. If
other views than mine prevail, shall hold
it my duty to act cheerfully and promptly
with the body of loyal men, believing that
the best solution which they can give will
be the best attainable, and that to divide
from them will be to deliver the Govern
ment into the hands of its enemies.


| believe that the President is earnestly
determined to seek the good of the whole
country and of all the races in it; that he
has full claim to that confidence which we
declared that we reposed in him; and that
what we as Union men cannot succeed in
doinU in, harmony and co-operatiOn with
him and his Administration, we shall fail of
doing altogether. My support of him,
therfore, will be no half-hearted support,
but Jealous and thoroughly hearty cO-op-
Grafton, with no ulteriOr purpose or thought
of separation on issues likely to arise. 1t lis
by the cordial harmony ofMr. johnson and
the Union members of Congress that the
country is to be carried safely through its
present perils; and division between them
would place us in imminent danger ofship-
wreck. We may have diverse opinions as
to the true solution of this knotty problem
of reconstruction, and during the proper
period for discussion we may and ought to
discuss them with candor; with fullness,
and with a tolerant spirit, butwhen this is
done and the time for action arrives it will
be the business of Congress and the Execu-
tive to agree upon the plan to be adopted, and
that which is in this manner honestly de-
termined by devotedly Union men, shall
believe, as have before said, to be the best
attainable result whether it agree with my
views ornot. In Short believe that under
no circumstances should we risk the trans
fer of the power of this Government to the
hands of those who have been disloyal dur
ing the war, by any divisions among our
selves, until the questions which grow out


,a,ltl Il L., IL