Year: 1868

ofed people OF the Southern States holding


the balance of political power in this coun.


try shall decide who is to be the President


and the Nico President of the United


States, is not that coming home as a prac-


teal ard direct question to every North


ern man, his vote being overcome by the


vote of the colered man of the South. and


that, too, by an act of Congress, so that


the people of the North will want to un-


derstand how it is that you pretend not to
force upen them negro suffrage at home


and yet establish it in ten of the States of


the South? The people will want to


know why, in II time of peace, the rights
of the citizens have been trampled under
! foot. and the ancient writs of the law


which protect them and secure them in


their property and in their personal liber-


ty, have been abrogated-why it is that
! instead OF the courts of law where men are


heard from face to face, the jury from the


neighborhood hearing all the evidence


deciding the case--why that mode of trial


in court has been abolished. and in its
stead has been established the military
court where there are none of the guards


and securities for Justice that thousand
years of experience have shown to be


essential?


NJ. Presideat-Thc two parties into


which the people Of this country are now


divided, have declared their platform of
principles. They have put their tickets in
nomination, and it is for the people now


to decide which set Of principles they viii
adopt. and which set of candidates they


will elect. Upon this SUBJECT Il have but


very few remarks to submit. In my oppo-


sition to the ticket that was nominated at
Chicago, l never expect to place it upon


personal ground. recognize the gentle.


man at the head of that ticket as an emf


nent military man. and his associate as a
distinguished civilian. Against them per-
sonaliy | expect never to express q senti-


ment | oppose their election because


they have beca, by acquiescing in their


nomination, the representatives of the SEN


tlments that have controlled Congress for
the last three years, and because they
stand upon platform which is objection
able in part and equivocal in almost ALL


The Convention at New York has ex-


pressed its views on platform which in


no section can be misunderstood. The
man that runs may read and understand


The plainest as we'll as the most learned


will interpret alike. 1t declares our views


and our purposes so distinctly and en-
phatica!ly that the people are not and
cannot be m'sled. The contrast between
the two platforms struck me with great
force as listened to the Senator from
New Jersey Mr.. Frelinghuysen) some
minutes since as he read one of the Sec
tons of the Chicago platform, declaring
that the public dett must be paid in ac-
oldancc with the letter and spirit of the
law. What does that mean? My col
league would say, have no doubt, that
it means one thing, and the Senator from
New Jersey would claim that it means
another, a very different thing. Many
Senators claim that the spirit of the law
is that the bonds shall all be paid in gold,
while other Senators. eminent and clear
headed, say that it means they shall be
paid in grecnbacks if Congress chooses to
pay them. The resolution of the Demo
cratic Convention is as follows:


Payment Of the public debt of the United
States as rapidly rs practicable: all moneys
drawn from the people by taxation except |
so much as is requisite for the tho neccs-
sites Of the Government, economically ad- |
being honestly applied to such |
payment: and where the Obligations of the
Government do not expressly state upon
their face, or the law under which they
were issued does not provide that they
shall be paid in coin, they ought in right
and in justice be paid in the lawful money
of the United States"


The resolutions declare that unless the !
obligation issued by the government, or
the law authorizing its issue, expressly |
provides that it is to be paid in gold. it
may be paid in lawful money. The law
authorizing the issue Of the iive-twenties
provided for a lawful money and declared
treasury notes, with the legal tender
clause, to be lawful money, and neither
the law nor the obligation provides that
these bonds shall be paid in gold. Gov
error Seymour stands upon this platform,
and leclaim that the platform explains it.
self, and standing upon the platform his
position is not and cannot be misunder.
stood. had thought of reading one orr
two other of the resolutions adopted at
Chicago, to show that at New York posi-
lions were assumed plainly, distinctly and
directly, so that the people could not be
misled by anything that was there said.
But, sir, as it would likely take more time
than l am able to occupy this morning, |
will not 90 further in that direction.


With a platform explicit and direct up
on all the great questions that now attract
he public attention, i. only remains to
INQUIRE who are the men that stand upon
t. | need not in addressing either the
Senate or the country occupy much time
n speaking of Governor Seymour. lie
las been long known to the country as
me OF her first statesmen-a ripe scholar
md profound thinker in times and in
positions of great difficulty he has done
he State much service. He has filed
positions the highest in the country, ex-
,ept that to which he has been nominated
md to which, in my judgement, he will be
elected. a statesman cool in thought and
ffcent in action, he will command the
ontidcnco of the country. | know that
criticisms have been made upon his con-
uct during the war. am glad that it
equircs bat Il sentence to answer all crit
cisms. So efficient was hc rs the Execu-
i've of the great State Of New York in the
aising of troops, and especially in the aid
e gave to the government about the time
t the battle Of Gettysburg, that Mr.. Lin
oln returned to him in the most earnest :
nd emphatic manner his thanks.


lie is an eastern man, but he is accepta- ,
lie to the Northwest. We know from !,
he sentiments that he has always express
d that he is not sectional man. He is
man who at the head of the Government :
'ill recognize all sections and respect and .
,bor to promote the interests Of cach.- ,
While the Chief Executive Of the State of
'e~ York he favored publicly and pri- ,
ately that policy which would encourage !
ie producers of the great Northwest lie
lvored, on the part of the State of New ,
ork, the adoption of a policy that would y
How our heavy freight to pass over the i
tate canal almost without charge, and if !
is policy had been carried ont to the ex- ;
mt that he desired, the Northwest would !;