Year: 1865

ller, or the obligation to recognize
the fundamental rights Of man, nee
essarily implies them all. Religion,


honor, humanity, republicanisn, all
call upon MS to see well to it that we
do not allow the seething and motion
elements to. etystaiize into q new
form Of expression; and I recognize
as fully as you possibly can the bur
den Of responsibility which this great
epoch in the worlds history rolls
upon all Who have even the humblest
part in determining the shape of
public policy.


l have approached the subject as
an anti slavery man. I have thought
as deeply as I Was capable of, and
have carefully received my opinions
and tested them by all the funda-
mental principles of right and Justice.
II othere do not agree with me, and
it parts me from any whose princi-
pies and motives are the same as my
own, my deep regret thst 1T should
be SO cannot change nay convictions.


It.has seemed to me that the solu-
ton / have offered rids US Of most of
the difficulties in our way. It gives
to the black man political rights and
franchises without onerous terms; 1t
reduces the representation of the
Southern whites in Congress to
proper basis, their own numbers; it
it secures the permanent peace of
the Government and the allegiance
OF the people by the only sure guar
anty, viz: hat of common interest
and identity of Institutions. What
more would you havel


It is worth while to consider that
In such plan as / have suggested
there is that which is likely to at
tract co operation on the part of re-
fectfng men in the Southern States.
There can be no question that some
OF the sectional bitterness which
finally led them to secession and
war, was caused bv a more or less
distinct perception ofdifficulties like
these we are considering, from which
they saw no reasonable outlet, and
that any plan which recognizes the
facts which / have stated and en-
deavors to provide for them so as to
secure harmony and prosperity in
the South, will soon find advocates
there. / do not mention this as an
argument, because 1 fully
accept the responsibility which the
subjugation Of the rebel ter
ritory has imposed upon US to deter
mine the matter by the eounsels and
the action Of those wire <haye been
truly loyal; and not by those of the
disloyal of other sections. We must,
however; remember that the ultimate
object we aim at must be to return
the people of the South to their re-
lations to the Federal Government as
equal and full participators in It's
rights and blessings. Through what
delays or intermediate steps, their
own action, under the experimental
organization granted by the Pfesi-
dent, must determine. But In the
eud, the genius of our institutions
will tolerate no unequal or sectional
laws. The homogenei.y must be
made perfect and complete, for
neither subject provinces nor militia
ry pro- consulships can long CO. exist
with Republican Government


Such are my personal opinions up
on the subjects you have called to nv
attention. For them l AN response
BILE. The subjects themselves can IN
no sense be matter for executive ac-
ton in this State, and whether 1 am
elected or defeated, my opinions
will have only such weight or iuhu-
ence as their own value will entitle
them to. AS they will not hinder me
from giving cordial support to the
action of a loyal Federal Govern
ment, if other views shall finally pre-
vail l have Thought they ought not
10 be made d ground Of opposition in
the State canvass; but such as they |
are, they are the product Of my hon
est thinking, and in view Of the real
of the subject; ! would
not conceal them to receive an cleo
ton as unanimous as the nomination
With which the Convention honored
me.


Respectfully your 6b't, servant,


j. b. cox.


MEssRs. z. H. FAIacHILD,


.-. SAMUEL PLUMB,


T6,oo rnitfoa 40 nharlin Ohio