Year: 1868

least secure-and we know that those who are now
hands upon the constitution and embarked In violent
en0rt TO wipe out all the landmark constitutional
liberty 10 tne campaign, which Is now opening SO
ueve that We shall Iail. The public safety requires
that we should triumph. Ia this effort we shall re-
quire tne ald OF oil conservative men. the demo-
unite with them in this pairiotic duty Let me call
your attention to what they have said upon this
point:-"Upon this platform the democratic appeals
to every patriot, Including all the conservative
element, and all who desire to support the constiu-
ton and restore the Union, forgetting all past diner
ences OF opinion, TO unite with us In the present
great struggle for the liberties OF the people; and
that 10 all such, to whatever party they may have
fellowship and hail all such cooperating with US as
friends and brethren.n, We are here Tonight as
am informed, representing all shades Of opinion
into which parties have divided In time past.
May We not forget these petty differences
In common effort to save the government of our
fathers In % TINS momentous struggef Is there any
thing 70 which you can object, either in the men
the platform which have been submitted for your
supportf The democratic party, as 1t now stands
before the country, Ia the party OF progress. IL you
disregard the appeal which has been made to you
you may look In vain for that relief in the future
which the deporable condition OF this country i'm
peratlvely demands. In this connection VIII refer
briefly TO rumor which has been going the ROUNDS OF
the radical press that President Johnson dsgusted
with the democratic nominations had determined to
throw his influence and the weight OF his fame In
favor OF The radical nominees have not seen Presi-
dent Johnson since Inc acton OF the 4th OF July Con-





this OCCASION but Knowing that distinguished man
Intimately as | DO take upon myself TO say that
even "a suspicion OF any such action on his part,
with MS lifelong convictions OF constitutional right,
and his past ahlatons with the patriotic men OF the
country, would be libel upon his great name he
has fought the battles Of the people against Congress
sional usurpation. Can any one suppose that he
would lift the weight OF his Anger 10 elevate to
power the destructive party against whom he has
been strugglng-a party which has hunted him like
dog iii the exercise OF his high functions and
heaped every opprobrium which malice could in
DV lasnftn nl Aut.n
President Johnson has made the issue with these
men which Is TO decide the fate of the country. IL
the oveshadowng issue OF this contest is he to 90
back upon his own teachings The conservative men
OF the country, whether they be democrats or not,
VIII judge Tor themselves. can only say, my
fellow citizens, that during the troubles of the
pass two years | have never heard an ut
terance nom that great statesman that did
not breathe loyalty to his country ana know that
the defeat of this ultra, radical, revolutionary party
was deemed by him as essential 10 the harmonious
reunion of these States and the preservation Of
liberties as people. The democratic party have
done no more than justice in their recognition OF his
great services. They have said in their PLATFORM
.'lhat the President OF the United States. Andrew
Johnson, In exercising the power OF his high Office
in resisting the aggression OF Congress upon the
constitutional rights OF the States and the people, is
entitled to the gratitude OF the whole American peo
pie, aud in behalf OF the democratic party tender
to him our thanks for Ills patriotic efforts in that re-
gard.' To all OF which ! say amen; and say, fur
tner, that his name will go down to posterity, when
this struggle shall have ceased aud the people are
triumphant, as they must be, with the blessings Of





Of the radical policy, fellow citizens, which
Is attracting more notice at this time
or engaging more earnestly the attention.
the finances. When the present Secretary OF the
Treasury came into ONCE believed him to be a
practical fnancier. The public debt consisted of a
mass OF obligations differing as 70 the period OF
turity rate OF interest and the provision for their
ultimate redemption. IL was subject to be dealt
with by financial ability, keen foresight and prac
tical craftsmanship. When the war was over the
people looked for relief What our Indebtedness Is
now am unable to say; but this do sag, that with
the country at peace, the army dsbanded, with the
navy resting upon It's oars, VIC have not advanced
one step towards the promised relief on the con-
trary, your public debt is increasing. Never in the
history OF this government or any government has
such an exhibit been presented Who Id responsible
for all thsf Is the Secretary OF the Treasury incon-
petent, or is Congress bent upon bankrupting the
country These radical men speak OF economy in
their Chicago PLATFORM and yet they cannot point TO
any act where they have manifested desire to
tighten the burden which now bears 80 heavily upon
the people. l have seen no good reason why the
national currency should not be equivalent to gold,
without the necessity by legislation TO create one
currency for the people and another for the bond
holder. The public ofncers and the laboring man
are entitled to currency that will yield them 1u
value lor their services. The fact that, by egalizing
the national currency, you have not succeeded III
bringing II to the standard OF gold Is SUFFICIENT to
show that you have not struck the root of the evil
against winch you are striving. The democratic
party have not attached too much Importance to This
subject OF the finances They have made II
prominent feature In their platform They
mean that the public faith shall be res





alike, without unjust determinations; they mean
that the public debt shall not be increased be-
shall be introduced nto all the departments Of the
public service. l VIII tell you how this Is to be
brought about. We hear q great deal about paying
certain issues OF government bonds In greenbacks,
inetead Of gold and q controversy is now gong on
upon this point. NY policy Is to bring greenbacks
To the standard OF gold. When the democratic party
talk Of retrenchmeEt and economy they mean what
they say-nOt to make 1t part OF their PLATFORM as
the radicals have done at Chicago and In the face of
support the Freedmen's Bureau, with It's army Of
relainers To d0mineer over the white man-to hold
on with dogged persistence In their policy OF waste
and extravagance-to pile up the public debt by
every species oil reckless expendture-but t0 insist
upon prompt relief to the taxpayer. With this de-
viii never see the day affer the maturity
OF these bonds when the public creditor win
ever raise dinculty whether he Is paid
and navy TO peace standard. Why should you
continue these expenditures on war footlng2 We
are at peace with all the world; what do you want
with this cumbersome military organLatonf You
have nobody 10 fight Put down your Freedmens
Bureau. 1t has done nothing but demoralizc the
negro. The people don't want II; the negro don't
want It, stop your dlsgraceful impeachments; your
committees OF investigation travelling the coun-
try to squander the peoples money, and crowd the
your public officers responsible To the President,
who has been deprived OF his power over them,
under the Tenure OF once bill) that he may hold
cneck the infamous frauds that are now startling
Inc country, ana my life upon 1t, that In less time
than YOU can larry organize your system, you Will
bring the national currency to the standard OF gold.
You Will inspire confidence in the capi-
talists, strengthen the public credit aud event
ualiy lessen the burden OF taxation. But II
we persist IN forcing gradual augmentation OF the
public debt, these radicals are dong, and mani
lest determination ~ persevere In this course OF
reckless extravaganza, who does not see that lnan
cia crisis will soon be upon US and that ali the great
interests ol trade and industry Will be involved In
inc ruin The people can hardly estimate the dam
age which has resulted from the concerted effort of
the radical party to prevent the reconstructon OF
these states upon any just basis The revoed States
are virtually out oil the Union now. They have re-
ceiyed no evidence OF kindly recognition. Formerly
they bore their fair proportion OF the burdens Of tax
alton. Their exports before the war will show how
largely they contributed to the national wealth. Now
they are prosrate their lands idle their
OF product on nave been closed to thep, they have
nothing lell upon which a levy could be made to
operate. The radical party will not permit them
TO do justice TO themselves or the government.
Tbey hold them In state Of aDeyance and the
nation suffers. We are actually ip the position OF q
people refusing aid when AID Is rendered TO us. DO
you not Sec my fcow ctizens, that II the South is
not permitted TO bear their just proportion Of taxa