Year: 1876

VI (C0nta1lted Prom iSeco7ld 6dge,.)


The resolution of the Convention
on the subject of the permanent pac-
ification of the country and the COM
plete protection of all its citizens in
the free enjoyment of all their Con-
stitutional rights is timely and of
great Importance. The condition of
the Southern States attracts the at
tention and commands the sympathy
of the people of the whole Union. In
their progressive recovery from the
effects of the war, their first neces-
sity is an intelligent and honest ad-
ministration of government which
will protect all classes of citizens in
all their political and private rights.
What the South most needs is peace
and peace depends upon the suprem-
acy of law. There can be no endur-
ing peace if the Constitutional rights
of any portion of the people are hab-
itably disregarded. A division of
political parties, resting merely on
distinctions of race or upon sectional
lines, is always unfortunate and may
be disastrous. The welfare of the
South like with that of every other
part of the country depends upon
the attractions it can offer to labor,
to immigration and to capital. But
laborers will not go and capital will
not be ventured where the Constitu-
ton and the laws are set at defiance
and distraction. apprehension and
alarm take the place of peace loving
and law abiding, social life. All
parts of the Constitution are sacred
and must be sacredly observed. The
parts that are new no less than the
parts that are old. The moral and
material prosperity of the Southern
States can be most effectually advan-
ced by hearty and generous recog-
nit.on of the rights of all by all; a
recognition without reserve or excep-
ton. With such recognitioo fully
accorded it will be practicable to
promote by the influence of all legit-
innate agencies of the general govern
ment the efforts of the people of
those States to obtain for themselves
the blessings of honest and capable
local government. If elected / sh all
consider it not only my duty, but it
will be my ardent desire, to labor for
the attainment of this end. Let me
assure my countrymen of the Sonth-
ern States that if l shall be charged
with the duty of organizing an ad-
ministration, it will be one which
will regard and cherish their truest
interests, the interests of the white
and of the colored people both aud
equally, and which will put forth its
best efforts in behalf of civil policy
which will wipe out forever the dis
tinction between North and South in
our common country.


With civil service organized upon
system which will secure purity,
experience, efficiency and economy;
strict regard for the public welfare
solely in appointments and the
speedy thorough and unsparing
prosecution and punishment of all
public officers who betray official
trusts; with a sound currency; with
education unsectarian and free to all;
with simplicity and frugality in pub
lie and private affairs, and with a
fraternal spirit of harmony perva-
ding the people of all sections and
classes, we may reasonably hope that
the second century of our existence
as nation will by the blessing Of
God be pre-eminent as an era of good
feeling and period of progress,
prosperity and happiness.


Very Respectfully,


Your Fellow Citizen,