With the expression of my desire to see the speedy healing of all bitterness of feeling between sections, parties, or races of citizens, and the time when the title of citizen carries with it all the protection and privileges to the humblest that it does to the most exalted, I subscribe myself,

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT.

After the interview with Grant, the committee waited upon Wilson, whom they found in the room of the Senate Military Committee, of which he is Chairman. Him Judge Settle addressed in much the same manner as he had addressed the President; and Senator Wilson made the following reply, quite impromptu:

"GENTLEMEN: I will in a day or two give you an answer in writing to this communication. I take this occasion, however, to thank you and the members of the convention you represent for this manifestation of confidence, as I neither asked for or wrote to any member of the convention to give me a vote. I am all the more grateful for their generous support. I am gratified too, for the friendly tone of the Republican press of the country. For thirty-six years, in public life and in private life, I have striven to maintain the distinguishing idea of the Republican party-freedom and equality of all " men. I have striven ever to be true to my country, and to the rights of our common humanity; to know no sectional interest, nor race, nor color. In the future. as in the past, I shall unfalteringly adhere to these principles, which are convictions of my judgment, heart, and conscience. I am clearly of opinion that the great soldier, who rendered such illustrious service to his country in a great civil war, will be re-elected President of the United States. His humanity to the vanquished, his firmness to vindicate the rights of the humble and defenceless, his devotion to the leading ideas of the Republican party, cannot be questioned. I esteem it high honor to be associated with him in the coming contest. While I am grateful to my friends who gave me such generons support, I honor those who adhered with such devotion to Mr. Colfax. We have been personal and political friends for nearly twenty years, and it is a source of profound satisfaction to me that our personal relations have not been disturbed by the recent contest. While I shall never cease to feel grateful to the friends who honored me by their support, I shall ever entertain sincere respect for those who deemed it to be their duty to give their support to others. I hope we shall all strive to win to our support every honest and patriotic man in the country-every man true to the rights of

humanity—every man who would elevate the condition of the toiling millions, and have our republic become a great Christian nation, an example to the world. Let it be understood that our ranks are wide open to receive all devoted to the country, and who would advance its happiness and the general well-being of all sections of the land and all conditions of the people. We, Republicans, should offer the hand of reconciliation to all fair-minded and honorable men, and use all legitimate means to achieve success for the honor and salvation of the country, as well as for that of the party which saved the Union and established freedom in every part of the land."

Mr. Wilson afterwards sent the deputation a very able letter of acceptance, which is printed in an appendix near the close of this volume.

CHAPTER VI.

HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

(CONTINUED.)

The Legislation of the Republican Party, State and National-Sketch of Some of the More Prominent Acts of Congress-The Constitutional Amendments-A Brief Resume of All.

Within a short time after the organization of the Republican party it obtained political control of every free State, except Indiana. Illinois, which cast its electoral vote for Mr. Buchanan in 1856, nevertheless elected at the same time a Republican Governor, the lamented Bissell; and in 1860, Indiana passed into Republican Government by considerable majorities.

It is not within the design of this work to relate the achievements of the Republican party in the several states, wherein it gained supremacy. It may be well to remark, generally, however, that it is historically true that with the beginning of Republican ascendancy in those states there was also beginning of a new era of progress; a more rapid development of those material interests by which national wealth is increased, the public good fostered, and the general happiness augmented; a more liberal policy inaugurated in respect to those public institutions whereby crime is repressed, suffering alleviated, and civilization advanced. All such in

ternal improvements-railways, canals, etc.—as are of benefit to the people at large, have been liberally sustained. Generous appropriations have been made in behalf of institutions for the care of the deaf and dumb, the blind, and the insane. Many of these beneficent institutions, in fact, which so much honor our country, are due to Republican policy, against the protest of Democratic opposition. In all these Republican states, too, honesty and economy have been the rule of administration. Peculations and frauds have unquestionably occurred, but they have ever been promptly exposed and punished. The system of public schools has been extended and improved. In a word, every state which has been Republican has had its laws more or less reformed for the better; its material interest developed; its wealth increased; its political morality elevated; its substantial progress constantly assured. The legislation and administration of affairs in every Republican state demonstrate that the Republican party has everywhere been a benefactor to the body politic.

NATIONAL LEGISLATION.

Since the 4th of March, 1861, the Republican party has been responsible for all federal legislation and administration. We have already seen, by general view, how much it has accomplished; that its history has been in truth the history of the Republic. But it will not be thought out of place, or, it is hoped, tedious, here to recur to some of the

more important matters of legislation which may be regarded as specially due to Republican policy.

Congress met in extra session at Washington, in accordance with a proclamation from President Lincoln, on the 4th of July, 1861. A short time afterwards the first battle of Bull Run occurred, whereby the Union General McDowell, who had, in obedience to the clamor of the New York Tribune, moved "on to Richmond" before he was ready for such an expedition, suffered an ignominous defeat.

Congress at once perceived that we were in a state of civil war, and proceeded to declare and legislate accordingly. On the 29th of July an act was passed which provided for men and means wherewithal to suppress the rebellion. This act gave the President ample power to call forth volunteers and to carry on the war with vigor. A week afterwards an act was passed confiscating property and setting free all slaves used in aid of the rebellion. Other acts of a practical nature were passed, so that when the campaigns of 1872 began, Edwin M. Stanton being now Secretary of War, and Grant in command in the West, results of the most gratifying nature were brought about.

In this rapid sketch of national legislation it would be well to place first an account of the amendments to the Constitution. These embody the

great political and civil triumphs of the war. They will be found at length in the appendix to this work. Let it suffice here to state that the Thirteenth amendment (abolishing slavery) was passed