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 a 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

by Congress January 27th. 1865; the Fourteenth (securing civil rights, repudiating the rebel debt, and guaranteeing the national debt), June 16th, 1866; the Fifteenth (establishing manhood suffrage), February 27th, 1869. Meantime, Congress had passed many other acts calculated to be of service to the cause of freedom and progress. Not to mention all these, reference may be made to an act which abolished the Coolie trade by American citizens in American vessels, February 19, 1862; an act forbidding the return of fugitive slaves by the army or navy, March 13, 1862; the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, April 16, 1862; an act authorizing the President to send diplomatic representatives of the United States to the negro republics of Hayti and Liberia; an act forever prohibiting slavery in any of the Territories of the United States, June 19, 1862; an act to carry into practical effect a treaty with Great Britain for the suppression of the African slave trade, July 11, 1862; an act incorporating a national university (Howard) at Washington city for the education of colored youth, March 3, 1863; the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, January 28, 1864; the act establishing the Freedmen's Bureau, March 3, 1865; the civil rights bill, April 9, 1866; an act expressly providing that there shall be no denial of the right of franchise in any of the Territories of the United States to any citizen on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; an act enforcing the Fourteenth amendment, and empowering the