Here I put the practical question, Can any national bank issue and maintain a circulation of coin notes with a reserve of only twenty-five per cent., so long as gold commands a premium?

In season and out of season, at all times, in all places, here at home and in the Senate, I insisted upon the abolition of Slavery, and the completion of this great work by the removal of its whole brood of inequalities, so that it should…

The Republic was menaced; where was the limit to patriotic duty?

Human Rights were in jeopardy; who that had a heart to feel could be indifferent?

Permit me to say that the “practical” statesman foresees the future and provides for it.

Call it “one idea.” That idea is nothing less than country, with all that is contained in that inspiring word, and with the infinite vista of the same blessings for all mankind.

Shall the Rebellion which you have subdued on the bloody field be permitted to assert its power again, or shall it be trampled out, so that its infamous pretensions shall disappear forever?

It is easy to see that until specie payments this idea is impracticable.

If you sympathize with the Rebellion, or decline to take security against its recurrence, then vote for Seymour and Blair.

I need not add, that, if you are in earnest against the Rebellion, and seek just safeguards for the Republic, then vote for Grant and Colfax.

It may be put more precisely still: Shall the men who saved the Republic continue to rule it, or shall it be handed over to Rebels and their allies?

Such is the simple issue, stripped of all hypocritical guise; for here, as in other days, the real question is concealed by the enemy.

Under the pretence of restoring Rebels to rights, it seeks to restore them to power; and this is the very question on which you are to vote.

Even while professing allegiance and asking your vote, they proclaim war in a new form.

Instead of Secession maintained by arms, it is now Nullification maintained by arms.

Secession is declared to be settled by the war; but Nullification is openly recognized.

Secession is war out of the Union; Nullification is war in the Union.

The Reconstruction Acts err from what they fail to do rather than from what they do.

They should have secured a piece of land to the landless freedman, whose unrewarded toil has mingled for generations in the soil; and they should have secured a system of common schools open to all.

In these demands, as in every other measure of Reconstruction, I would do nothing in severity or triumph, nothing to punish or humble.

Nor is it only in justice to the freedman, who has a bill against his former master for unpaid wages, and also against the country for an infinite debt, but it is for the good of all constituting the community, including the former master.

Nothing can be truer than that under such influences society will be improved, character will be elevated, and the general resources will be enlarged.

Only in this way will the Barbarism of Slavery be banished, and a true civilization organized in its place.

With Human Rights under a permanent safeguard, there can be no limit to prosperity.

As under this sunshine the land yields its increase and the gardens bloom with beauty, while commerce and manufactures enjoy a new life, they will confess that we did well for them, and will hail with pride the increased glory of the…