If there be a “war of races,” as is the apologetic defence of the murderers, then it is war declared and carried on by whites.

The whole pretension of a “war of races” is an invention to cover the brutality of the oppressors.

Not less wicked is the loud-mouthed attack on immigrants, whom Rebels choose to call “carpet-baggers,”--that is, American citizens, who, in the exercise of the rights of citizenship, carry to the South the blood, the capital, and the ideas…

The carpet-bag is the symbol of our whole population: there is nobody who is not a “carpet-bagger,” or at least the descendant of one.

Here permit me to say, that, if anybody is driven from anywhere, it will not be the loyal citizen, whether old or new.

It will be for you to determine if there shall be peace between the two races, and if American citizens shall enjoy everywhere within the jurisdiction of the Republic all the rights of citizenship, free from harm or menace, and with the…

In their name was the Rebellion begun, and now in their name is every measure of Reconstruction opposed.

Important as are the functions of a State in the administration of local government, especially in resisting an overbearing centralization, they must not be exalted above the Nation in its own appropriate sphere.

Great as is the magic of a State, there is to my mind a greater magic in the Nation.

The true patriot would not consent to see the sacrifice of the Nation more than the true mother before King Solomon would consent to see the sacrifice of her child.

It is as a Nation--all together making one--that we have a place at the council-board of the world, to excite the pride of the patriot and the respect of foreign powers.

There is an irresistible protest against such a sacrifice, which comes from the very heart of our history.

It was in the name of “the good people of these Colonies,” called “one people,” that our fathers put forth the Declaration of Independence, with its preamble of Unity, and its dedication of the new Nation to Human Rights.

And now it is for us, their children, to keep this Unity, and to perform all the national promises thus announced.

The Nation is solemnly pledged to guard its Unity, and to make Human Rights coextensive with its boundaries.

Let the Reconstruction Acts be maintained in peace, in other words, let peace be established in the Rebel States, and the menace of Repudiation will disappear from the scene,--none so poor to do it reverence.

Repudiation of the Reconstruction Acts, with all their securities for Equal Rights, is naturally followed by repudiation of the National Debt.

The Acts and the Debt are parts of one system, being the means and price of peace.

Nay, more, it is my conviction, not only that we can have specie payments at that time, but that we ought to have them.

If we can, we ought; for this is nothing but the honest payment of what we owe.

A failure to pay may be excused, but never justified.

Our failure was originally sanctioned only under the urgency of war; but this sanction cannot extend beyond the urgency.

But as the necessity ceases, the obligations of justice revive.

Therefore do I say that the time has passed when the Nation can be excused for refusing to pay according to its promise.

But it is vain to expect this important change from a political party which emblazons Repudiation on its banners.