the 'Soldier's Friend.' In private and in public life I have endeavored so to act, feeling constantly, however, that the debt of obligation to them was too heavy ever to be repaid in deeds. And with my whole soul I can say that I value that title more than office, or honors, and would rather be bound to their hearts and yours, 'with hooks of steel,' as Shakspeare writes, or rather with the unseen but no less potential heartstrings of affection, than to enjoy any distinction or earthly fame.

Accept, sir, and all of you, my grateful acknowledgments, and believe me, that to have a home in the hearts of friends who regard me as worthy of their love and esteem; who feel that they rejoice over any success that may come to me in life; but who also share with me in my sorrows, and lighten care by their sympathy and affection, is, of all thoughts, the most inspiriting, and more priceless even than silver or gold. And when, at last, about to enter on that sure estate, which all of us onward travellers to the grave are destined to inherit, if I may know, when passing away, that you will remember me as one who did his duty faithfully and fearlessly, I shall feel that, perhaps, I have not lived entirely in vain."

At the conclusion of the speech of Mr. Colfax the company partook of a sumptuous banquet, and the festivities were prolonged to a late hour by conversation and interchange of social greeting. Many Senators and Representatives were present, and also Bishop Simpson, for many years a sincere and valued friend of Mr. Colfax. A sonnet, from a friend of Mr. Colfax, at South Bend, having more reputation as a writer of truth than poetry,

read upon the occasion, formed (said the Washington Chronicle) a pleasant ending to its report of this very agreeable event:

Colfax, thy past has won the Speaker's chair
And honor's post, in these eventful days;
Thy virtues beam from thee, as silver rays
From stars, that gem the night. Thy gifts are rare,
And precious is their fruit. Thou art the clear
Persuasive orator of right; the pure,
Unsullied patriot; the changeless, sure,

And genial friend; to many hearts how dear;
Full well thou knowst the vanity of earth-
Thou dost not seek its wealth, nor high renown,
Nor taste its sparkling cup of madd'ning mirth;
But in the sacred use of life, dost strive

Far down

To serve thy country and thy race.
The ages, shall thy name in memory live.

CHAPTER XXI.

RE-ELECTION OF MR. LINCOLN PENDING-MR. COLFAX NOT PERMITTED TO WITHDRAW FROM NOMINATION FOR CONGRESS-OPENING SPEECH OF THE CANVASS AT PERU, INDIANA.

DURING the summer and fall of 1864, the great political contest for the re-election of Mr. Lincoln and sustaining the Government in its war with the rebellion was waged. In this contest Mr. Colfax took an active and earnest part. It had been his desire to withdraw from Congressional life. He had frequently expressed such desire to his constituents, and on this occasion published

a card, declining a renomination. They were, however, unwilling to consent. Mr. Colfax yielding to their unanimous nomination, became again their standardbearer, not only for the Congressional but national conflict. His opening speech for the canvass was made at Peru, Indiana, August 20th. Reporters were on the ground from Cincinnati and Chicago to report it for the daily papers of those cities. It was the first speech of the great national canvass made by any one of national reputation. Its theme was, "The duty of standing by the Government." It was plain, forcible, direct; free from all low and slang phrases, a characteristic feature of all of Mr. Colfax's speeches. Its arguments fell like grape and canister in the ranks of the opponents of the Government. It shows the character of the opposition to the war, and brings into the light of history the secret dangers that imperilled the country. It is a fair specimen of the oratory of Mr. Colfax upon the stump and of the efficient character of his innumerable campaign speeches. It is not in as fine and polished a style throughout as many other speeches of Mr. Colfax; but as Mr. Lincoln said of the term "sugar coated," when requested to strike it out of one of his messages to Congress, as undignified, that the people would understand it, this speech was understood by the people and appreciated by them. It confirmed the convictions and kindled the enthusiasm of its many thousand hearers. It was very widely read and esteemed very effective. The following report of it is from the Cincinnati Gazette:

"STAND BY THE GOVERNMENT."

"Mr. Colfax has just begun to canvass his district for re-election to Congress, against David Turpie, Peace

Democrat, whom he beat in 1862, when the Democracy swept nearly every thing before it in his State. He preferred to retire from public service, but his constituents insisting upon his nomination for this once more, in view of the critical condition of affairs in Indiana, he accepted the nomination as an obligation, and has resolved on performing his share of the duty necessary before the election, as he does every thing, thoroughly and well.

"The following speech, relating as it does to our national affairs, as well as to the local politics of Indiana, will be perused with interest by all our readers:

"MR. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW-CITIZENS: I can sum up all I intend to say this afternoon in four expressive words. They are, 'STAND BY THE GOVERNMENT!' You have just passed a resolution tendering thanks to your heroic defenders in the field; and never in the hour of our country's trial were its defenders worthier of such expressions of gratitude from those for whom they suffer, for whom they fight, and for whom they fall. But if you believe these resolutions in your heart of hearts, as you do, you will send to them in October a more emphatic resolution-a resolution coming from the ballot-box. [Cheers.] You will tell them, that as they confront the enemy in front with bullets, you will confront the sympathizers and abettors of their rebel enemies with ballots in the rear. [Cheers.]

"When I say to you 'stand by the Government,' I give to you all the counsel that any man could give to his fellow-men in an hour of peril like this. What are we without Government? It is Government that protects your property, for without Government you would be on a shoreless sea of anarchy, and your nation a mass of

ruins; your title-deeds worthless as Confederate scrip; your lives at the mercy of midnight assassins, with guerillas to drive you from your homes, and light up your pathway to places of refuge by the flames of your burning dwellings. Every thing that is sacred and dear to us is protected by the Government. Yet rebel armies are in the field to-day. What for? To overthrow and destroy the Government. Union armies are in the field. What for? To protect and maintain the Government, and save the country from national destruction. And yet, up and down the highways and by-ways, you hear men talking about 'peace,' 'crying peace, peace, when there is no peace.' And when you analyze their peace, what is it? It is peace with the rebels, but war with your Government and its brave defenders. Know you not this to be true? Read the platforms adopted by every convention calling itself Democratic that has recently assembled. What are they? Condemnations of the treason that seeks to destroy our Government? Denunciations of the war upon the Union, and appeals to their followers to stand as one man around our imperilled flag? No, none of that. They denounce the way the war is managed for the preservation of our nation, but not one word against the way the war is managed for the destruction of the Union. Their mouths are filled with invective against your Government, that is endeavoring to save the nation from disruption and death. To this contest there can be but two parties. The one, call it by whatever name you please, are rebelhaters, and I am one of these. [Cheers.] And the other, sugar-coat it as you may, cover it with some respectable name of the past, are rebel-helpers, whose arguments and course strengthen the rebellion, and weaken the