The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-04-20
Political.
A Statesman without Explanations.

A Statesman without Explanations.
Under the above head. the New Hamp-
shire Statesman, an ever consistent, always
reliable Republican journal, makes the fol-
lowing pertinen, remarks wi,ich We cordial,
endorse:
III Mr.. Seward becomes the Republican
candidate for the Presidency his friends will
be under no apprehension that the campGign
is to be embarrassed with explanatory letters
or speeches in apology for any sentiments he
has proclaimed. He is statesman without
explanations. If he has opinions to ayo~
! for the consideration of the American people
they are SO distinctly set forth that there cali
he no uncertainty as to his meaning. He
employs words to convey, not obscure his
nearing. The Democrats, and many Re
publieans too, were expecting in his recent
address in the Senate he would enter up ali
apology for his Rochester speech. or at lea>,
qualify the "irrcpressIble conflict portion OF
il. vet he did no such thing, but marched on
right to the reaflirmation and enforcement Of
the opinions TO which he has adhered with
such tenacity from his first adoption OF them
in an early stage OF the great antislayery
conflict.
Some public men speak so freq emily and
SO copiou>ly that their position becomes Oh
scured in the very profusion of their words.
Few if any leading Senators speak SO seldom
as Governor Seward. and still the views of
10 prominent public man are so clearly un-
der>iood by the masses Of mer. Senator
Douglas has uttered ten columns TO ore by
Mr.. Seward, and although no person that VIZ
are aware OF has charged the lllinoisan with
design to beNi!der to public. yet his position
upon the slavery question is not SO well de-
fined after all his attempts, as those Of Send
tor Seward. No public man in the country
occupying an exalted position in its councils,
has so completely succeeded as Governor Sc
ward, by SO few public addresses in in
pressing his own convictions upon the ma
,ional heart.
+ 1t is not certain who viii become the Re
publican candidate for the Presidency, but
the peculiarity here spoken of 50 conspicuous
in Mr.. Seward would relieve the Republican
party of one embarrassment at least with
which both political parties have at some
times entered upon a Presidential conflict
In some stages OF the political history Of the
country the last thirty Years. it has been no
obstacle to success that the opinions of the
Presidential candidates were not very fully
set forth. General Tay lor WAS chosen upon
the sententious declaration that he Was a
Wing. but not an ultra Whis-and even So
late as the last Presidential campaign, the
Republican candidate did not at all elabor-
ate his political opinions. lie accepted the
platform Of the convention by whom he was
nominated, and SO many French revolutions
lists accepted new constitutions as they were
successively forged by successive INVENTIONS
Colonel Fremont would, without doubt, had
he been chosen, complied with the utmost in
tegri,y, to any assurances he gave, and faith
fully admins tered the Government according
to the expectations of the Republican party,
but he was not a candidate strongly commit
ted to its distinctive views, as Governor Sew.
ard now is to the sentiments of his political
life.
Ii will be the special province of the Chi.
cago convention to decide whether to take an
earnest statesman or 10 adopt one who is less
fully committed to the great central purpose
of the Republican party. If it decides to
take representative man." as the phrase
now is, it does not seem that it can strength.
en- Republican prospects by taking any org
inal Republican in preference to Mr. Seward
And if it pass over MIR. Seward and take d
candidate who il is presumed, may be nomi
mated with better prospects of Carrying The
: central belt Of commonw ealths, will no, New
York and some Western states be carried
with greater difficulty, if not in fact put into
, absolute peril Our opinion is that We ma,
= have the "irrepressible conflict" as we'll nov
/. as ever, and wage the fight with him at tn,
: head who is the author of the memorable cx
q preston. And after all tnat is said to tn
: contrary, We believe that no man yet name,
: will obtain more votes. A month NAV alte