Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-13
SOUND VIEWS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS.

SOUND VIEWS AND THEIR APPLICATION
La reply to an invitation to address mass meet
ing of the Republican party in Philadelphia, Msjor
Gen. Dix, of New York, has recently written {
letter in exposition of his views on the Presidsn
tial question. He clearly indicates an intention
not to support the candidacy of Gen. Mcclellan,
for the assigned reason that Gen. Mcclellan, the
candidate Of the Chicago Convention, by force Of
his position, "must be deemed to approve all the
declarations with which he was presented to the
country unless he distinctly disavows them" And
Gen. Dix strangely argues, with Gen. MsClellan's
letter Of acceptance before him, that, as the nomi
nee of the Chicago Convention, Gen. Mcclellan
has not stated with sufficient distnctness the att-
tude in which he stands before the people. If
there be any thing distinct in human speech We
had supposed that General Mcclellan had made it
plain that the Union under his Administration was to
be maintained at all hazards" by the resources Of
craftsmanship, if possible, if not by the appliances
of war until these resources shall be accepted by the
Southern people on the basis of the Federal Union
of the States. #a.ay En-
In the name of Pax or of Mars, what more would
General Dix desire than this /? Does he insist on
fighting for the Union even if the Union can be
had without fighting for it Is mere bloodshed
the final cause Of our struggle, or we striving
to bring the Southern people intoa condition where
they will be willing to for peace in the Union
If the former, we can readily understand why Gen.
Dix should oppose the election Of Gen. Mcclellan.
fthe latter, his course becomes incomprehensible
to us any Of the ordinary theories by which hui
man conduct is guided in practical life. @
II is significant fact that Gen. Dix does not
mention the name of Mr. Lincoln in his letter. If
he is restrained from voting for Gen. Mcclellan
by the considerations he specifies, much more must
he be restrained from voting for Mr.. Lincoln by
the considerations for if he is averse to Gen.
Mcclellan because of the want Of an explicit en-
gagement mott enter into any peaceful negotiations
on the basis of the Union, much more must he be
averse to Mr.. Lincoln, who, in his Niagara mani
festo, has not only not concluded himself against
any such negotiations, but, the contrary has
pictiy declared that any proposition of the kind he
has described in that rescrpt will be received and
considered by him, provided it comes by and with
the authority that controls the armies at war against
the United States" And as if this were not
enough, Mr.. Lincoln invites propositions from the
rebel chief by engaging to meet him with @ ibe-
raj terms on other substantial and collateral points
In view of such pledges and commitments on the
part Of the President, binding him at any moment
to enter into negotiations for peace with Gen.
Jefferson Davis, it is evident that any ono who
opposes Gen. Mcclellan on the ground assumed by
Gen. Dix must much more oppose Mr.. Lincoln. {.
But, after thus stating his objections-plainly
untenable we think-to the opposition" of Gen. Nc
Clellan, Gen. Dix proceeds to indulgein some most
grave and appropriate reflections, which, by their
tenor, sufficiently indicate that he does not mean
to support the candidates. of Messrs. Lincoln and
johnson. The reader will agree with US that he
makes this inference very pointed by the following
language, which is truthful it is severe in its
application to the mediocre men whom it has been
too common for all parties to select rs their repre-
sentatives for the highest Offices in the people,
gift, and Of which no illustration more signal was
ever before given in political history than when
the Republican party four years ago passed by Mr.
SEWARD, its most illustrious exponent, to select
Mr. Lincoln as its nominee. 1t is in such poll
cy, says Gen. Dix, that We find the true cause of
our national calamities." AS we entirely concur
with him in dcploring the evil he signalzes, and
as we are sure that every intelligent reader will
make the proper application Of his remarks in de-
termining the practical political duty which they
suggest in case where the people are called to
choose between Gen Mcclellan and Mr.. Lincoln,
We give at length this portion Of Gen. Dixs letter
he says:
docs any doubt TO the Of our national
caamtes believe be found ia the OF the
leaders Of both the principal political parties during the
quarter of century In l640 the great Of the Whig
pary-Webster, Clay, and others-men OF universally
acknowledged ability and long experience in civil -were
capacity selected its candidate for Presidency
The principle Of availability sit termed was adopted
the rule Of selection and the question fitness
obsolete. The concern TO know not who was best
qualified TO administer the Government but who from bis
comparative obscurty would be least likely provoke an
embttered opposition. This the beginning Of system
of demorazson which has ended the present
condition Of the country reversed ali the conservative
principles OF human action by prescribing talent aud
rence and browning mediocrty with the highest honors
Of the Republic In 1874 the Democratic party followed
the successful example of its opponents in 1870 Ii put
aside Van Buren,, Cass, Marcy, and its other eminent
statesmen and brought forward Mr. Polka Of merely
ordinary ability Parties which have neither the courage
fall into hopeless decentralization This system OF retrogra.
dation all that manly and just has continued with two
or three aborve efforts at reaction for twenty years
II has driven preemnent talent out Of the paths which
lead to the highest potcal distinction; and multitudes
with simplicity which would be ludicrous it not