The New York herald., 1864-10-09
TIE PRESIDENCY.
Letter Sf General DIX
TO TIE COMMITTEES or THE MASS MEETING IN PHI

Letter or General DIX
TO TEE coMhIrrKE or THE MASS MEETING IN PaILA-
DELPHIA.
The follow ing letter addressed to the Committee OF
the republican meeting he'd iu Independence
square, Philadelphia, yesterday, by hsjor General John
A. DIX
New YORK, Oct. 6, 1864.
GENTrESESi have received your invitation to address
the mass meeting TO be held IN Independence square on
Saturday The duties incident to the OF
a military department render it impossible Tor To at
tend pubic meetings. make political speeches. But
accede with pleasure to your request TO write you a
letter.
There Is but question bofore the country the ap
proachne canvass. Shall we prosecute the war with
unabaiec vigor until the rebel forces lay down their
arms or shall use the language OF the Chicago
Convor.on mako smmedate eforts'' for "a cessation
OF hoses, with vicw 10 an ultimate convention OF all
the States," &C.?
Believing that the latter measure for whatever pur
pose adopted, woeld lead inevitably recognition OF
the Independence OF the usurgent states and believing
moreover that true policy. az well As true mercy.
steady and unwaverug application OF all the and
all the energies at command until the object Of the
is acc0mp mpshed | shall oppose tho measure in every
form IN which opposition Is likely to be elective
General Mcclellan, the candidate OF the Chicago Con-
vention, by force OF his position, must oe deemed to
prove all the declarations with which be presented
10 the country, unless ne distinctly disavows them. I'm
fortunately, he IS sllen. on the only question in
regard TO which the people cared that he should
speak. He docs not say whether he ID In avor Of
sation of hostitas-she measure announced by those
who nominated him as the basis for action In
Of his elecionor whether be opposed 20 M He does
meet the question with manly frankness, as | am
ident he would have done il he mad taken OF
Instead 4 yielding subtle suggestions
OF politicians. The Chicago Convention presented dis
tnct issue 10 the people, AS the nominee OF tho Couven
tion he bound accept repudae IT, He has done
neither and whatever Inference be drawn from his
silence either the democrats or tho eace democrats
must be deceived.
In calling for a cessation Of host!tes the members
of the Chicago convention have, in my judgment,
the great body OF tho democracy. The policy
proclaimed in It's name makes it-so far as
such declaration can-wbat it has never been
before, peace party in war, degrading from the en-
inence which it has stood in other national
party identified with all that is honorable history,
have NO part can Gnly mourn over the reproaCh
which has been brought upon by it's leaders, and cher
ish hope that hereafter under tho auspices Of
better counseiiors, resume is ancient elective and be-
nedcent influence in the administration of the goveru-
ment.
any doubt to the true Of national
calamiiiest believe il TO be found in the inagement
Of leaders Of both the principal political parties dur
Ing the last quarter OF century In 1870 the great men
Of the whig party-Wcoster Clay and others
experience civil lifewcre thrust aside General
Harrison, man " very moderate capacity. was
iecled az It's candidate for the Presidency. The prn
cple OF availability, as 1t was termed, was adopted
rule OF selection, and the question OF fitness
became obsolete. The concern was to know, not who
best qualified TO administer the government, but
who, from his comparative obscurity, would be least
likely provoke embttered opposition This
the beginning OF System Of Generalization which has
ended the present distracted condition Of the country
IL reversed all the conservative principles Of human
action BY prescribing talent aud oxperience and
GROWING mediocritY with tho highest honors n
the republic 10 1874 the democratic party fal.
lowed tho successful example Of its opponents ID
l84D 0lt put aside Van Buren, Cass. Marcy ana its
other eminent statesmen, and brought forward hE.
Polka Of merely ordinary sb nay Parties waib
sss nsSs srs, asshss and aSgEfSs Ss G as s
morazation. This system rc,rus sdayn in ali inst
is manly and uss has continued s,ih two shree sboF
Efforts reaction Tor twenty four years, 10 las
driven pre- talent out c the pashs which lead 10
the highest political Distinction md uutndcs with q
xphic he l1+ .N
deplorable ask what has becona Of great men Ioe
inquiry easily answered They are IN the learned pro
berless fields OF intellectual eyectiou which opened
by the wants OF great country in rapid career q
development. The intellect o. ere country Is
neither diminished in the aggregate nor dwaried
IN its individual proportions. ihe PoiNcal
ket, like the commercial under tbe iufuepce
OF the inrexble law or demand supply Is furnished
with the kind OF material requires Il calls Tor medoc
ry and IL gets nothing better The highest talent aoes
from ded in which the chance OF accession TO the
hrst civic honor 10 inverse ratio or eminence ard
qualiucatioDs
Inns under the rule Of the inferior inellecs which
party management has elevated 70 the conduct OF the pub
lie aairs peace the prosperity and the high charUc
ter Of the country gone II the great n
republic had controlled the POLICY and action OF the
government, during the last quarter OF u century VIC
should have had rebellion. Distraction within
invites aggression from without and we arc cndur
ing the humiliation Of seeing monarchy established IN
contact with Southern boundary by oil the great
Powers Of Europe in contempt OF repeated proesta
tons and another of those Powers permitting rebel
Under such system Of polilca management no gov.
erpment long. know IL Ia not easy TO change
what such lapse OF time has fastened upon us. lolti
cans the strongest interest 10 placing 10 the char
Of State feeble men, whom they can control instead q
OF self sustaining power, to whom they would
eubordinatcs and auxiiAriee But the time will
comeii may not be far disantwhcn the people, tired
Of voting for men OF inferior capacity, thrust upon them
through the machinery o conventions lin which they
have no voice. will their majesty and
place conduct of their and
capable handa II such chshge NOT speedily Effected
Is my hrm belief that republican Institutions will
fall 70 pieces and arbitrary government rise upon
their ruins FOR unless the testimony Of ali history Is TO
be discarded, political system be upheld except
by giving to its administration the benefit Of the very
highest talent and the largest experience.
Till this reform shall come, my advice 10 the great
body OF the people hold last In their tradisionay
principles and good by giving support
10 The war, and with the severest scru.
tiny the conduct q those who control psrty
Dent conventions have personal 70 subservs
Even those who are comparatively dsintsrestsd
asays .he safest aSv,sc,. They have lived 20 oss ip
trafhc that they have contracted morbid habits ci
thought and action. which like chronic diseases in tbs
human system II 10 hard 70 alleviate and stil harder
The only hope LEN 70 lies the patriotism and
dsinterestednsss Of the great body OF the people Of a
parties, who are iaeng the euemes Of their country
the battle nsld with berOism unsurpassed 10 any age
OF who at home, amid the prevailing tumult and dsor.
10 qs o Ss
perty ana safety when hey shall ssod out fresh from
their own ranks new men 70 consult 'oss.hsr for the
governments and rocsty. shere win be earse
for hopo and isith 10 our redemption frcn
impending evils and dangers; bearing, in the meantime
we'll a. we can, the heavy burdens which have h..r
cast upon us by quarter Of century Of Political ns
manas emcnt and public meyue a
II s time the people should understand these truba
No one perhaps. can tell them with propre,y
myself having been much Of the period referred to-
public lie, fruteesy contendpg against party coptr-
which have involved the country IN all the evils
o. civil striie lam, very respectfully, yours.
JOHN a. Dix.
JAxn II. 0RSR Chairman. &c
CADwAIADER BppLs secre tary.