The New York herald., 1866-09-29

CoiStlsudonai uucnuucut ny uI VIC eACiuutu
Southern States.
Mayor Hoffman Opens the Campaign at Ell
mira.
We publish this morning the stump speech
of Mayor Hoffman, who opened the guberna-
torial campaign at Elmira last Tuesday. From
this speech we regret, but are not aston
ished to learn that Mr. Hoffman is by no
means statesman. The introduction Is about
himself; the body Of the speech deals with
Sumner, Stevens and Butler; the changes are
rung upon Greeley and the Tribune and the
Tribune and Greeley, and finally Mr.. Holman
hits upon genuine idea and begins to talk Of
the constitutional amendment Unfortunately,
however, his idea upon this subject is very
wrong one, and perhaps, after all, he might
better have stuck to Butler and Greeley and
Stevens and Phillips, instead of wading into
such deep water, where mere politicians are
in great danger Of drowning
Mr.. Hoffman recklessly follows the bad ex-
ample Of other recent democratic leaders.
Like Seymour, the Woods, vallandigham and
Brooks, he plays into the hands Of the very
radicals whom he denounces. In Congress-,
whenever Thad Stevens was too weak to carry
or defeat any measure against the wishes OF
the conservative republicans, he called upon
the democrats to assist him, and they always
responded. During the war, whenever Butler
and Greeley and Phillips wanted any assist
ance, they stirred up the Woods or Seymour or
vallandigham, and received all the aid and
comfort necessary TO carry their point The
radicals and Mr.. Hoffman are occupying the
same relations now in regard to the consiitu-
tional amendment. II Mayor Holman were q
statesman, instead OF a local politician, he
would declare for the constitutional amend
ment at once, and urge the South to accept
It. so as to get into Congress and form
an alliance with the Northern conservatives to
put down the Jacobins But as IL is we 6nd
Mr.. Hoffman arguing against the amendment
and procuring his arguments from the exploded
arsenals Of the radicals. Having deliberately
chosen the same r5ls as vsllandigham he must
take the consequences.
Our readers will see for themselves that Mr..
Hoffman's speech is very weak one, and yet
he might easily have made IL very strong.
His opponent for the Govcrnorshp Is Mr..
Fenton, who Is poor, imbecile sort Of
Of man, not at all satisfactory TO the people In
personal point OF view But with al his
faults Mr.. Fenton has had the good sense TO
get upon the right side Of the constitutional
amendment, and that will carry him along with
H. The vital issue is the thing which de-
cidcs all elections, and the vital issue
Of the coming elections is this amendment.
Local matters are Of comparatively insignia
cant Importance, and candidates are Of but
little consequence when weighed against
principle. Mr.. Hoffman, making the first speech
OF the canvass, might have forcstsllsd Mr..
Fenton; but instead Of this he has decided TO
give bis opponent every advantage by dcclar-
ING himself opposed TO the only means by
which immediate reunion can be accomplished.
He occupies the same ground as the radicals,
and how is he any better than they' We con-
fess that we desired to sce strong, statesman
like candidate nominated and elected by the
conservatives Of this State; but Mr.. Hoffman is
clearly not such candidate and has no chance
OF an election as matters stand. The people
wanted q man Of broad, comprehensive views,
able TO cast aside partisan considerations and
think and act for the good Of the country.
What have thv presepted 10 them In Mr..