Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-08-28
For the Freeman,
The Next President.


Mr.. EDITOR Il see that the question OF
the Presidency for the next term is receiving
the attention of, and being discussed by, a
number of the leading journals of the coun-
try but | think, with yourself, Sir. it is
quite too soon to enter this canvass. This
premature movement finds an explanation
probably in the fact that the nation is sick at
heart with the present incumbent, and longs
for the time when, if not ''spewed out" by
| the process of impeachment, (for which he
now stands very good chance,) he will pass
of a an cxcrescencc from the body polite
Never. since we have been q nation, have the
people Of America been so tired with the
Chief Executive. At two different times
previously, we were sorely tried by having
placed in the presidential chair improper
men; once by having woodcn-headed man.
susceptible only 10 bad influences to which
he seemed most readily to yield, and once
again by having wicked old mbecile in that
important position. But the Democracy OF
the United States will never foist on the peo-
pie of this country another Pierce or Bu-
chanan. Yet great as was the affection
under which the nation groaned by the con-
duet Of these two traitors TO the country, but
sticklers for party, the trial was nothing to
be compared to that TO which the nation is
subjected at the present time. Hence this
| rcstlessness and inquiry for man. 1t re-
minds one of old Diogencs as he went
through the streets of his great city with a
lantern in his hand at monday, and said he
was searching for aMAN Certainly we need
a man Just now for President of a great and
mighty people. Yet, Sir, | must say that
have no fears as to the future of the nation,
on one condition, and that is that we are
vlrtuOus and intelligent 1t would not mat
ter Sir, if the angel Gabriel were President
Of the Republic. he could not insure success
to the country and a glorious future, if the
people of the nation are lacking in virtue and
intelligence. And then, upon the other
hand, if the people cultivate virtue, wisdom.
piety, religion (ofthc heart) and knowledge,
if, do fdcto, his Satanic Majesty were to get
into the Chair of State, the people-the glo-
rious people of the country would take care
of the nation and his Majesty (?) into the
bargain. Yet for the honor and dignity of
the nation we greatly desire, and need a
man, a true man such as Diogencs sought
for to occupy that high. responsible, and
honored position.
There have been several persons named as
suitable for the position but YOU will allow
your humble correspondent to suggest that
the right man has not as yet been named,
and to give my reasons for tie suggestion.
| am a great admircr of all the individuals
mentioned, and love them very much - for
their works sake and great personal mer-
its. But they are not the men for Presidents
at the present time for the following reasons
l. GEN. GRANT, who is the most popular
man in the nation is needed Just ,rhere he as,
and probably will be for at least six or eight
years to come. | make this suggestion as a
modest hint, from my personal knowledge of
the mind and character of large portion of
our fellow-citizens, whose residence is south
of Mason Il Dixon's line. Then, again, we
do not wish to have Gen. Grant retire so
early in life from the public arena nor does
he wish to do himself, as | suppose, but
this would most likely be the case should he
be elected to the Presidential Office at the
next election. The Presidency being the
highest elective Office in the gift of the peo-
pie, he would not wish to take io,cer posi-
ton subsequently, unless the exigencies of
the country should call him again to the
head of the army. | most sincerely hope
that Gen. Grant will not be nominated by
the Republican party, for he will probably
not feel like declining if so nominated and if
nominated by any of the factions of the
country, he would of course treat the nomi-
nation with that silence that the insult would
demand.
,. GEN. SHERIDAN is probably the next
most popular man in the country but how
ever available he may be, he is not the man
that we wish to put into the office of Presi-
dent for the same reasons that we do not want
Grant. Then again it ought to be consider
cd that military genius is not always a
great statesman. To be short, to my mind
the nation absolutely needs Generals Grant,
Sheridan, Sherman and Thomas Just where
they are, and it will be great mistake if
they are removed.
3. The next and most preferable man of
all that have been named is CHIEF JUSTICE
CHASE. But there is most serious obiec-
ton to giving the nomination to Judge
Chase. 1t is that the nomination of the
Chief Justice of the United States would be
a fatal Generalization of the politics of the
country, is seen in the fact that nothing
could be so disastrous as to make the Supreme
Bench a stepping-stone to the Presidential
Chair. The great political party that saved
the country, needs and demands the services
of Chief Justice Chase in his present posi-
ton. He is the fright man in the right
place
So much then for those who are not the
men not because of incapacity, or unavail-
Utility, but because they are needed more in