The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-08-27
HEMPsTEAD's LETTER.
Old wings Read and Ponder.

The following able letter Of Judge 3. J.
|Hempstead's to the Democratic Central
Committee Of Pike County, should be
read and pondered over by members Of
the Republican party and particularly.
by that portion who were once the fol-
lowers and supporters of Henry Clay
Judge Hampstead was an old Clay Wing
and has, since the establishment of the
Republican party until within few
months, been an ardent Republican,
Read and see what he now says of it:
Democratic Central Committee Of Pike
County: - Z
GENTIEMEN:-Yo our kind invitation to
be present and preside at the opening of
the campaign at Wayerly Aug. 9th, has
been received.
Permit me to express to you, and those
I you represent, nay thanks for this mark
Of your confidence.
Owing to the impaired state of my
health under ordinary circumstances I
could not accede to your request. But
I feel that at this important crisis in our
affairs no one should refuse to labor in
any direction that good can be accom-
|plished.
| You have assumed to Judge for me in
fthe premises, and shall therefore ac-
cept your invitation.
I feel grateful to you for your very
complimentary expressions, as to my
past and present position politically and
/ indulge in the hope that those with
whom / have heretofore been associated
politically will generally award to me the
same degree of sincerity.
Having been what might very prop
|erly be termed an ardent Republican, from
the time of the organization of that party
up to the time that conceived to be its
departure from the principlesupon which
lit was founded, in assuming my present
position I feel truly mortified that num-
bers of my former political friends re-
fuse to acknowledge the sincerity Of my
convictions as to what / deem necessary
to perpetuate our free institutions. s.
Until assumed my present position,
| could not realize the tendency of many
Of my political associates to intolerance,
and have deemedit but justice to my
self and my friendsto avail myself of this
opportunity of expressing briefly my
reasons for opposing the men and meas
ures of the Republican party.
You are aware, gentlemen, that I was
a resident of this locality at the time of
the formation Of this county, and by the
kindness and partiality Of the people
have been permitted to act in an official
capacity the greater portion of my life.
During all this time Istried to divest
myself of partisan prejudices and adopt
that line Of policy which / deemed bes.
calculated to secure happiness and pros
peritY for the people; and moreover en-
deayored to be close observer of the
practical workings Of our Government
and whilst acting as jealous partizan Of
the Wing and Republican parties all
ways endeaVored to accord the same SIM
cerity to my friends and neighbors that
/ claimed for myself.
And now having arrived at the period
in my life where personal aspirations are
at an end / deem itno assumption in me
to assert that all the ambition I now have
is to transmit to posterity the Govern
ment of our Fathers in like form that it
was bestowed upon US.
leannot aecede to the politicians of
the present day superior wisdom to those
who formed our Government and admin
istered it SO successfully On the con-
trary the innovations of our modern
statesmen in my humble opinion have
had tendency to disorganize our system
and threatens it with total humiliation,
and | desire to perpetuate our original
form Of Government, and with this OBJ
ject solely in view severed my association
with the Republican party.
Congress has undoubtedly assumed un-l
warranted powers, and has demonstrated
that it is as incapable Of governing IT'S
Iself and the country as the rebels are
governing the South. s
cannot comprehend how we are to
have free and independent government
when the people Of States are denied the
fright of self government and are placed
temporarily in charge of the military
+ for the purpose of transferring the gov.
ernment of those States permanently to
the blacks. ~
The idea Of maintaining "a banking
system that is perfectly useless TO the
Government and the people, and inures on
| ly to the benefit Of the stockholdersa Of
those institutions, at public expense Of
$4,000, cooper year;and alta time too when
taxation is positively oppressive, is SO
incompatible with the principles of our
government, that feel it to be the duty
os every citizen to see that this canker
upon the treasury is removed at once.
/ have looked in vain for answer tend
ing to show the impraoticability of sup
plying greenbacks to the full extent of
the domand FOR. currency, thereby alb
sorbing the interest bearing bonds, which,
lif not disposed Of by some means differ
ent from the present policy, must ineyi-
Itably bankrupt the country.
Intimately connected with this sub
1joct is the question Of expenditures by
the Government.
Military districts have been construct
led in open violation Of the organic law,
land the rights of the people have been
made dependent upon the willof military
commanders who are naturally repulsive
to the people Of their districts. These
commanders are sustained by prineely
salaries invested with a large noliticai