Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-05
WAR DEPARTMENT,
POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.
Interesting Correspondence on the Den
cratic SituatiOn-Old Wings OF the W.

S1tuaG1On-OIu
and South COunseltng Together.
A private correspondence has recently
taken place between A. Ell. II. Smart, Of
Virginia, and John T. Stewart, of Illinois
touching the Democratic situation. The
latter gentleman is well known to old poll
ticians as the Wing who defeated Stephen
A. Douglas in his first contest for Congress.
in 1888, in the Third Illinois district, by
majority of but sixty light out of the then
thirty years ago-enoImouS poll for a new
country of over SO, 600. The following is
the correspondence =
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, May 8, 1863
DEAR SIR-We are anxious to know what part
in the Nation al Democratic Convection the oppo-
nents in the South to the Republicans will pursue
As an old Wing, / am especially anxious to know
what Southern Wings doing and thinking. /
think the maintenance of the Union under the
constitution, and the civil liberty which we
enjoyed when that constitution was the supreme
law of the land, depend upon the defeat of the
Radical Republicans in the ensuing Presidential
election. My hopes for the future rest much in
the Wings of the South as well as of the North
Trained by Clay, Webster and other gallant lead
ers of that glorious old party to venerate and
obey the constitution aud the written law, they
cannot consistently do otherwise than aid in the
defeat of that revolutionary party winch has been
carrying on the government outside Of the cODsti-
tuition, and which, If success full in the next Presi-
dental election, will continue and perpetuate
dleton?
think, under all tho circumstances. he is the
most available man. Serving with him through
one Congress profess TO be well acquainted
with him. A gentleman in the highest sense OF
The word gentle to friends, courteous to all with
a generous heart and large intellect, cultivated
and refined by learning and knowledge, WELL
educated lawyer and a practical statesman, he
would fill the executive Office with honor to him
Self, to the party electing HIM aud to the welfare
| of the country. As President he would be pat
| h4 pf ttn
whole country and upholding the Constitution
| aud the Union. There need be no fear of rsdi-
caiIsm of any kind with him. l would be very
! happy to hear from you and have 20 views
| upon this subj ect and what will most probably be
the course OF Virginia and the Sou'h generally i'll
the Convention. We feel here the more anxiety
| to the course Of the South because learn
that great efforts are being made to enlist sou h.
ern conserv atism against MIR. Pendleton Oppo.
istion to him from Southern conservatives would,
! in my opinioU be a fatal mistake
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN L STEWART.
STANTON. VA, May IA, 1868.
| Hon. JOHN T. STEWART
DEAR S1R:-Your favor of the Sh inst has been
received, and hasten to tply to it. As far as
have been able to gather the sentiments Of the
wings and democrats of Virginia, in regard to
the selection of candidate for the Presidency, ii
| Is this They have no particular partially or
| preiudices for or against any individual They
go for success. They will co daily support any
| respectable conservative who may have the
| strength to beat the radicals. They know that
the great battle for the constitution and the gov
! eminent is to be fought in the North, ana they
are thert fore, disposed to cOucede to the North
| ern States the right of selecting the standard
bearer. l hink when the Convention meers the
Southern de egg tes W II cay to their Northern as
sociates, " GU are the best ju ges as to which
of the candidates is strongest your section; de-
iberate Cal etuly an dispassionatey; make your
choice, and We will stand by your Judgment -
Mr.. PendletOn 10 not very extensively known to
the people of the South, but all that we do know
of him is favorable, and the ia he commands go
Urge q share of the confidence Of the people OF
! his own and other Western States, WHO know him
| best, speaks volumes in his favor. | may add,
| that as far ss am individually conc rnei your
endorsement of him carries great weight have
| no personal acquaintance with him, n 1 under
| s and he Is a son or my old friend, NJ hauel
| Greene PendletOn, with whom seTNt d IN
| the Twenly eventh Congress, and that act pre-
dlsposes me strongly in his favor. What the South
desires. above all things, is release from radical
bondage and we care little under whose lead til at
| result is accomplished. We look to the end, not
! to the means MIR. Pendeton would be entirely
| acceptable to the people ofVirginia If, on COM
.rson of opinions in the Convention it should b.
decided that he is the strongest man. We will raj
| ly to his support with enthusiasm Ihave seen it
suggested in some papers that while Mr. Pendle-
| ton is strong in the West and Northwest be would
| be obnoxious to some of the Middle HtGtes, Penn
| sylvania, New York and New Jersey, for example.
| l do not know how this is but think the matter
J should be carefully weighed, so that the choice
| should fall on the man who combines the largest
| and most difused elements of opularity. Mr.
| PendletOn's views on currency and finance Wi 10
acceptable to the South. In my judgment tho
most enlarged and catholic spirit ought to pre-
vail III the Convention. 1t is no time to and on
| personal preferences. The issues are too mpor-
tant for anything of that kind to have weight
The Southern people will support cheerfully PEN
dleton, Hancock, Doolittle, Hendricks, seymour
| or any other sound conservative man, provided
| he mas what John Randolph termed the turning
| out faculty." I think the signs of the times arc
| all suspicious, and it would be shame if we
should lose glorious victory by miserable bick
erings and SOU 4bbles in regard to men.
| Very truly yours,
| ALEXANDER H. Fl. STUART.