Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-09
GENERAL DIx's LETTER.


consented To give ii to ,be public &
GENERAL DIx's LETTER.
PARIS, Sept. 4, 1868.
NJ DEAR SIR: 1t Yas-fly hope that
my ds;auce from home would have
saved me from all participation in the
political excitement prevailing there; but
I notice in one cf tie newspapers that |
am heart and band with Mr. Seymour.
am not aware o. anything, in the
present or tho past, which wou!d right
/ fully subject me to such an innputation.
have been acquainted with Mr.. 5 Y
nour more than a quarter Of 4 century
Hcis an amiabio gentleman, Of uncx
ceptionahlo private character and respec
table talents; but you know as geH as I
Nat he has net a single qualification for
tie successful erecutioH Of tie high Of
fciai trRst TO lchich he has been nomi
mated, ard is especially deficient IN the
.frmness Of purpose aohieh an critical
emergencies as tie only safeguard against
puJtic disorder and calamity. lie has
been twice, at different times, Governor
of the State of New York, and lie has in
neither case had the talent or the tack
to keep the Democratic party of the
State together more than two years.
I should regard has election, at THIS
juacture, achen stcadineSs Of purpose, de
CTS Oh and self control are so much need
ed, as one Of the greatest co!amities that
could Getat the country. Moreover he
has been put in nomination by conven
ton which has openly declared tho pur-
pose of those it represents to pay the
greater part of the public debt contrsc
ted to preserve the Union in Deprecated
paper. Such a measure would, in mv
jud4ment, be a palpable violation Of the
public faith, pledged under crcumstan-
ces which should have been binding on
ali honorable men. Seymour has made
public speeches TO show that it is our du
ty to pay the debt in specie. In accept
ing his nomination to the Presidency he
adopts the declaration that it ought to
be paid in paper. I know nothing so
hm'aiating IN the history Of american
politics as this regeneration. 1t was,
perhaps, not unfit that Mr.. Seymour,
after presiding, in 1864, over the Chica-
60 Convention, which declared the war
failure, should preside over tie con
yention of 1868, in which = proposition
to Ga;sc,2dit the debt contracted to carry
on the war ssas received with tremendi-
Gus cheering, and that he should be the
chosen instrument to execute this act Of
national turpitude.
| do not believe that the wishes or
opinions Of the great body of the Dem
ocratic party are fairly expresse! in the
proceedings. They have nothing in
common with the statesmanike view
of the policy and the high sense of ma
tional honor which guided the party
when Martin Van Buren,, William /.
Yancey, Silas Wright, Lewis Cass and
Stephen A Douglas were among the
most conspicuous members.
I see bit one source Of safety for the
country under tie eriSting circnmstan-
ces, and that IS the election of Grant.
In bis decision Of character, good sense,
moderation and disinterested patriotism
| believe the South will have far bet
ter hope Of regaining the position in the
Union TO which it is entitled than under
n man whose political career has been 10
nothing mere conspicuousIy marked
than in utter infirmary Of purpose.
independently of ali these conside A.
lions, ! should be greatly surprised if the
people of the United States were to elect
rs their Chief Magistrate n man who
was making. at the Academy of Music,
on the 9Th of July, 1868, speech dc
ficient in nil characteristics of an eIeva-
ted love Of country, at the very hour
when General Grant was carrying the
victorious armies of the Union into
Vicksburg, and when thousands of our
fallen countrymen were pouring out their
blood Oh the plains Of Gettysburg. in de.
Tense of their homes and the Govern
mont which Mr.. Seymour was doing all
in his power to ombarrass and discredi:.
1 am quite willing you should show
this letter to any friends who may take
an interest in my opinion in regard to
the coming election, and | am particu
larry DESTROYS of removing the impress
ion, if il exists, that | am in favor Of Mr..
Seymour, or the reputation of any por
ton of the public debt.
i ain, sir, very truly yours,
JOHN A. DIX.