The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-22

The Massachusetts, Demesracy-I.ef-
t.r Of Acceptance by Hon. JOhn
nuiucy AdamS OF the NOMINATION,
20 the Goverpor~hip by tho Demo.
crocY or the State.
Quincy, September Ia, 1868.
1oa. Rr1ry ". Raine, President of the
Democratic Stoie Convention:
Dear Sir,-ln consequence of some
what prolonged absence from my home
have only to-day received your letter in
forming me THAI the Convention over which
Won had the honor to preside selected me
10 be their candidate for the Office Of Go.
vernon Of the Commonwealth at the ap-
rroachi-Ag election. l am very sensible OF
the CT ,mpliment thus, for the second time.
o!Fc red to me. and although I should
have much preferred a less conspicuous
service, ] accept the nomination as
frankly and heartily as it was given.
have carefully examined the resolutions
adopted by the Convention, and should
perhaps content myself with simply as
surirg You that find nothing,i in them to
which cannot subscribe, but as I may
not have another opportunity wish to
state my own views little in detail. I am
glad tina, you have determined to require
"rigd parsimony" in the expenditure Of
the peoples money. This, in nation as
deeply indebted and as heavily taxed as
crrs, is but common honesty to the public
creditor, and mere humanity to the groan-
ing taxpayer. Every dollar not abso-
u,cly required for the necessary
expenses Of Government, and for meet
ing our obligations in the fullest good faith,
should be left in the pockets of the people.
As to the license law, our prohibitory friends
in the last Legislature used to declare that
they cared very little what kind Of q Law
was passed, as in the Presidential election
the license-law Republicans would not dare
10 bolt the regular nominations, and those
they could control. | suppose, therefore,
that the success of their State ticket will be
equivalent to a return to the prohibitory
law, with its attendant constabulary.
think that there are two matters of national
interest involved in this election, one OF
which is important, the other vital. The
Corner, which | take to be the financial
question, was not treated by the National
convention in New York in manner which
satisfied my judgment. BY providing for
pqvmcnt Of the bonds known as five-twen-
ties By surplus revenue alone, thus ignoring
what seems to me the valuable part of Mr..
pendleton's plan, withdrawal of the is
sues Of the national banks, the Democratic
party appeared to commit themselves to an
indefinite extension of the intolerable nui-
sance of an unredeemable paper cur
rencv. am too much of Democrat to re-
gard any such prospect with patience. ]
believe in hard money, and therein hold
myself to be true Jacksonian Democrat.
This dishonored paper which we are all COM
PEELED as | think unconstitutionally, to &C
cept as money, is not only standing dis
grace to the nation, but it is destroying the
ancient habits of economy and thrift, and
undermining our old-fashioned honest ideas
hvthe constant spectacle and example Of an
insolyent Government. 1t lays upon the
poor man a burden heavier than he can
bear. 1t Injuries trade, commerce, and all
productive industry each year more than the
whole sum of doubtful game which might
accrue from cancelling our debts by promises
10 pay which we do not redeem. If per-
sisted in, think it must result in repudia-
lion and bankruptcy. In that event the
responsibility will rest primarily with the
rarty which made the notes and then
refused, when they had the power. to make
them good, and next with the Democracy,
if they are tempted to follow that bad lead.
1t is with peculiar pleasure, therefore, that
read YOUR demand for n sound and honest
currency.
Bat even if ! differed with you on this
subject, and saw any relief in the party
chiefly responsible for our present deplora
bic financial condition, | regard the second
or vital question of such moment that my
rolitical action would be governed by the
attitude of the opposing parties in refer
cuCe to that alone. The issue which, in my
mind, dwarfs all others is, Shall the Consti-
tuition or shall a party mandate be the gu
preme law Of the land ? Fidelity to the
Constitution should be the final test of po-
litical utilization to-day. But to act with
the party which has ruled the country with
supreme dominion for three years past, l
must agree with them that the Constitution
contemplated an ultimate absorption OF the
most important functions Of the executive
department by Congress that its fair con-
struction will authorize that body to
wrest from the judiciary department
the Jurisdiction in cases where it's judg
ment upon constitutional questions Of
the first magnitude may possibly con-
}ict with that of ma ority therein; l
must stand ready TO fix my name to de-
claration OF political faith which expressly
makes approval OF the impeachment of the
President a test Of party fellowship; and
finally, must be able to say upon my con-
science that | consider reconstruction"
for the sake Of which all this and much
more has been done, is wise, statesmanlike,
and constitutional. Now, | have always
thought, with Mir. Seward. that the wisest
way to treat the wounds left by the war
vas to let them neal "by first intention"
iut reconstruction has torn them open
DAY by day, until they are now q mass Of
wcll-nigh incurable gangrene. | believe
that true craftsmanship would have i'm
posed on the southern leaders the task Of
bringing their people back into the Union
by frankly and confidently offering to them
the day they laid down their arms the
right hand Of oblivion OF the past and re-
Cancellation in the future, which they might
reject if they wished or dared.
Reconstruction - has sc0rned their
protests, repealed their aid, insulted
their misery, and inflicted on them
an AMUSEMENT which they felt to be
EntoIerable, in posting over them their slaves
Of Yesterday to secure their pledge of sub
mission to the Constitution. But for this
Hngenerous and suspicious policy l believe
We might now have been truly united
people, the southern white reconciled to the
inevitable, the negro secure in his civil
thgA's' and attaining.political privileges as