The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-21

the South''-as they called the secessionists
tight and deserving of success.
There is no doubt that these people believed
that Mr.. Seymour, If elected, would effectively
serve their purpose, which was so TO emoar-
Tsss the Government as to compel II to with
draw the Union armies, and give the victory
to the Rebel leaders. There is no doubt either
that the violent secessonsts were disappointed
in Mr.. Seymour's administration-and for the
very good reason that Mr. Seymour is man
who talks, but does not act. They expected
that with him in power at Albany the great
State of New York would be placed in dire3t
opposition to the General Government, and
that the example Of New York under Sey-
mour would have a disorganizjng effect in
other States. So, too, in the Southern
States, the election of Mr.. Seymour caused
great rejoicing; the Rebel newspapers encour-
aged their readers to hope for "great events"
in New York, favorable to the fortunes of the
Confederacy; the Rebel leaders plucked up
fresh courage, and urged their soldiers to re-
newed efforts, by telling them of the hopeful
election of Seymour.
To certain extent Mr.. Seymour, as Gov
eruor, justified the hopes OF the secessonists,
North aud South. He appointed such men as
John A. Green and Walter S. Church, notori-
GUS sympathzers with the Rebellion, to
important commands in the State mitia-and
thus, as every body remembers, spread alarm
and uneasiness among the friends OF the Union
cause, and N ade the hearts of the secessionists
beat high with hope. Moreover his language
caused very general belief that he was
opposed to and would resist the CONSUMPTION,
winch had then become necessary. His whole
attitude was one of hostility; for months he
was regarded as an element Of danger, both
by the authorities at Washington and by the
supporters of the Union everywhere; and, on
the other hand, the enemies OF the Union, the
friends of the Rebellion, and the Rebels them
selves, were filled with joyous expectation of
what he would probably do.
But it is Mr. Seymour's way to sit down be-
tween two stools; to try to please both sides;
to talk loudly and to act mildly. When the
crisis came-when poor Lee marched into
Pennsylvania on that foolish campaign in
which he vainly looked for rising in his
favOr-GoveTnor Seymour so far disappointed
the expectations Of his friends, that they
openly cursed him for "gOing back on them"
as they phrased it. If Governor Seymour
had seen the authorities at Washington finch,
he might have been encouraged to carry out
the policy of opposition to the war. But
finding the Government firm, he wisely sue
cumbed. In fact, he may, perhaps, be called
the victim OF two circumstances, named Stan
ton and Dix.
But we do not think his record in the war,
in itself, of surprising importance, or even of
great consequence. We have discussed it
chiefly to show what manner of man Mr.. Sey-
mOur is; man OF an unsteady purpose; a
man who would keep the country in turmoil
and alarm, if he should become President;
who would keep alive the hopes of factionists,
as Mr., Johnson has done, by his words, and by
his less important acts; and who would yet, in
all robabity-unless he We're subject to the
influence of the more reckless Bar-disap-
point the factionists, just as Mr.. Johnson has
disappointed them.
| Now We believe that no greater harm could
! betall the country than to have, during the
| next four years. a President of this temper and
| spirit. What the country needs is peace,
| quiet, certainty, rest from political excite
mentor rather from political suspense. This
| il can have only under a President of agree
| able temper of firm will, and of simple, but
assured policy. "Let us have peace" wrote
Grant and that is the best and the sufficient
platform.
The nation needs a ruler in general sympa-
thy with what has been done one who will not
either tear up, or allow others to tear up,
! what has been painfully, and perhaps in some
cases blunderingly, accomplished, but yet is
actually done. 1t needs man who will with
firm, regular hand, with a sure eye, main
| tain peace and Order it requires, in fact a
captain of police-and the victor of Fort Don
elson, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Appomat-
tox Court House, the man who dispersed the
great Southern riot, is assuredly a more capa-
! BILE officer than he whose first impulse, when
forced to face a mutiny, was to coddle the
mutineers, and promise them that they should
have what they wanted.
1t is not the Northern States which would
be most injured by Mr.. Seymour's election to
the Presidency, but the Southern. It's of ex-
treme importance to the people of these States,
white or black, that society should proceed
there, hencetorth, upon regular and orderly
system. For ourselves We have not been
overly particular, as our readers know, what
that system should be, so long as all men were
alike free-alike in the equal enjoyment Of
rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap
piness. We have believed that, these things
granted all needial reforms would be surely
obtained.
But we see harm and danger, and only these
in any policy which would now overturn what
has been achieved and bring confusion anC
disorder where at last there is promise o
order and system. Therefore, we conceive
that even those who are not convinced tina
the Congressional policy OF reconstruction il
the wisest, should yet resist its overthrow
now that it has done its work. And the way
to do that is to vote for Grant, and agains
Seymour. For the election OF Grant mean
years more of wrangling, OF arrangement AM
disorder in our affairs; 1t means a vacillatini
policy a weak ruler; a man at the helm VIII
cannot keep the ship steady, and who ma.
mismanage and founder her.
The SecessiOnists in the Field-Their De
signs and Hopes.
| ny V