The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-19


is the Hon. Horatio Seymour's acceptanc
OF the Democratic nomination for the pres
idency
UTICA, August 4, 1868.
| Genttemen-When in the city of Nev
York, on the 18th ult., in the presence o
a vast multitude, on behalf of the Nationa
Democratic Convention, you rendered tt
me its unanimous nomination as their can
didate for the Office of president of the Uni
ted States, ! stated l had no words ade
quate to express my gratitude for the goos
will and kindness which bhat body hat
shown to me. It's nomination was un
sought and unexpected.
1t was my ambition to take an active
part, from which I am now excluded, in
the great struggle going on for the restora
ton ola good government. of peace ani
prosperity to our country but I have
been caught up by the whelming tide which
is bearing US on to great political change
and l find myself unable to resist it's pres.
sure
You have also given me copy of the
resolutions put forth by the convention
showing its position upon all the great
questions which now agitate the country.
AS tine presiding officer of that conven-
ton, l am familiar with .heir scope and
import; as one ofits members, am par
ty to their terms. They are in accord with
my views, and stand upon them in the
contest upon which we are now entering
and | shall strive to carry them out in fa-
tnre wherever may be placed, in political
or private life. l then stated would send
you these words of acceptance in letter,
as is the customary form.
I see no reason, upon reflection, to
change or qualify the terms of my approval
of The resolutions of the convention. |
have delayed the mere formal act Of COM
municating to you in writing what I thus
publicly said, for the purpose Of seeing
what light the action of Congress would
throw upon the interests of the country.
Its acts, since the adjournment of the con-
vention, show an alarm lest change of
political power will give to the people
what they ought to have-a clear statement
of what has been done with the money
drawn from them during the past eight
years. Thoughtful men feel that there
have been wrongs in the financial manage
ment which have been kept from the pub
lie knowledge. The congressional party
has not only allied itself with military pow
er, which is to be brought to bear directly
upon the elections in many States, but
holds itself in perpetual session with the
avowed purpose of making such laws as it
shall see lit.
In view of the elections which will take
place within few weeks, it did, therefore,
not adjourn, but took recess, to meet
again, if its partisan interests shall demand
its re-assembing. Never before in the
history of our country has Congress thus
taken a menacing attitude towards it's cleo
tors. Under its influence some of the
States organized by its agents are propos-
ing to deprive the people of thesright to
vote for presidential electors, and the first
bold steps have been taken to destroy the
rights Of suffrage.
1t is not strange, therefore, that thought
full men see in such action the proof that
there are, with those who shape the policy
of the Republican party, motives stronger
and deeper than the mere wish to hold po-
litical power; that there is dread of some
exposure which drives them on to acts so
desperate and SO impolitic.
Many of the ablest leaders and journals
of the Republican party have openly de-
plored the violence of Congressional action
and its tendency to keep up discord in our
country. The great interests ofour Union
demand peace, order, and return to those
international pursuits without which we
cannot maintain the faith or honor of our
government. The minds of business men
are perplexed by uncertainties the hours
of toll Of our laborers are heightened by
the cost of living, made by the direct and
indirect exactions ofgoveriment our peo-
pie are harassed by the frequent demands
of the tax gatherer.
Without distinction of party there is
stroug feeling in favor ofthat line of action
which shall restore order, and confidence,
and shall lift off the burdens which now
hinder and vex the industry ofthe country.
Yet, at this moment, those in power have
thrown into the Senate chamber and Con-
gressional hall, n new element of discord
and violence. Men have been adLlitted as
representatives of the Southern States,
with the declaration upon their lips, that
they cannot live in the States they claim
to represent without military protection.
These men are to make laws for the
North as we'll as the South these men,
who few days since were seeking as sup
plants, that Congress would give them
power within their respective States, are
to-day the controllers OF the action Of these
bodies, entering them with minds filled
with questions and demands that Congress