The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-10-01
GENERAL DIX.
He IndorSes General Grant and DenOun,
ces the Democratic Candidates and
Policy.

Ces the Democratic Candidates and
/ Policy.
General Dix, the American Minister
to Paris, has sent the following letter to
friend in New York 1t was not writ
ten for publication, but the gentleman to
whom it was addressed has consented to
give it to the public =
Paris, Sept. 4, 186S.-My Dear Sir {:
1t was my hope that my distance from
home would have saved me from all par
ticipation in the political excitement pre-
vailing there. But | notice in one of the
newspapers that am heart and hand with
Mr. Seymour. | am not aware of any
thing in the present or the
past which could rightfully subject me
to such an imputation.
l have been acquainted with Mr. Sey-
mour more than quarter of century.
lie is an amiable gentleman, of unexcep-
tionable private character, and respecta-
Bile talents. But you know as well as l
that he has not single qualification for
the successful execution of the high of
fetal trust to which he has been nomina-
ted, and he is especially deficient in that
frmness of purpose which in critical en-
ergencies is the only safeguard against
public disorder and calamity. He has
been twice at different times Governor of
the State of New York, and has in neither
case had the talent or the tact to keep the
Democratic party of the State together
more than two years. should regard
his election at this juneture, when stead
iness of purpose, decision and self fcontrol
are so much needed, as one of the great
est calamities that could befall the coun-
try. Moreover, he has been put in nom-
ination by Convention which has open
ly declared the purpose of those it repre-
sents to pay the greater part of the pub
lie debt, contracted to preserve the Union
in deprecated paper.
Such measure would, In my judg-
ment, be palpable violation of the pub
lie faith, pledged under circumstances
which should have been binding on all
honorable men. Mr.. 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. | know nothing so hu-
initiating in the history of American poll
tics as this tergiversation. 1t was, per-
haps, not unfit that Mr.. Seymour, after
presiding in 1864 over the Chicago Con-
vention, which declared the war failure,
should preside over the Convention of
1868, in which proposition to discredit
the debt contracted to carry on the war
was received with tremendous cheering"
and that he should be the chosen instru-
ment to execute this act Of national tur-
pitude.
! do not believe that the wishes or
opinions of the great body of the Demo
cratic party are fairly expressed in these
proceedings. They have nothing in COM
mon with the statesmanlike views of pol
icy and the high sense of national honor
which guided the party when Martin
Van Buren, William l.. Marcy, Silas
Wright, Lewis Cass and Stephen a.
Donglas were among its most conspicuous
members. | see but one source of safety
for the country under existing circum-
stances, and that is the election of Gen
eral Grant. On his decision Of character,
good sense, moderation and disinterested
patriotism, believe the South will have
a far better hope of regaiuing the posi-
ton In the Union to which it is entitled,
than under man whose political career
has been in nothing more conspicuously
marked than in an utter inirimity of pur-
pose
Independently of all these considera-
tions, L should be greatly surprised if
the people of the United States were to
elect as their Chief Magistrate man who
was making, at the Academy of Music,
on the 4th of July, 1868, speech def
cient in all the characteristics of an ele-
waited love Of country, at the very hour
when General Grant was carrying the
victorious arms of the Union into Vicks-
burg, and when thousands ef our fallen
countrymen were pouring out their blood
on the plains of Gettysburg, in defense
of their homes and the government, which
Mr.. Seymour was doing all in his power
to embarrass and discredit
| am quite willing that you should
show this letter to any friends who may
take an interest in my opinion in regard
to the coming election, and | am parti-
cularly desirous of removing the impress
sion, if it exists, that am in favor of
Mr.. Seymour, or the reputation of any
portion of the public debt.
am, dear sir, very truly yours,
JOHN a. DIX.
The Pittsburg Post, leading Demo
cratic orpan hoasfs that its porty has