The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-09-03
THE PRESIDENCY.

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THE PRESIDENCY.
Horatio Seymour's Letter Accepting the |
Democratic Nomination.
The: following is Horatio SeymourIs
acceptance of the Democratic nomina-
ton for the Presidency
g s5 UTIcA, n. Y, Aug. 4, '69.
N(fENTLEMEN: when IN the city of
New Y ork, on the 11th ult., in pres
ence of vast multitude, on behalf of
the National Democratic Convention,
you rendered to me the unanimous
nomination as their candidate for the
Office of President OF. the United
States, L stated I had no words ade-
.qliate to express my gratitude for the
good will and kindness which that
body had shown me. Its nomination
was unsought and unexpected. 1t
was my ambition to take an active
part, from which 1 am now excluded,
III the great struggle now going on for
the restoration of good government,
of peace and prosperity to our coun-
try. But have been caught up by
the whelm1ng tide which is bearing us
on to a great political change, and l
find myself unable to resist the pres
sure.
You have also given me copy of
the resolutions put forth by the Con-
vention, showing its position upon all
the great questions Whieh..noW agitate
the country. As the presiding officer
of that Convention, am familiar with
their scope and import. AS one of its
members, am party to their terms !;
they are in accoreance with my views,
and, stand upon them in the contest
upon W wlfieh-we arC- Now entering :;
and shall strive to carry them out in
future, wherever / may be placed, in
political OF private life. | then stated
that I would send you these words of
acceptance in letter, as is the custom
ary, form. a. Ind III -,If.
hi l have, delayed the mere formal ac-
ton of communicating to you in
writing, what 1 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 Conven-
ton show an alarm, lest a change of
political power viii give the people
what they ought to haYe-a clear state
ment 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 management which
have 4,been kept from. the pub
/ lie knowledge. The Congressional
party has not only allied itself with
the military power which is to be
brought to- bear directly updH the
elections in many States, but. holds
itself in perpetual session with the
IiaEoWed purpose of making such laws
as it shall see fit, in view of the cleo
tiensi which will take place, within q
few weeks. 1t did, therefore, not ad-
journ, but took a recess, to meet again
if its partisan interests shall demand
its reassembling. Never before in the
history of our country has Congress
thus taken a mepacing attitude toward
the electors. Under its influence pro-
posing to deprive the people of, the
right to vote for PFesiden tial Electors,
and the first bold steps are, taken! to
destroy the rights of suffrage. n....
bd'It is not strange, therefore, that
thoughtful 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 political
power; that there is a dread of some
Exposure which drives them on to acts
So desperate and SO, imp9itic: Many
|, of the ablesti leaders and Journals of
the republican party haYe openly de-
tplared the violence of Congressional
action and its tendency to keep up
| dscord in our country. .s..,.lI
l. r., The great interests of our Union de-
mand peace and order, and return to
those international pursuits, without
which we Gannet maintain the faith. or
| honor of our Government. The minds
! of business me4lTare peFpfe8ed by uti+
ceFtainties; The hours Of toll of our
labofers are heightened blythe costs
bofiliying, made by the direct and in
} Direct 4eNactiops' of the government.
hOur,people aGee harassed by the fire.
auept demands of the tax ,gatherer,
Without distinction of party, there is
"a, strong feeling in favor of that line of
of action which shall restore or
der and confidence, and shall; lift off
the burdens ,Whiohl now hinder and
.vex the the industry of this country.
Yet, at this moment, those in power
have thrown into the Senate chamber
| and Congressional hall new elements
of discord and violence. Men have
been admitted as Representatives of
some of the Southern States with the
declaration upon their lips that they
| cannot live in the States they claim to
lPeprese1@t without military protection.
These men are to make laws for the
/ n orth as Mell,as South. The men who
a few days since, were seeking as sup
plants that. Congress would give them
| power within their respective States,
are here, to-day the controllers of the
actions of these bodies entering them
| with minds filled with -guesIians and
| demands That Congress shall look up.
I OH the States from which they come
rs in a condition of civil war that the
majesity Of theta population, enz
bracing their Intelligence, shall be
treated as public enemies; that the
new state of things shall be kept up at
the cost of the people of the North,
and that there shall be no peace and
order at the South, save that which is
made by arbitrary power. Every in
telligent man knows that they not
only owe their present Positions to
disprderq but that every motive
springing from the love of power, of
gain, of a Qesipe for yongenee, prompts
Them to. keep the South in anarchy.
While that exists they areindependent
of the will OH the wishes of their fel=
luW eitizens.9 While confusion reigns
btlley are the dispensers of the profits
and the ehonors which grow out of a
government of mere force. iaIgaG 6
IiTaThese'men are now placed in posi-
ti0ns where they cannot only urge
theirEiews of politics, but where they
can enforce them. When there shall
/ he Iadmittedih this manner members
from the remaining Southern States,
although they will haye, in truth, no
Ienonstituents, they will have more
yotesin the Senate thana majority of
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