The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-25
Gen. Dix's Letter.

The following from our Minister to France
was sent to q friend OF the Generals in this
country, and published by his consent:
PANS, Sept. I, 1855.
Ny DEAR SIR: II was my hope that my dis
lance from home would have saved me from
all participation In the political excitement
prevailing there, but notice In one OF the
newspapers that am heart and hand with
the present or the past which could rightly
subject me to such an imputation. l have
been acquainted with Mt. Seymour more than
y quarter Of n century. lie is an amiable gem
tlcrian, Of unCXceptiOnablc private character
and respectable talents; but you know as well
as | that he has not a single qualification for
the successful execution OF the high official
trust to which he has been nominated, and he
10 cspecially deficient in that hrmncss of pur-
pusC which, in critical cmergencicP, iB the
only safeguard against public disorder and ca
lNmity. lie has been twice, at different times,
Governor Of the state Of New York, and he
has In neither case had the talent or the tact
to keep the Democratic party Of the state to-
gether more than two years.
/ should regard his election al ms yEHCiHrr,
TLcH sfcadHcss Of purPoir, decision and '.if-
control are so much needed, as one Of The grc0ieSi
,aldmtiCS that could LCfdN he country.
Moreover, he has been put in nomination by
a convention which has openly declared the
uurposc OF those II represents to pay the
greater part Of the public debt, contracted to
such measure would, In my judgment, be u
pnlrable violation Of the public faith, pledged
under circumstances which should have been
binding on all honorable men.
Mr. Seymour has made public speeches to
show that II is our duty to pay the debt in
spccc. In accepting his nomination to the
Presidency he adopts the declaration that 1t
ought to be paid in paper know nothing so
humiliat!ng in the history Of American poll
ties as this regeneration. It was, perhaps,
not unfit that Mr. Seymour, after presiding,
In lst4, over the Chicago convention, which
| declared the war n failure, should preside over
the convention Of lSGs, In which proposition
to discTeilt ihe debt contracted to carry on
the war was received with tremendous cheer
ing and that he should be the chosen instru-
mcnt to execute this act Of turpitude.
do not believe that the wishes or opinions
of the great body OF the Democratic party are
fairly expressed in these proceedings. They
have nothing In common with the statesman.
like views OF policy and the high sense OF
national honor which guided the party when
| Wright, Lewis Cas-, and stephen A. Douglas
were among its most conspicuous members.
| Iscc but one source Of safety. for he CouH'rJ
under rri,iihg CirCumaidHcCS and the, Is The clcC
ton Of Gen. Grant. On his decision oT ChGrdc
ter good sense, moderation and disiricrCS'cd pa
! i,IOiism, JS'i,rc he South rW hare a far b'h,,
| bnpr Of rFgcitUg The position In The tn.OH Il
trEih il Is cnihlci, hTn Efp a nan lrho'c 10
IRicdi CurGCr. has been n nothing more coaIpic
rouIy mGrEci MGH In an utter i"Grmhy Of Prr
independently Of all these considerations
should be greatly surprised If the people of tn,
United States were TO elect rs their Chic
Magistrate man VINO WAS mhklhg, ~ IN
Academy of Music, on the 9Th Of July, 1868,
speech deficient in the characteristics OF al
elevated love of country, at the very hou
when Gen. Grant was carrying the victoriOu
arms OF the Union into Nicksburg, and wheI
thousands Of our fallen countfymcn were pour
ing out their blood on the plains Of Gettys
burg in defence Of their homes and the Gov
eminent which Mr. seymour was doing all Il
his power to embarrass and discTedit
am quite willing that you should shoN
this letter TO any friends who may take an 1t
tcTcst in my opinion in regard to the comm
election; and ] am particularly DESTROYS {
removing the impression (if II exists) that
am in favor of Mr.. seymour or the rcpudiI
tiOn OF any portion Of the public debt
am, dear sir, very truly yours,
(Signed) JouS A. DIX.