The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-07-17
To Correspondents,
FOR PRESIDENT aT
H0RATI0 SEYMOUR,
BEFORE and .afyen.

There is, sometimes, vast difference in
some mems opinions, before and after the
transporting of an event. This appears to be
the case with James Gordon Bennett, of the
New York Herald. Previous to the nomina-
ton by the National Democratic Convention
Of Mr. Seymour, and when the Herald re-
ss.ded the chances of Chief Justice Chase
s's nomination as better, or as good, as the
chances of any other candidate, he fully and
entirely endorsed the Democratic platform,
as laid down and adopted by the Conyen-
ton. Hear him. In the Herald of the Sth
of July, 1868, in speaking of the Democratic
platform, he says: o'a ~ <
"The platform of principles which was
adopted before the balloting commenced was
enthusiastically received. 1t is much more
explicit and direct on the negro suffrage
question, on taxing the bondholders, on the
payment of the debt in lawful money accord
ing to law, and on the atrocious policy of the
radical party in Congress, than was the first
draft of it as published yesterday. We de-
nounced 1t then as weak affair, but think
the committee has shown good sense in Civ
ing 1t more strength and directness. Still it
might have been more explicit on the amend
ments to the constitution in articles thirteen
and fourteen, which, after all, are the final
settlement of the negro suffrage question:
However, on the whole it is a good platform,
and in the main one which we have been ad-
vocating for long time. No one can COM
plain that 1t does not cover good deal of
ground, for II embraces oil the political ques-
tons Of the time" -. 10 a..
We have given above the opinion of the
Herald as to the platform of principles put
'orth BY the Convention. expressed one day
only before the nomination for President was
made. According TO Mr.. Bennett, the plat
form of principles was then all that any ra-
tional man ought tc require. While Mr..
Bennett thought the chances of the Chief
Justice good, he had no difficulty in under
standing and interpreting the meaning of the
Convention. So according to the Herald of
the date referred to above, at is much more
explicit and direct on the negro suffrage ques-
ton, on taxing the bondholders, on the pay
ment of the debt in lawful money according
TO law, and on the atrocious policy of the
radical rarts in Congress- than was the first
draft of it published yesterday. We denounc-
ed 1t then as aweak affair, but think the CON-
mittee has shown good sense in giving it
more strength and directness."
Since the nomination, however the Herald
can see but little good in the platform, and
no good at all in the Democratic party or its
candidates But It is not true as some of the
Republican papers would have US believe, that
the Herald has made desperate assault on
the platform since the nomination was made.
The article from the Herald which they pub
lish as having been written since the adop-
ton of the platform, does not refer to the
platform as adopted by the Convention, but
to draft offered by member of the Conven-
ton. and which was published before any &C
ton was had by the Convention as to reso-
lutions. 1t will be observed that in the ex-
tract from the Herulds commentator of the
Democratic platform, Mr.. Bennett refers to
the article which appeared in the Herald of
the day before, condemning this very draft.-
The condemnation appeared in the Herald
of Tuesday, the 9TH inst, and the article ap-
proving the platform adopted appeared on
Wednesday, the sth of July, 1868, one day
after the article copied by Republican
journals. But we win give the article itself;
and If the charge made in it against the
Republican party, is at all satisfactory to them,
we, Of course, do not complain. The Herald,
IL will be observed, in opposing The draft re-
ferred to, use this significant language
"They do not recognize the Fourteenth
Amendment, as the people demanded they
should; nor do they properly denounce the
barbarian, brutality and degradation of ne
gro political and social equality in the South
ern States" But here is the article referred to
which has no reference whatever to the pres.
ent Democratic platform, IL having been
written the day before the adoption, of the
platform. The article is as follows:
'aThe truth is, the New York Democracy
have broken faith with the conservative
masses and have shown themselves without
intelligence to grasp the situation or courage
TO vindicate their own position. Beginning
with Hoffman, and continuing on through
Seymour and Belmont down to poor Church,
they are all ignorant of the great lessons of
the past eight years, butting their copper
heads against the idea that the war was un-
constitutional, that Lincoln was unconstitu-
tional, that Congress is unconstitutional, and
that there is nothingin strict conformity with
the Constitution except JET. Davis, General
Lee, poor Pierce and the old Democratic or.
ganization, embracing Tammany Hall and
the Albany Regency. These men, after play
Ing fast and loose with Seymour, have now
hit upon the expedient ofnominating cotln.
try lawyer and Albany accountant as New
York's choice for the Presidency, in place of
Chief Justice Chase The platform, carried
n the pocket of one Of their numerous cam
didates for Governor, is as weak and wishy-
washy as their candidate. They do not re-
cocnize the Fourteenth Amendment, az the
people demanded they should, nor do they
properly denounce the barbarism, brutality
and degradation Of negro political and social
equality In the Southern States. They are
bold only in cheating and rascality, and timid
where courage 10 q virtue The result will
b that after exposing their own weakness
sns c0wardice they win become parties to q
platform as ssameaning % that Of the mon
Rrel Chicago Convention, and to o nominal
fion that win be miserably beaten in every
State Of the Union. Not q candidate they
have named at nds o chance Of success"