The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-10-02

/, why Horatio Seymour Ought not
y an be President.
A Square and Decisive Rpistlt
u es .-.Ie.i nllpJ- .1'a-r {jut
= 7Af-H New York, Sep. %
General Dix, the American Mir
lister to France, has sent the fOllowin
letter to friend in this city. 1t wa
not written for publication, but tn
gentleman to whom it was addresse
| has consested to give it to the pull
lie: lHiei>lI .iI t.d 300 ."iHp
/ l.r .rn Paris. Sep. 4, 1S6S.
"MY DEAR SIR;-It was my hop
that my distance from home wsul
have saved me from all participation
in the political excitement prevailin,
, there; but / notice in one of tn
newspapers that am heart and han'
with Mr.. Seymour. i am not awar,
Of anything in the present or the pas
which could rightfully subject me Il
such an imputatiOn. have beer
acquainted with Mr.. Seymour mol
than quarter of century. He i.
an amiable gentleman Of unexcept
iOnable private character, and re
spectacle talents, but you know as
we'll as i that he has not single
qualification for the successful exc
cutiOn OF the high official trust to
which he has been nominated; and
he is especially deficient in that firm.
ness OF purpose which, in critical
emergencies is the only safeguard
against public disorder and calamity.
He has been twice, at different times,
Governor of the State OF New York,
and he has in neither case had talent
or tact to keep the Democratic party
together more than two years.
should regard his election at this
juncture, when steadiness OF purpose,
decision and self-eontrol are 20 much
needed, as one Of the greatest ealam-
tiles that could befsll the country.
Moreover, he has been put in NOM
ination by q Convention which has
openly declared the purpose OF those
il representa-. to pay the greater part
OF the debt, contracted to preserve
the Union, in deprecated paper
Such q measure would in my judg-
msnt be . palpable violation of the
public faith, pledged under eircum-
stances which should have been bind
ing on all honorable men. Sey-
mour has made public speeches to
show that it is our duty to pay the
debt in specie. In accepting his
to the Presidency, he
adopts the declaration that it ought
to be paid in paper. i know nothing
10 lhumihating in the history OF
politics as this tergiyersa-
tion. 1t was, perhaps, not unit that
MIR. Seymour, after presiding, in |
1854, over the Chicago Convention,
1hieR declared tn -4aE.afAilaEa.
the debt contracted to carry
ON the war, was received with ire
cheering, and that he should
be the chosen instrument to execute
this act OF national turpitnde. 1 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 |
with the statssmsnlike views
OF policy and the high sense OF ma
tional honor which guided the party,
when Martin Van Buren, VIM, L.
Yancey, Silas Wright, Lewis Cass and
Stephen A. Douglas were among the |
most conspicuous membeIs, -
d. 1 see but e,is sosirce Of safety for
the country under erisiing .eircam5
stances, and that as, The election of
General Grant, On his decision ofi
character, good sense, moderation,
and dIsinterested patriotism, be-
lIeye the South will have far better
hope OF regaining the position in the |
Union to which it is entitled, than
under man whose political career
has been in nothing more conspicn-
oasly marked than in an utter infirm-
ity of purposs. Independently of
all these considerations, l should be
greatly surprised if the people of the
United States were to select as their |
Chief Magistrate man who was
making, at the Academy OF Music,
on the 4thi of July 1858, .aspeeeh
deficient in all the characteristics OF
an elevated love of country, at the
very hour when General Grant was
carrying the victorious arms Of the
Union into Vicksburg, and when
thousands OF our fellow -cOuntrymenI
were pouring out their blood on the
plains Of Gettysburg, in defense of
their homes and the Government
soAieA Mr.. Seymour Was doing all en-
his pOaOer to enibasrass and disereait.
81 am quite willing you should
show this letter to any friends who
may take an interest in my opinion
in regard to the coming election, and
l am particularly desirous Of remoy-
ing the impression, if 1t exists, that
am in favor of Mr.. Seymour, or the
repudiation of any portion Of the
public debt. =, ''Ai,1n '''.
81 am, sir, very truly yours. E.a
.al as. stN IsrJoHs A. piH- ir.