The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-10-01
LETTER FROM GEN. JOHN A. DIX.
TE COnEs OUT Strong FOB GRANT.
Why HOratio Seymour Ought
Not To BE President.
A saUARE AND DECISIVE Rrrs.
Tile. -.

General Dix, the American Min
lister to France, has sent the fol.
lowing letter to q friend 10 New
York. 1t was not written for
publication, but the gentleman to
whom it was addressed has con
sented to give it TO the public:
PARIS, September 4, 1863.
My DEAR Sin: 1t was my hope
that my distance from home would
have saved me from all participu
tion in the political excitement
prevailing there; but | notice in
ono Of tho newspapers tia.
| am heart and hand with
Mr. Seymour. am not aware
OF anything in the pre-
sent or the past which could right
fully subject me to such an impu
tation. | bave been acquainted
with Mr.. Seymour more than a
quarter of century. lie is an
amiable gentleman, of unexcep.
tionablc private character ard re.
talents; but you know ae
well us | that he bus not single
qualification for the successful ex
ecut'on Of the high official trust to
which he has been nominated; and
he is especially deficient in that
frmness Of purpose which, in crit.
ical emergencies, is the only safe.
guard against public disorder and
calamity. He has been twice, OF
different times, Governor of the
State of New Yoik, and he has in
neither case had talent or tact to
keep the Democratic party OF the
State together mere than two
years. lshouId regard his election
at this juncturc, VIXEN stcadiness
OF purpose, decision ami self con.
tro! are so much needed, as one oi
the greatest ca!amities that could
bciall the country.
Moreover, he has been put in
nomination by Convention which
has openly declared tue purpose Of
those it represents TO pay the
greater part OF the public debt.
contracted to preserve the Union
in deprecated paper. Such a
measure would,in wyjudgemenl, be
a palpable violation OF the public
fuith pledged under circumstances
which should have been building
on all honorable men. Seymour has
made public speeches To show that
it is our duty to pay the debt in
specie. In accepting his nomina,
tion to the Presidency he adopts
the declaration that it ought to be
paid in paper. / know nothing SC
humiliating in the history ol
American politics as this tergiver.
sation. 1t was, perhaps, not unfit
that NJ Seymour, after presiding
in 1864, over the Chicago Convcn
tion, which declared the war a
failure, should preside over the
Convention o. 1868, in which o
proposition 10 discredlt the deb
contracted to carry on the war was
received with tremendous cheering
and that he should be tho chosen
instrument to execute this act o.
national tuipitude. | do not be
lieve that the wishes or opinion!
OF the great body of the Democrali,
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 Martin
Van Buren,, VIM l.. Marcy, Silat
Wright, Lewis Cass and Slepher
A, Douglas were among the mos
conspicuous members.
l see but one source of safety fol
the country under the oXistin!
circumstances, and that is, the elec
tion of General Grant. On his
decision of character, good sense
moderation. and disinterestea pa
triotism, | believe the South vii
have a far better hope cfregaininl
the .positionrin the Union to whicl
it is entitled, than under a mar
whose political career has been il
nothing more conspicpOusly mark
cd than an utter infrmity OF pur
pose. Independently Of all thest
considerations, IshouId be great.
surprised if the people OF tue Uult
ed States were to elect as theiI
chief magistrate a man who wa
making. at tho Academy of Music
on the 4th of July, 1858, a speech
deficient in all the characteristics
of an elevated love of country, a
the very hour when Gen. Grant wa
carrying the victorious arms OF th'
Union into Vicksburg, and wheT
thousands of our fellow country
men were pouring out their bloo'
on the plains of Gettysburg, in dc
tense of their homes and the Gov
ernment, which Mr.. Seymour wa
doing all in his power to embarras
and diseredit. saag
lam quite willing you shoul'
show this letter 10 any friend
who may take an interes
in my opinion in regard t
the coming election, and. | am par
ticularly deslrous of removing th
impression, if IL exists, that | an
in favor Of Mr.. Seymour, or the re
pudiation OF any portion OF the pub
lie debt. arm, sir, very truly yours
JouN A. DIX.
-------.Sss-.--,,-----
The "whelming tide" of whic
Seymour spoke in his letter OF ac
ceptance doesn't whelm any t
speak Of in Vermont. See electio
returns. - SdnduSky Reg.