The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-10-15
-. -
seeretary ReWard.
from ale Promasnes (Is. % .Journal.

/ II = = tSetS+SftSS k4bs al OVAE1tdts
How much truth there may be in
the speculation upon Mr.. Stewards po-
sttion, and upon the conferences which
he has held with the President, we have
mo means of knowing; nor DOVE sup.
pose That the correspondents who pro-
less 10 give the private conversation be-
tween them with the accuracy of pho.
tographtc reporter have any exclusive
or definite information upon thematter.
Yet, from Mr.. Seward's antecedents,
and from his character, we do not be.
llieYe that lie will 20 back upon his re.
cord and give his support to a platform
that was made to suit the rebels, and
10 q candidate who was nominated to
secure the rebel votes. However wide
nave been the unfortunate differences
between Mr.. Seward and those with
whom he has acted, up to the time OF
dr. Johnaon'S dsfeclion, we have never
doubted, history will not doubt, his
patriotism and his broad nationality.
de intensely desires the restoration and
reconstruction OF the Union; and has
undoubting confidence in its final
achievement. No man has broader
views of the future of this country; and
he doubtless thinks that in the fidelity
with which he has adhered to its integ
rity, in the measures which he has ia
Ken for the enlargement of its bounda-
rtes, will be found the vindication of
much that cannot now be explained,
No man but himself can tell how
much of personal sacrifice he has made;
and no man can tell how much the
country has benefited by his prudent
management of our foreign relations;
how he has stood at bay against form
liable foreign combinations; how he
has manged through delicate and diff
cult foreign complications; how, with
all Europe against us except one great
Power, he has kept us from rupture
with any of them, till the time has come
when ali of them that wished for our
destruction are competing for our
friendship. In all this, he has been
obliged to do many things that were
not agreeable to himself, and that he
could not stop to explain. He preferred
to encounter public odium, rather than
to endanger the public safety. II he
has erred in the measures which he
would take for the restoration of the
Government; If he has been compelled,
at the risk of sacrificing his power OF
usefulness, to acquiesce in a policy that
he did not wholly approve, he has not
swerVed in his devotion to the integrity
of the Union, nor even for a moment
questioned it. 1t was favorite saying
of his that he would rather undertake
to bring the whole continent into the
Union than to keep one State out oflt.
With such purposes, and such views,
it would seem impossible that MIR. Se-
ward could fail to see, in the Repub-
lican candidate, the man who is the se-
lected Instrument for the complete res
toration of the Union, the man who has
in his own character. and in the popular
confidence the elements of success in
that great consqmmation which Mr..
Seward SO earnestly desires. Whatever
sanZuine partisans might have thought
at one time, the idea of uniting the
country on such man ss Seymour, and
on such platform as that platform at
New York, cannot, in the face OF the
developments all over the country
commend itself to a rational observer.
Mr.. Blair, who is TO be the President, II
Seymour is elected, has declared in the
beginning that his plan is not one of
reconstruction, but Of distractions; that
the first thing for Democratic Presi-
dent 20 do will be to order out the
military, to prevent the enforcement of
certain laws of Congress. With no in
formation on the subject, other than
that which is open TO every observer of
political events, we do not hesitate 10
give our opinion that Mr.. Stewards
sympathies are With Gen. Grant for
the reconstruction OF the Union, as his
pen was with the sword of Grant for
lis defence.