The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-10-03
General Dix ON Seymour.

General Dix ON Seymour.
General Dix, the American Minister to
Paris, has sent the following letter to a
friend in New York. 1t was not written for
publication, but the gentleman to whom it
was addressed has consented to give it to
the public:
PARIS, Sept. 4. 1868.
MY DEAR SIR: 1t was my hope that my
distance from home would have saved me
from all participation in the political ex-
element prevailing there. But notice in
one of the newspapers that am heart and
hand with Mr.. Seymour. l am not aware
of anything in the present or the past which
could rightfuly subject me to such an impu-
tation.
| have been acquainted with Mr.. Sey-
mour more tkan quarter Of centuly.-
He is an amiabe gentleman, of unexcep-
tionable private character, and respectable
talents. But you know as well as that he
has not single qualification for the sue
cessfull execution of the high official trust
to which he has been nominated, and he is
especially deficient in that frmness of pur-
pose 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 the TALENT or
the tact to keep the Democratic party ofthe
State together more than two years. |
should regard his election at this juncture,
when steadiness of purpose, decision, and
selfcontrol are so much needed, as one of
the greatest calam;ies that could befall the
country. Moreover. he has been put in
nomination by convention which has open
ly declared the purpose Of those itrepresen;s
to pay the greater part of the public debt,
contracted to preserve the Union, in depre-
ciated paper. Such measure would, in my
Judgment, be a palpable violation Of the
public faith, pledged under circumstances
which should have been binding on all hon
orable men. Mr.. Seymour has made pub
lie speeches to show that it is our duty to pay
the debt in specie. In accepting his nomi-
nation to the Presidency he adopts the dec
laration that it ought to paid in paper. |
know nothing so humliating in the history
of American politics as this regeneration.
1t was, perhaps, not unfit that Mr. Seymour,
after presiding, in 1864, over the Chicago
Convention, which declared the war a fail
ure, should preside over the convention of
1868, in which proposition to discredit the
debt contracted to carry on the war was re-
ceived with tremendous cheering,' and
that he should be the chosen instrument to
execute this act of national turptude.
do not believe that the wishes Or opin-
ions of the great body Of the Democratic
party are fairly expressed in these proceed
ings. They have nothing in common with
the statesmanlike views of policy and the
high sense of national honor which guided
the party when Martin Van Buren,, William
L. Marcy, Silas Wright, Lewis Cass, and
Stephen A. Douglas were among its most
conspicuous members. see but one source
of salty for the country under existing Cir
cumstances, and that is the election of Gen
eral Grant. On his decision of character,
good sense, moderation, and disinterested
patriotism, believe the South will have a
far better hope of regainins the position in
the Union to which it is entitled, than I'M
der a man whose political career has been in
nothing more conspicuousy marked than in
an utter infirmity of purpose.
. Independently of all these considerations,
l should be greatly surprised if TIE people
of the United States were to elect rs their
Chief Magistrate man who was making,
at the Academy of Music, ON the 4th of
July. 1858, speech deficient in all the char
acteristics of an elevated love of country,
and the very hour when General Grant was
carrying the victorious arms of the Union
into Vicksburg, and when thousands Of our
fallen countrymen were pouring out their
blood on the plains of Gettysburg, in de-
fence of their homes and the Government,
which Mr. Seymour was doing all in his
power to embarrass and discredit.
am quite willing that you should show
this letter to any friends who may take in
terest in my opinion in regard to the COM
ing election, and am particularly DESTROYS
of removing the impression, if it exists, that
l am in favor of Mr.. Seymour, or the repu
diation of any portion of the public debt.
am, dear sir, very truly yours,
JoHS \. DIX
This letter Of General Dix is a valuable
contribution to the good cause. He was
chairman of the celebrated Bread and But
ter Convention, which met in Philadelphia
on the 14th Of August, 1866, and was, per
haps, the most formidable attempt ever
made to overthrow the Republican party.