Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-10-10
General Dix on Gov. Seymour.

General Dix, the American Minister
to France, sends the following letter to
a friend in n. 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.
'EMY DEAR SIR 1t was my hope that
my distance from home would have
saved me from all participation in the
political excitement prevailing there;
but I notice in one, of the newspapers
that | am heart and hand with Mr.. Sey-
mour. l am not aware of anything in
the present or the past which could
rightiully subject me to such an impu-
tation. L have been acquainted with
Mr. Seymour more than quarter of a
century. els an amiable gentleman of
unexceptionable private character, and
respectable talents, but you know as wei
as that lie has not single qualification
for the successful execution of the high |
official trust to which he has been nomi-
mated and he is especially deficient in
that firmness Of purpose which, in critic
al 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. l should regard
his election at this ajuncture, when steadi
ness of purpose, decision anu selfcontrol
are go much needed, as one of the great
est calamities that could befah the
country. ......-..r ...... II
Moreover he has been put in nomina-
ton by convention which has openly
declared the purpose Of those it repre-
sents to pay the greater part of the debt
contracted to preserve the Union, in de
preciated paper. Such measure in my
Judgment would be palpable violation
of the public faith, pledged under circum-
stances which should have been binding
on all hanorabe men. Seymour has
made public speeches to show that it is
our duty to pay the public debt in specie.
In accepting his nomination to the
Presidency, he adopts the deolaI alton
that it ought to, be paid in paper.
know nothing so humiliating in the his
tory of American politics as this tergi-
yersation. 1t was, perhaps, not unit
that Mr. Seymour, after presiding in
1864, over the Chicago Convention
which declared the war failure, should
preside over the Convention of 1865, in
which proposition to discredit the debt
contracted TO carry on tile war, was re-
ceivcd with tremendous cheering, and
that He should be the chosen instrument
to execute this act of national terpitude.
| do not believe that the wishes or
opinions of the great body of the dem
ocratic party are fairly expressed in
those proceedings.
g I see Jm one coarse Of safety for The
country auacler eristing circumstances, and
that as, tie election of Grant. On his
decision OF character, good sense, mod
Grafton, and disinterested patriotism, /
believe the south will have a far better
hope of regaiIIing the position In the
Union to which it is entitled, than un-
der man whose political career has
been, in nothing more conspicuously
marked than in an utter infirmity of pur-
pose. independently OF all these consid-
erations, | should be greatly surprised Il
the people of the United States were to
select as their Chief Magistrate man
who was making, at the Academy OF
Music, on the 4th of July '63, a speech de
fcient in all the characteristics OF an ele-
waited love of country, at the very hour
when Gen. Grant was carrying the VIC
torious arms of the Union into Vicksburg
and when thousands of our fellow eoun-
trymen were pouring out their blood on
the plains of Gettysburg, in defense 9l
their homes and the. Government WhicD
Mr.. Seymour was doing all III his power
to embarrass and discredit.a, g1H
Lam 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 | am particularly
desiIo8s of removing the impression, if it
exists. that I am in favor of Mr.. Seymour
or the Reputation ot.any portion Of the
public debt. -.-
am, sir, very truly yours,
-. JOHN A. DIX.
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