Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-09-25
GEN. DIN on POLITICS.


MS OPINION OF sEYSaoUR-N0r eNt c-ifIrcA-
TON FOR PRESIDENT.
Gen. Dix the American Minister 10 Paris, las
s-ut the following letter to a friend in y Y city.
1t N4s not written for publication, but the gen
teman @ whom it was addressed, has consented
to give it 10 tbe public.
PANS. Sept (.
Ny DEAR SIR 1t was my hope that NY
distance from home Wouli have saved me from
all participation in the polits2i excitement pr
Yailing there but | noticed in one # the news
papers that | am hear; and hand witt Mr. Sey-
mo,y. am not aware Of anything in the pro
sent OF the past which could rightfully subject
me to such Al imputation. have been acquain;-
ed with AR. Seymour more than quarter Ola
century He ) ~ amiable gentleman Of I'M
questionable private character and respectable
talents, but YOU know ~ vel as | that he has
not single qualification for lis successful execu-
tion = the high and official Ir,Rt e which he
has been nominated, and lie is especially 6sGeeut
in that hrmness OF purpose which in grir,si
emergencies ia Tie only safeguard! lie has been
twice, at different times, Governor Of the State
Of New York. and IL has in neither case had the
talent or the tact to KEEP the Democratic party
af the State together more Than two years. |
should regard his election Il tsis juncture, when
steadiness OF purpose, decision aal self-cont.d
are 50 much needed, rs one II the grpstes; CALI
mites that could befall the country. NOreoye:
he has been nut in nomination 10y Convention
which has openly declared The purpose Of tho-e
it represents, to pay the greater part Of the pub
j. debt, contracted TO preserve the Union, IN de-
presiated paper
Sue measure would in my judgment be n
palpable violation Of the public faith pledged
under circHa,stanees which should have been
binding on all honorable men. Mr.. Seymour
has made public speeches to show that 1t is cur
duty to pay the debt in specie. In accepting
his nomination to the PreslLHcy he ado Is
the declaration that it ought to be psd in paper.
know nothing 50 humiliating in the history Z
American politics rs this regeneration. Ity2s
perhaps not unit that Mr.. Seymour after prcsi-
ding in 1864 over the Chicago Convention which
declared the war failure should preside over
the convention OF 1875 IL which a proposition 20
discredit the debt contracted 10 carry on the VAR
was received with a tremendous cheering " and
tilat he should be the chosen instrument to
execute this act OF national turpitnde, DO not
believe that the wishes or opinions Of the g4it
body q the democratic party are expressed IL
these ps1seedings. They have nothing in commoI
with the statesman Ike views Of policy and the
high sense n hslonal honor which guided the
party when MARIN Van Buren,, VIM. L. Yancey
Silas Wright, Lewis Cass and Stephen \. Dou-
glass were among its most conspicuous members.
see but one source ii sA6ety for the country
Hnder existing circumstances and that Is the
alestion of Gen. Grant. On his teeision Of cha
faeter. good sense, moderation and d-ipterested |
pGtriotsm, believe the South viii have far
better hqss Of regaining the position in the ! nsn
to which it y entitled than under a nan whose !
political career las been in nothing more cons I
picuoudy marked tsan in an utter infImity OF /
purpose
independently OF ID these considerations, | /
should he greatly surprised i the people of the .
limited States were to elect Us tier chief magis-
trate man who was making at the Academy of
Music. on the 18th Of July 1863, speech deficient
in all the characteristics of an elevated love of
country at the very hour when Gen Grant was
CARRYING the victorious arms of the Union into
and when thousands of our country
men were pouring out their blood on the plains
Of Gettysburg, in defense Of their homes and
the government which Seymour was doing all in
his power to embarrass and discre'iif. ! am quite
willing that you should show thi, letter to any