Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-31
The Baltimore Meeting-Lstter from NJ
Stuart.

stuart.
The Baltimore meeting was grand
affair. Letters were read from many
distinguished gentlemen. Among the
letters none was superior 10 the follow
ing from A. Fl. 81. Stuart, Esq:
STANTON. VIRGINIA, July 20. 1858.
GEsrLEMsS: / have had the honor to
receive your letter of the 18th instant,
inviting me to take part in meeting of
the Democratic Conservative citizens of
MARYLAND, TO be held in Monument
Suuare. in the city of Baltimore, on
Thursday evening the 23d instant, for
the purpose ofratifying the nominations
of Seymour and Blair.
regret that my business en- gagements
compel me to deny myself the pleasure
of being with you on thst occasion. /
cordially concur IN the objects Of the
meeting, and hope that it may in all re-
spects be worthy of the occasion which
calls the people together.
The New York Conventinn has done
its work wisely and we'll. have long
regarded Mr.. Seymour as one of the
most sagacious and conservative OF
American statesmen, and bis nomination
was but just tribute to his sound con-
stitutional principles and the spotle'Js
purity of his character. r
As for the platform adopted by the
Convention, / regard it but as re-
affirmation of the true principles Of the
Federal Constitution. II, in the con ling
election, the people of the States shall
give it a cordial support, we may again
hope for peace, prosperity and happin ess.
If, on the other hand, they shall record
their votes against it, all the lessons OF
history are false if we are not destined to
pass through anarchy and blood to mill
tary despotism.
All governments, whatever may be
their form, WELD substantially the same
aggregate amount of power, and over the
same subjects. All claim control ove,.
the life, liberty and property of their CT.
zens or subjects. The character OF a
government, therefore, is not deterT lined
blythe amount of power which IL possesses.
The true test is to be found in '.he con-
centration Of all power in one man, or
body of men, or in its distribut ION among
co ordinate departments. w hereyer all
power is concentrated in one man, or
body Of men, call the government by
what name yon may, i. is essentially a
j despotism. Aud coRUerso, wherever
the powers of government are divided
ard distributed among the three great 1e-
partments, which reciprocally act as
checks and restraints upon each other,
the elements of freedom win invariably
be found.
The trainers of the Federal Constitu-
ton we're deeply impressed with these
great truths, and hence they divided the
powers of government between three sep.
arate and coordinate departments-the
legislative. executive aud judicial-and
ordained that they should be kept sepa-
rate and distinct, neither department ex-
ercising powers confded to the others.
Unmindful of this fundamental princi-
pie of free government, the Republican
party in Congress have broken down the
partition-walls established by the Con-
stitution and usurped large portion of
the powers conGded to the executive and
Judiciary, To this intent they have
vonverted the Government into despot-
ism, and unless arrested in their mad
career by the strong hand Of the people
they will soon absorb not only all the
powers delegated by the Constitution to
the Federal Government, but also all
those that wese reserved to the States
and the people. = 1t is espe-
cially incumbent on the members Of the
old Wing party-the followers of Henry
Clay-to dismiss from their minds
all prejudices against the name oil
Democracy, and lend their aid in the. good
work Of constitutional restoration. The
Wing party had its birth in resistance t,
what it regarded as usurpation by tn
Executive. Its vital principle was AT
is resistance to tyranny. 6nt what wer
the usurpations Of 1899. to tb'o se of.lS6S
They were as grain Of sa'I id to q noun
tain. The PRINCIPLES Of the New Yor
Convention are IN fact Wing principles
and all Whiss who v,.lue consistency an
constiiaifonal hA' .rty should rally wit
enthusiasm to u e support Of the platforr
aud nominee Of the New York Conver
tion. Who can doubt where Clay, Wet
ster, Crit endeu, Clayton, COrwin an
Rives would stand in the spproachin
electic il they were among the living
Old party prejudices and animositi'
should now be forgotten, and ell GOO
men, all friends of the Constitution, q
lovers Of liberty, regulated BY law, shou
now stand shoulder to shoulder, al
register solemn vow never TO relax the
efforts until the party now in power sh'
be elected from the high places viii
they have abused and polluted, and q
true principles Of the Constitution shi
have been firmly reinstated in the q
ministration Of the government
Respectfully. your obedieut servant,
AIrxnNDrR II. II. STUART