The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-08

men recently admitted 10 seats in congress
from the southern states. The condition 0
civil war which they contemplate must b.
abhorrent to every right.thinking man.
have no mere personal Wishes whiol
misleSd my judgement in regard to th'
pending election. No man who has weigh
ed and measured the duties ofthe Office O.
president Of the United States can fail TO be
impressed with The cares and trials Of him
| who is TO meet its demands. II is not mere
" to float with popular currents, without a
| policy or purpose. On the contrary, while
our constitution gives just weight to the
public will, and its Distinguishing feature is
that it seeks 70 protect the right Of minori'
ties, its graudest glory Is, that it puts re.
straints upon power; it gives force aud
form to those maIims and principles of civil
liberty for which :he martyrs OF
freedom have struggled through ages
it declares that the right of the people
to be secure in their persons, houses, and
papers, against unreasonable search and
seizures that congress shall make no law
respecting the establishment Of religion or
the free exercise thereof or abridging free
dom Of speech, or Of the press or the right
ofthe people to petition for redress OF grew.
ances. II secures the right of speedy aud
public trial by an Impartial jury. No man
can rightfully enter upon the duties OF the
presidential Office unless he is not only will
Ing to carry out the wishes Of the people,
expressed in constitutional way but is al.
so prepared to stand up for the rights of
minorities. lie must be ready to uphold
the free exercise of religion, be must de.
nounce measures which would wrong per
sonal or home'rghts, or the religious oOnsci
ence Of the humblest citizens Of the land /;
he must maintain, without distinction Of
creed or nationality, all the privileges Of an
American citizenship. The experience of
every public man who has been faithful to
his trust teaches him that no one can per.
form the duties Of the office of president uu.
less he is ready not only to undergo the
falsehood and abuses of bad men, but to
suffer from the censure of the good who are
misled by prejudices and misrepresentation.
There are no attractions in such positions
which deceive the judgment.
When say that great change is going
on in the public mind that the masses of
the republican party are more thoughtful,
and just, than they were during
the excitement which attended the progress
and close Of the civil war as the energy of
the democratic party springs from their de.
votiOn to their cause and to their candidates,
i may with propriety speak Of the fact
that never in the political history Of our
country has the action of any like body
been hailed with universal aud real enthusi
ssm as that which has been shown in rela.
ton to the position of the national democrat.
ic convention. With this the candidates
had nothing to do. Had any other of aose
named been selected, this spirit would have
been more marked. The zeal and energy
of the conservative masses springs from de.
sire 10 make a change of policy, and from q
belief that they can carry out their purposes
in this faith. They are strengthed by the
co operation of the great body Of those who
served in the union army and navy during
the war. Having given nearly 10000 com.
missions to the officers Of that army, know
their views and wishes. They demand the
union for which they fought. The largest
meeting Of these gallant soldiers ever assem-.
bled was held in New York. and Endorsed
the action of the national convention. In
words instinct with meaning, they called
on the government to stop its policy of hate,
discord, and dsunion, aud in terms Of fervid
eloquence demand the restoration of the
rights of the American people. When there
is auch accord between those who proved
themselves brave and selfsscri6cing in war,
and those who are thoughtful and patriotic
in council, cannot doubt we shall gain a
political triumph which will restore our
union, bring back peace to our land, and
give US once more the blessing of wise,
economical, and honest government.
am, gentlman, yours, &C.,
HORATIo SEYMOUR.
To Gen. G. w. MORGAN, and others.