The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-22
ILLINOIS POLITICS.
Important Letter from Judge
Cation.
He Declines the Democratic Noniin alton Tor
Governor.

PEORIA, Feb. II.
Hou. j. d. Cation:
Ny DEAR SIR: Waving the usual cerem0ni-
Gus remarks upon such subjects, l will at once
ask YOU il you will accept the nomination for
Governor, if rendered to you by the National
Democratic State Convention, to assemble in
April and if you answer no, would not only
esteem it political, but also personal favor, TO
hear from you at your earliest convenience at
length, apon tho political situation of tho coun.
try. Respectfully yours,
Signed W T. DowDALL.
Ottawa, Feb -.
w. T. DowDALL, EsQ.-DEAR SIR: Yours of
the 1lth instant received last evening. AZ
ter much thought devoted TO the subject, l
obliged to answer You question in tho negative.
have never been engaged in political life, and
do not understand the management Of political
parties so a. to qualify me leader, either du-
ring canvass or III Office 1t is not enough TO
Judge accurately OF the public sentiment, present
and future. Skill in manipulating, il may DO
allowed the expression, is also important. In
flne, II elected, it is not improbable should be
failure.
You ask my views at length upon the political
condition Of the country While have not
time 10 give thom in full. / do not hesitate to
make suggestions the subject for your
own consideration but not Tor publication but
if any OF my suggestions accord with your views,
then they your own, and as such, - be used
as occasion may suggest
The country is governed by I. more reckless set
Of fanatics than ever had sway in this country
before. The parallel is 10 be found in Crom-
wells time in England, and in the French reyo-
luton on the Continent; and the great danger
is. that TOO many of them believe that they are
doing ri sht; that the end jus.ifes the means !;
and that is one Of the striking features of the par.
allels referred -.
These dangerous and unconstitutional meas.
ures Of the leaders are new purposes OF the party
since Dir. Lincoin's time, and were adopted by
many Of the party leaders with reluctance,
and decidedly disapproved by considerable num-
bers Of them, voters among the people especially
that feature which involves negro supremacy in
the South and negro suffrage in the North, and
the question is, how can avail ourselves Of
this disaffection in their ranks TO get enough
votes from them TO give us the maority. This
bring, the question down - practical business
proposition. Unless We can get enough votes
from them TO lower the scale We can not succeed
In nearly all the elections last ial we did get
those votes and succeeded. How did we get
those votes First, we only made the issue on
the reconstruction policy and negro equality
Second, we run candidates against whom they
had no prejudices-those whom the newcomers
had not been taught 70 hate-whom they did not
believe TO be bad men, sympathizing with rebels
or the rebsllion III fine, our candidates wero
such > not II repel such AS were inclined TO
come with rs on the negro question. Wisdom,
prudence and policy characterized the councils
of the party last fall, and the result was success
So was it in 1862. Then the canvass con-
Quoted on war platform and policy observed
calculated to get voters from the other side; and
the result WAS success everywhere. SO soon as
that policy was changed Just so far to rub
against those sentiments, ingrained into those
who had come over and voted with Us, they left
us, and 80 will they always leave u, soon a.
preSen: any points which will rub against
those ingrainel sentiments 50 Thoroughly fixed
during the war. Rather than do violence in the
least degree TO those sentiments, they will vote
for Chase Qr the dcyil, OF for any policy. 1t is
most especially those cherished feelings which
mast be regarded, il We get thos. votes, and
unless we do get the,n there is no hope Of
success.
I observe q strong disposition among those
who probably control the party in the West
to urge Mr.. Pendleton for the nomination. Can
he get those Republican votes: You know, and
so does every rejecting man know, tina. he can't.
They have been taught TO hate him, and do hate
him. They believe that he is bad man--that he
was in sympathy with the rebels and opposed to
the war; and no record and no reasoning will
ever change their views on this subject and rath.
or than yote for him they, viii stay away or 20
the whole negro Look right about you, among
your own personal acquain tances who have
hitherto voted with the Republicans, but
aye induced TO go with Us On the negro question,
and see if you can write down name who
you kHO,r would vote for Pendleton. speak
of simple voters who do not aspire to take
leading part in politics. for it is from these we
must get the numbers. Politicians by profession,
who leave them and come over, may go anything,
but they are Of different class from those who
constitute the masses from whom our recruits
must come. You and I may believe and know
Pendletoa TO be- as good II man and pure q
patriot as ever lived, and all that has been said
against him are but foul SANDERS, and such may
be the feeling of every Democrat that has voted
with II. for the lsss- five years, and we may all
prefer him to any otlei living man. still, should
We insist upon iim il his nomination would in-
sure defeat? Such, in my judgment would be
the inevitable result. Perhaps few will say so
now-all will see il after the election is over,
and we are again beaton down in the dust, when
success is already in orr grasp and all that Is
wanted Is that we act with az much wisdom and
prudence we would exercise in our private
business affairs. These now corners will not in
slSt that we take one of their number for cam
didatc They willing that he be taken from
tho old Democratic ranks, but he must be one
not obnoxious to them--against whom they have
not nursed prejudcos. Take Sherman Dix
Adams, or even Breese, and they will vote for
him; but for Peadleten they will not vote
Next tc Vallndigham they hate him worse than
they do any Northern man. These men, both
from their position and number, can have no d.
rect influence on tho nomination., while they alb
solutey control the election. Secure them and
waare safe. Rspel them and We are lost Here
is the key that unlockS tho future Of tho slec
lat In arl <la ia. :.