The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-06
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1868.
The Seymour Letter of Acceptance.

scarcely less remarkable document than the
pronuncameDto issued by Frank Blair as
bid for the favor of the Tammany Hall Con-
vention. Both the Democratic candidates are
trained and active politicians, possessing a
quality highly priced by the party which
nominated them-a strong disposition to
S'work" for their election. By mutual con-
sent, or, at all events, by an arrange
ment that can scarcely be considered
accidental, they have made an impair
tial division Of their labors. 1t is
the task of Blair to satisfy the Rebels that the
Democratic party is prepared and anxious to
60 as far as the farthest to crafty their wishes
This being the most obnoxious duty, yet at
the same time one of the most necessary, on
account of the exacting disposition of the
Southern Democracy, it was appropriately
undertaken by Blair, partly as an act of
penance for his services as a Union soldier
and partly because the Rebels acquired such
profound contempt during the war
for their Northern sympathizers that it
is doubtful whether they would have
attached sufficient credsnce to any
assurance given by an anti-war Democrat.
Blair, however has fully accomplished his
share of the york." for his letters, in addi-
tion to Wade Hampton's plank in the Demo
cratic platform, pronouncing the reconstructed
governments null and void, supplemented by
Seymour's cordial acceptance of the platform,
have removed all doubts and fears from Rebel
minds, and there is not in this broad land
single unrepentant foe of the Union who glories
in the lost cause and hopes still to make it
triumphant that will not support the Demo-
cratic ticket.
Seymour's task is widely different. 1t is
his object to win the support OF conservative
Republicans. He is not content with simply
endorsing the Democratic platform and au-
nouncng his willingness to act as their candi-
date, but he proceeds, in letter of unusual
length, to console himself for the privation, to
which he feelingly refers, of being excluded
from an active part in the pending canvass,
by a formal indictment of the Republican
party, which is especially framed to persuade
those who have not fully sympathized with
the radical Republicans that they can safely
trust Horatio Seymour. When it is remem-
bered that the notorious Ohio agitator,
Vallandigham, first insisted upon Seymour's
nomination, and that his record is such as to
inspire the confidence of the most virulent
of secessionists, the boldness of the imposture
he has attempted will readily be understood.
The petty ward politician who is committed
on the one hand by pledges and ties he would
never dare to violate; but who courts, to de-
ceive, rival and hostile interest, finds a
worthy exemplar in Horatio Seymour. Con-
servative Republicans who listen to the voice
of such charmer must be weak indeed, for
nothing can be more apparent than that the
Democratic Presidential nominee is one of the
most prejudieed and ultra supporters of the
DEGREES of his party.
A large portion of the letter of acceptance
is devoted to an insidious denunciation OF the
reconstruction policy of Congress, and espe-
cially of the admission of the new Southern
representatives and Senators. 1t is worthy of
notice that Seymour couples this denunciation
with oowardly hint that, even if he was
elected, he would not attempt to remedy the
evil he deplores, for he says that "the elec-
tion of Democratic Executive and majority
of Democratic members to the House Of Re-
representatives. would not give to that party
organization the power to make sudden OF
violent changes" a sentence which is designed
to throw doubt upon his readiness to pursue
the revolutionary policy prescribed by Blair
and virtually approved by the Demo
cratic platform, for it demands tina
Democratic Executive shall overthrow tn,
reconstructed Governments. The adroit New
York politician apparently desires that tw'
interpretations shall be placed upon his let
ter, and he has availed himself of the powe
of language to conceal his thoughts with
celled. On the one hand the Southern Rebel
will point to his denunciation of the recon
structed State Governments as a postiv
proof that he is determined to spare N
efforts to destroy them; and on the Other
the conservative Republicans of the Mort
will be assured that he would not counte
nance any "sudden or violent changes.
The New York World has advocated acqu
escence in the adjustments of Congress
and Seymour apparently acknowledges tn
force of the Worlds argument; but it is know
that the judgment and wishes of the Demo
cratic party are almost unanimously agains
recognition of the reconstruction policy, an
Seymour is too faithful partisan to oppos
the wishes of the mass of his political assC
Ciates. There is on this question none of tn
outspoken frankness of Blair, but miserabl