Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-27
GOLFAX AND GRANT.
A RadicRl Estimate of Grant-HIs
Lack Of stafesmanship Rnd Unfit
nese Tor Civil ONCE. rr.i f.f.

Lack Of BiafeBmanshfp and Unfit
nese for Civil ONCE. ANAL f-f
\. From the Albany Argus.
During The year 1887 formidable move
ment was organized in the Republican
party against the nomination Of Grant for
the Presidency. This movement was M
derstood TO be headed by Speaker Colfax.
He thought he saw at that time the agita-
ton Of Grants claims would injure hisown
chances, and in caseJf Grants nomination
he would be crowded OF even sor the sec
oBd place on the ticket.
While eolfax was travelling about the
country last summer, delivering his lecture
on his overland trip TO California, a cir
culsr appeared which attracted 6 large
share of attention. 1t was called at the
time the "Colfax circular" and was pub
lished in the Argus and in most Of the
journals in the country. While this cir
cular was openly charged upon Colfax and
his friends, no denial that such was its
source was ever made directly or indirect
~. That the circular was put forth by
the approval of the Speaker, there is no
room for donbt II emauated from Col
fax's friends in Indiana, and was sent
broadcast over the country.
The following is the circular:
SIXTEEN REASONS WHY OUR REPUBLICAN
PARTY SHOULD NOT RUN GEN. GRANT
FOR PRESIDENT IN 1868:
HE has all he deserves at the hands of the
American people.
2.-He could not deliver an Inaugural Address.
3.-Because no Democrat has succeeded for the
past quarter of a century as President Of
4.-Because at this peculiar period in the
history Of our great country, We need an
MAN at the White House"
b.-Becsnse, One Hundred Thousand GrGges
and -Four Millions Of Freedmen DEMAND
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND
6--He is now and dit0dY5 has been Democrat,
and has nerer Endorsed the Republican
party,
because he has proved a future IN epery
capacity outside of the military
$. -He claims to have no knowledge of politics
or national affairs.
9.-Beeause all the Democratic and Rebel pa
pers indorse him
10-He has followed our drunken Democratic
johnson "a att has scbettioNs rows against
Congress and our party ~
l.-Because no has insuLted the Republican
party by indorsing the removal Of the
Secretary Of War, and accepting the po-
sitiOn himself
1--we have one hundred better men for Presi-
dent.
13.-Because all parties claim him as belonging
to their party.
1--WE have the power to elect a Statesman, if
15.-Because the Democrats and Rebels have no
other aBditabie candidate.
l6-Because Illinois gave US the IMMORTAL
LINCOLN, and Indiana offers OUR MOST
AVAILABLE CANDIDATE.
AMERICAN REPUBLICANS.
Please post this up.
There is no doubt but that the above
expresses the views entertained by large
majority Of the Radicals less than year
ago, concerning the candidacy of Gen.
Grant Then the General was hob-nob-
biug with President johnson, and giving
him aid and comfort in his warfare With
Congress. His sympathies were with the
President. Hence the cause for the bitter
feeling expressed in the circular. But he
has since changed his mind.n He for
feited his word with johnson in order to
get the empty compliment of nomina
tim,
II confidence can the people place in
a ma ,>ho has shown himself so unstable
upor most vital issues before the couns
try. ow long will he maintain, his pre-
sent ,litical relations2 Who will be
cheated next2 E.T
But there is a very significant point in
tDa circular, the sixteenth reason is very
suggestive. Notice the language Illinois
gave us the immortal Lincoln, and Indiana
offers our most available candidate"
OF course this reference was to Colfax,
and the DRIFT of the circular was to direct
public attention to him. He was the
available Indiana candidate, and the bitter
meas expressed toward Grant, was intended
to benefit the Speaker, as it was claimed
that he possessed the opposite qualifications
attributed 10 Grant