The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-06


given il so much power that it has been
able to shackle the Executive, to tram
mel the judiciary, and carry ont the
views of the most unwlse ana Vloienl
of its members. When this state OF
things exists in any party 1T has ever
been found that the Judgment of its
ablest leaders do not control. There is
hardly an able man who has helped to
build up the Republican organization
who has not within the past few years
warned it against its excuses, who has
not been borne down and forced to give
up his convictions of what the interests
Of the country called for, or If too pa
triotic 10 do this, who has not oeen
driven from its ranks
If this has been the case heretofore,
what will be its action with this new
infusion of men, who, without decent
respect for the views OF those VINO li!u
just given them their positions, Degii
| their legislative careers WIN caiis loi
arms aud demands that their states snai,
be regarded rs in q condition OF CIVIL
war, and declaration that they are
ready and anxious to degrade the TICS
ident of tho United States whenever
thew can persuade or forcc Congress to
hiring forward articles of impcac hmcnt!
The Republican party, rs well rs we,
arc interested in putting some check
upon this violence. 1t must be clear to
Overwhelming man that q disposition
of political power tends to check the vio-
lencc OF party action and assured peace
and good order Of the country. The
election of Democratic executive and
Il majority of Democratic members to
the House of Representatives. would
not give 10 that party organization
power to make sudden or violent
changes, bnt would serve to check those
extreme measures which have been de
plOred by the best men of both orgahi'
cations. The result wonld most GER
tainly lead TO that peaceful restoration
| of the Union and re-establIshment Of
fraternal relationship which the coun-
try desires.
| / am sure the best men of the Repnb-
lican party deplore as deeply rs l Il"
the spirit of violence shown by those
recently admitted to scats'in Congress
from the South. The condition of civil
war which they contemplate must be
abhorrent to every right thinking man.
| have no mere personal wishes which
mislead my Judgment in regard to the
pending election. No man who has
weighed and measured the duties OF
the office of President of the United
States can fail TO be impressed with the
cares and tolls of him who is TO meet
| its demands. 1t is rot merely to iioat
with popular currents without policy
or purpose. On the contrary, while
our constitution gives Just weight to
the public will, its distinguishing fea-
ture, it seeks to protect the rights OF
the minority.
Its greatest glory is that it puts re-
straint upoA power; it gives force and
form to those maXims and principles of
civil liberty for which the martyrs OF
freedom have struggled through ages;
it declares the right of the people to be
secure in their persons, hqpses and pa
peTs against unreasonable search aud
seizures; that Congress shall make no
law respecting the establishment of
religion or the free exercise thereof or
abridging freedom of speech or Of the
press, or the right of the people 10 pc
titiOn for redress of grievances. 1t Sc
cures the right of n speedy and public
trial by al impartial jury.
| think no man can rightfully enter
upon the duties of the Presidential of
lice unless he is not only willing TO
carry out the wishes of the people, eX-
pressed in q constitutional way, but is
also prepared TO stand up for the rights
of minoriticS. lie must he ready to up
hold the free exercise Of religion: he
/ ,-hint, ,a-n,, l1
wrong personal or home rights, or the
religious conscience of the humblest
citizens of the land. lie mast maintain
without distinction of creed or nation
ality, all the privileges OF American cit
| iZenship.
The experience of every public man
who has been faithful 20 his trust
teaches him that no ono can do the du-
ties OF the office of President unless ho
is ready not only to undergo the false.
hoods and abuse of the bad but to suf-
fer from the ccnsurc of the good, who
are misle. by preiudices and misrcprc
sentatiOn. There are no attractions in
such positions which deceive my judg.
ment.
When | say that great change is
going on in the public mind, the mass
of the Republican party are more
thoughtful tempered and just than they
wcro during the excitement which at
tended the progress and close of the
civil war, as the energy of the Demo
cratic party springs from their devotion
to their cause and to their candidates,
| may with propriety speak of the fact
that never i'll tho history OF our coun-
try has the action of any like body.beeu
hailed with such universal and real en-
thusiasm as that which has been shown
in relation IL the position of the Ma
tional Democratic Convention.
With this the candidates have moth
ing tn do. Had any others of those
named been selected it's spirit would
have be II, perhaps, more marked The
zeal and energy of the Conservative
masses spring from desire to make n
change of policy and from thought
that they can carry out their purposes.
In this faith they arc strengthened by
the cooperation Of the great body OF
thoSc who served in tn" Union army
aud navy during the war. Having
given nearly 10000 commissions to the
officers of that army, | know their
Nic"S iIIl W iSIltS. L Htl uCUliHu lnc
Union for which they fought.
The largest meeting of these gallant
soldiers ever assembled was held in New
York, and endorsed the action of the
National Convention. In words dis
tiRct with meaning they called ON the
Government to stop in its policy of
hate, discOrd and diSunion aud IN terms
of fervid cloquence demanded the resto
ration of the rights of the American pco-
pie.
When there is such accord between
these who proved themselves brave
aud self-sacrilicing in war and those
who ara thoughtful and patriotic in
council, | cannot doubt We shall gain
political triumph which will restore our
Union, bring hack peace tn our land
and give us once more TIN, blessings of
a wise, economical AID honest goyern-
mcnt.
I am, gentlemen, truly yours, &c,
HORhTIO SEYMOUR.
To General q. W. Morgan and others,
committee, &c.