Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-09-30

Sen. John \. Dix, the American Minister
to France, has sent the following letter TO a
friend in New York Although not intended
for publication, the gentleman to whom it
was addressed has consented to give it to the
public
PARIS, Sept. 4th, 1868.
M Dear Sit was my hope that my
distance from home would have saved me
from all participation in the political excite
ment prevailing there, but | notice in one Of
the newspapers that / am heart and hand
with Seymour. [ am not aware Of anything
in the present or the past which could right
" subject me To such an imputation. | have
been acquainted with Mr.. Seymour more
than quarte- of century. He is an
amiable gentleman, of unexceptionable pri-
vate character and respectable talents but
YOU know as we'll as [ that he has not a
single qualification for the successful execu-
ton of the high official trust to which he
has been nominated and he is especially de-
ficient in that firmness Of purpose which, in
critical emergencies, IS the only safeguard
against public disorder and calamity. He
has been twice, at different times, Governor
of the State Of New York, and he has in
neither case had the talent-or the tact - to
keep the Democratic party Of the State
together more than two years
/ | should regard his election at this june
I ture, when steadiness Of purpose, decision
and self-c0ntrol are much needed, as one
/ of the greatest calamities that could befall
/ the country.
/ Moreover, he has been put in nomination
! by a Convention which has openly declared
| the purpose Of those it represents to pay ghe
greater part of the public debt contracted
to preserve the Union, in deprecated paper.
/ II
a palpable violation Of the public faith
pledged under circumstances which should
/ have been binding on all honorable men
Mr. Seymour has made public speeches to
| show that it is our duty to pay the debt in
specie. In accepting his nomination to the
Presidency he adopts the declaration that il
ought to be paid in paper [ know nothing
so humiiating in the history of American
politics as this tergiversation. 1t was, per
haps. not unfit that Mr.. Seymour, after pre-
sidinr. in 1864, over the Chicago Conven
ton. which declared the war a failure
should preside over the Convention of 1868
in which proposition to discredit the deb
contracted to carry on the war was received
with tremendous cheering, and that h
should be the chosen instrument to execute
this act Of turpitude.
do not believe the wishes or opinions o
the great body of the Democratic party arr
, fairly expressed in these proceedings The.
have nothing in common with the states
manlike views of policy and the high sens
; of national honor which guided the part
when Martin Van Buren,, VIM. l.. Marcy
Silas Wright, Lewis Cass, and Stephen \
Douglas were among its most conspicuou
members.
see but one source of safety for tn
7 country under existing circumstances, an
c that is the election Of Gen. Grant. On hi
decision of character. good sense, moder
alton and disinterested patriotism, | be
lieve the South will have far better hop
e of regaining the position in the Union t
: which it is entitled. than under man who's
, political career has been nothing more con
spicuously marked than in utter infrmit.
: of purpose.
independently of all these consideration
e should be greatly surprised if the peopl
h of the United States were to elect as thei
n Chief Magistrate man who was making, a
the Academy of Music, on the 4th OF july
1868, a speech deficient in the characteristic
> of an elevated love of country, at the yer
!. hour when Gen. Grant carrying tn
# victorious arms of the Union into Nicks
6 burgh, and when thousands of our falle
countrynen were pouring out their blood o.
e the plains of Gettysburg in defence OF thel
s homes and the government which Mr. Sey
mour was doing all in his power to embar
rass and discredit.