Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-10-02
Gen. Dix for Grant and CO...
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General Dix. the American Minister to
Paris. has sent the following letter to a
friend in New York C ~. 1t was not writ
ten for publication. but the gentleman to
whom it was addressed has consented to
give it to TIE public. In view of the facts
that the General, while in command at
New York in 1863 had better opportuni
ties than any one else 10 comprehend the
real character and purposes OF Gov, Sev
mour. and that he is mau -inguarly dis
passionate and unparalleled, the judge
meut which he pronounccs upon the char
acter Of the latter is entitled To csprcial
weight. The striking contest between
Grant and Seymour. exhibited on the
Fourth Of Jaly. 1863, is Very poutedly ia.
dcated The whole letter is most timely
aad viii have all excellent effect:
PkuIs. Sept J. 1868.
Nv Dear SIR: 1t was my hope that my
distance from home would nave saved me
from all participation in the political rx
element prevailing there. hnt notice in
one Of the newspapers that am heart and
hand with Mr.. Seymour. | AN not aware
of anything in the present or past which
coa!i rightly suljrct uie tn such an imruta
ton. have been acquainted with Mr.
seymour more ;han qturter "t cen
turv. He is an aniahe ccntlcm IL. oi un
exceptioaahle private character and res
pectabie talents, hut you know as well IA
| | that he has not a single qualification 70,
/ the successful execution of the high off clal
trust to which he has been nominated, and
he is especially deficient IN that iirnnes'
of purpose which. in critical emergencies
! is the only safeguard against pualic dsord
er and calamity. lie has h. en- twice. al
| dffercn, times. Governor Of the State q
/ New York. and he mas in neither case had
1 the talent-oi the tactic keep the Dem
ocratic party of the State together NOR.
than two wears.
] should regard his election at this juno
tire, ,ehen sieaiiness Of purpose decision
and stifcoatrol are so much needed. as one d
the greatest caLamitteS that could bstdI nt
country.
Moreover. he has been pnt in nomination
by convention which has openly declared
the purpose of those it represents to pay
the greater part of the public dept, con,
tracied to preserve the Union, in deprecia-
| ted paper. Such a measure would, in my
judgem mt, be palpable violation of the
/ public filth. 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 MS nomination to
the Presidency he adopts the declaration
that it ought to be paid in paper. know
nothing so Illuminating i'll the history of
American politics as this ter iyersation.
1t was, perhaps, not unfit that Mr.. Ssy-
mour. after presiding, in l-6I, over the
Chicago Convention, which declared the
war a lai ure, should preside over the con
vention of lS6S in which proposition to
discrcdit the debt contracted to carry on
the war was received with tremendous
cheering, and that he should be the chosen
instrument 10 execute this act OF turpitude.
do not believe tina; the wishes or
opinions Of the great body OF the Demo.
cratic party are fairly expressed in these
proceedings. Taey have nothing in com
mon with the states nrnlikc views OF policy
and the high sense Of national honor which
gnided the party when Martin Van Buren,
VIM l.. Marcy, Silas Wright, Lewis Cass
and Stephen A. Douglas We're among its
most conspicuous members.
see but one course Of safety for he
country under eristiag circumstances, and
that is the election Of Gen. Grant, On his
decision ot character, moderattoH, good
sense. and d,siaterested patriotism, be-
here the South wai haze Tar better hope
Of regaintag The position IN the Union TO
tchich IL as entitled, than under man
tckose poiiticaL career has been IN nothing
more c5asp,cuousiy marked than in an utter
iafrmity q PmrPos:
independently of all these considera-
tons | should be greatly surprised If the
people of the United States we're to select
as their Chief Magistrate a man who was
making at the Academy of Mnsic. on the
4th OF July. 1863, a speech deficient in the
characteristics of an elevated love of
country, at the very hour Gen. Grant was
CARRYING the victorious arms Of the Union
into Vicksburg, and when thousands of
our fallen c0untrymen were pouring out
their blood on the plains OF Gettysburg in
defence of their homes and the govern
ment which Mr.. Seymour was doing all IN