Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-09-22
A Card from Matt. II. Carpenter.
EDITOR Of the Lacrosse Republican

"So, you VIII, Oh course, 90 me In
justice TO publish this.
AS you are ono Of the editors wht
oppose any discussion of the merit
OF senatorial candidates until after th,
election, you must have published
that card in the interest of Gran
and Coltty, for whose election we
are all laboring. And yet some, wht
have not as much faith as have in til,
integrity Of Your purpose TO avoid
such discussion, and who think yot
are working euen no,e to insure The
success of your own candidate fol
the United States Senate, believe thai
you did SO in the hope Of injuring me
by casting a doubt upon my republi-
canlSm j acquit you of any such
intention still desire to state---what
you omitted--the circumstances I'M
der which it was written.
In that card | said
From my earliest acquaintance with political affairs
! 70 th2 hiring upon Fort Sumpter, I democrat Of
.he strctest sect in theory and practice. When the
war commenced, without any excuse or justification on
the part Ofthe South it duty, the
to support the Administration Of tue Government al
though eltcteu against my choice ana ynte IN putting
down the rebellion as summarily possible. In this
was separated from the organization of the democratic
party, without however, having changed my views in
| regard to general politics.
My steady support of the demo
cratic party prior to the war was and
is well known. | was educated to DO
lieve that true democracy, as taught
by Jefferson, consisted IN the greats
est good to the greatest number with
out regard TO nationality, race or col
or. In this belief | supported its can,
didates. If | was mistaken in this,
then | was acting under mistake Of
tact which would authorize a court
of equity to relieve me from the con
sequence of the votes cast for that
party. But, however this may have
been, the war raised an issue above
| party politics 1t was then evident
that there could be but two classes of
American citizens, those who supper
ed and those who opposed the Goven-
ment. At first it was my hope and
expectation that democrats under the
lead of Douglas would espouse the
side of the Government, and unitedly
adm suppressing the rebellion. The
first speeches | made were made i'll
company with out~and>out demo
Gratis. AT flag raising in Milwau>
kee, in the spring Of 1861, | spoke
from the same stand with Hon JAS.
S. Brown, subsequently with Hon.
George b. Smith at Eikhorn, and
afterwards with Hon. IL. l.. Palmer
at Fond du Lac. In these speeches
we all advocated the old democratic
doctrine of standing by the Govern
ment and sending armies against reb
els. These meetings were held for
the purpose of encouraging enlist
ments to fill up Our regiments.
Soon after the meeting at Fond du
Lac, however, there was a meeting
of few democrats in Milwaukee, to
which | was not invited, where, as /
understand, it was determined that
some check must be placed upon the
popular currents which seemed to be
moving in favor OF the Government.
lest they should lead to support OF
Mr.. Lincoln's Administration, and
thus damage the interests Of the dem
ocratic party Tins was in 1862
AT this meeting it was resolved to
call a State convention to show al
democrats what democracy was, and
to call back those whose patriotic i'm
pulses had led them too far in al
vance. This convention met ano
adopted an address which disclosed
the fact that no man could sympa-
thize with the Government and de-
nOunce the rebellion without being
excluded frcm the democratic folds
| had then to elect whether L woulC
abandon the support of the war or bt
considered an outsider. / chose tht
latter, and thus became separated
from the party, And down to 1864
when | wrote that card | had seen nc
opportunity to return without falsi.
| flying all had said in defence OF the
Government, and surrendering all my
convictions of truth and duty.
But the clause which | suppose
gives you the greatest satisfaction is
the following;
While this may continue my votes and efforts il
Congress would suppose, exactly represent the re
publcans of Wisconsin, because should support ever
proper measure to strengthen the Cove nnIent and
weaken the rebellion. would not consent treat will
rebels except upon the basis of unconditional submission
to the authority of the Constitution and laws; no
would consent to an armistice without KNOWN
that rebels wish TO return obedience, which, in tn
present stage OF affairs, have no effect but to III
AID relieve the rebels and weaken the government :
Rebels must submit The Government cannot yelC
But should be accomplished within the next We
the authority of the Constitution fully restored
the original territory of the Union the rebellion hid
its head, the public at IRIS assume their wonted cours
| l might favor line OF policy that the republican
might think unsound aud thus subjected to the lmpu
taon OF having betrayed my constituency while actin
conscientiously in my belisi, for the public good.
This card was written declining {,
be q candidate for nomination by th,
republicans from extreme anxiet,
not to get into q position where
might By possibility be charged will
betraying the principles Of those from
whom had accepted nomination
And you may be sure, Mr. Editor
that if ! entertained to day th
slightest doubt of being 10 full accor'
with the republican party upon al
questions whatsoever, | should d.
now what | did then, decline to be
candidate. The melancholy situa-
ton OF one lamented Senator of Wis
consin would greatly increase m,
anxiety not to fall into like eondem,
nation.
In 1864, we were in the midst o
war. No political issue was undo
discussion. The great question of tn
hour related to the life of the nation
The democratic party had gone sad
ly estray, had dishonored its histor.
aud disgraced its founders, by its op
i position to the war Neverthele- s,
then thought it not impossible tina
wher the war should be ended an
slavery abolished, that party nigh
accept the situation; return to tn
practice of its own principles; DC
come once more, what it had former
" been, the progressive party OF th
country; espouse universal suffrage
become the champion of the rights {