The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-08-15

| it so much power that it has been able to
| shackle the executive, to trammel the Judiciary,
and carry on the views of the most unwise and
violent Of its members. When this state of things
exists in any party. it has ever been found that
the Judgment of its ablest leaders does not con-
troll. There is hardly an able man who has
helped to build up the republican organization
who has not, within the past three years, warned
it against its excessess; who has not been
borne down and forced to give up his con-
victions of what the interests Of the country call
for; or, if too patriotic to do this, who has not
been driven from its ranks. II this has been the
case heretofore, what will be its action with this
new infusion of men who, without decent re-
spect for the views Of those who had just given
them their positions. begin their Legislative
career with calls for arms, and demands that
states shall be regarded as in condition of civil
war, and declaration that they are ready to
degrade the President of the United States when
ever they can persuade or force Congress to bring
forward new articles Of impeachment. The re-
publican party, as we'll as we, are interested In
putting some check upon this violence.
1t must be clear to every thinking man that
displacement Of this political power will tend to
check the violence Of party action, and assure
the peace and good order of the country. The
election of democratio executive, and majeri-
ty OF democratic members to the house OF repre-
sentatives, would not give to that party organ
ization power to make sudden or violent changes,
but would serve to check those extreme measures
which have been deplorsd by the best men of both
organizations. The result would most certain
ly lead to that peaceful restoration of the union
and the re-establshment Of fraternal relationship
which the country desires. I am sure the best
men of the republican party deplore, as deeply
as l do, the spirit of violence shown by those
men recently admitted to seats in congress from
the southern states. The condition of civil war
which they contemplate must be abhorent to
every right-thinking man.
l 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
trials of him who is to meet its demands 1t is
not merely to float with popular currents, with.
out policy or purpose. On the contrary,
while our constitution give just weight to the
public will and its distinguishing feature Is that
it seeks to protect the right of minorities, its
grandest glory is, that it puts restraints upon
power; it gives force and form to those ma1ims
and principles of civil liberty for which the
martyrs of freedom have struggled through ages;
it declares that the right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses, and papers,
against unreasonable search and seizures; that
congress shall make no law respecting the estab-
lishment of religion the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or OF press;
or the right Of the people to petition for redress
of grievances. 1t secures the right OF speedy
and public trial by an impartial jury. No man
rightfully enter upon the duties of the presi-
dental Office unless he 10 not only willing to
carry out the wishes of the people, expressed in
q constitutional way but is also prepared to
stand up for the rights Of minorities. He must
be ready to uphold the free exercise of religion,
he must denounce measures which would wrong
personal or home rights, or the religious con-
science of the humblest citizens of the land he
must maintain, without distinction of creed or
nationality, all the privileges of an American
citizenship. The experience OF every public
man who has been faithful to his trust teaches
him that no one can perform the duties OF the
Office of president unless he is ready not only to
undergo the falsehoods and abuses of bad men,
but to suffer from the censure of the good who
are misled by prejudices and Misrepresentation.
There are no attractions in such positions which
deceive the judgment.
When say that great change is going on
in the public mind; that the masses of the repub-
lican party are more thoughtful, temperate and
just than they were during the excitement which
attended the progress and close OF the civil war;
as the energy of the democratic party springs
from their devotion to their cause and to their
eandidates,-I may with propriety speak OF the
iaop, Iiet AcNeI III tuc poAAtACoA nAoSoAy VA Wal
country has the action Of any like body been
hailed with such universal and real enthusiasm
as that which has been shown in relation to the
position of the national democratic convention
With this the candidates had nothing to do
Had any Others of those named been selected,
this spirit would have been more marked. The
zeal and energy of the conservative masses sping
from desire to make q change of policy, and
from belief that they can carry out their pur-
poses in this faith. They are strengthened by
the cooperation of the great body Of those who
served in the union army and navy during the
war. Having given nearly 10000 commissions
to the officers of that army, know their views
and wishes. They demand the union for which
they fought. The largest meeting of these gal
liant soldiers ever assembled. was held in New
York, and Endorsed the action of the national
convention. In words instinct with meaning,
they called on the government to stop in its
policy of hate discord, and dsunion, and in
terms OF fervid eloquence demanded the restora-
ton of the rights of the American people When
there is such accord between those who proved
themselves brave and self-sacrifcing in war, and
those who are thoughtful and patriotic in council,
cannot doubt we shall gain political triumph
which will restore our union, bring back peace
to our land, and give us once more the blessing
OF wise, economical, and honest government
am, gentlemen, yours, &c.
HORATIo SEYMOUR.
To Gen. G. W. MORGAN, and others.