The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-08-13
Seymonr's Letter Of Acceptance.
New YORK, August 5.
The following is Horatio Seymohr's
acceptance of the Democratic nomina-

b.
A9t itti ~ 81 UTICA. August 5, 1868.
GENTLEMEN: When in the city of New York,
on the 18th ultimo, in the presence of vast null
, titude, on behalf of the National Democratic
Convention, you rendered TO me its unanimous
nomination as their candidate for the office of
President of the United States, stated that /
had no words adequate to express my gratitude
for the kindness which that body had shown to
pected. It was my ambition to take an active
part-from which am CIV cluded-in the great
struggle going on for the restoration OF good
Country: but u aSe been eanght up by the the
whelming tide which is bearing US on TO great
political Change and find myself unable to resist
it's pressure, You have also given copy of
the resolutions put forth by the Convention,
showing its position upon all the great questions
which now agitate the country. AS the presiding
officer of that Convention, am familiar with their
scope and import; one of it's members ann
party to their terms. They are in accord with my
views. and stand upon them in the contest upon
which we are now entering. and shall strive to
carry then ont in future Wherever t may be
would send you these words of acceptance in
letter, as is the customary form. see no reason,
upon reflection. change or qualify the terms OF
my approval of the resolutions OF The Conven-
ton. arCTlt %E1E 5lffi iiiifi-tL y
have delayed the mere formal act of communi-
eating to You in writing what thus publicly said,
for the purpose of seeing what light the action of
Congress would throw upon the interests of the
country. Its acts since the adjournment OF the
Convention show an alarm least change OF polt--
ical power viii give to the people what they ought
to have-a clear statement of what has been done
with the money drawn from them during the psst
eight years. Thoughtful men feel that there have
been wrongs in the financial management which
have been kept from the public knowledge. The
Congressional party has not only allied itself with
the military power, which is to be brought to
bear directly ppon the elections in many States,
but holds ITSELF in perpetual session with the
avowed purpose of making such laws as it shall
see fit in view of the elections which will take
place within few weeks. 1t did, therefore,
not adjourn, but took a recess to meet
again if its partisan interests shall de-
mand its reassemblng. Never before in tie
taken menacing attitude towards its electors.
Under its influence some of the States, organized
by its agents. proposing to deprive the people
OF the right to vote for Presidential Electors and
the first bold steps taken to destroy the rights
thoughtful men see in such action the proof that
there is with those who shape the policy of the
Republican party motives stronger and deeper
than the mere wish to hold political power; that
there is dread of some exposure which drives
them on to acts desperate and impoi1tic.
Many of the abest leaders and journals of the
Republican party have openly depored the yio-
lence OF Congressional action and Its tendency to
keep up discord in our country. --t -,.-.-.
The great interests of our Union demand
peace, order and return to those international
pursuits without which cannot maintain the
business men are perpleAed by uncertainties; the
hours of toll of our laborers are heightened by
the costs of living made by the direct and indirect
exactions of the Government. Our people are
| harassed by the frequent demands OF the tax
gatherer. Without distinction of party there is
strong feeling in favor of that line of action
which shall restore order and confidence, and
shall lift off the burdens which now hinder and
vex the industry of the country Yet, at this mo-
ment those in power have thrown into the Senate
Chamber ana Congressional Hall new element
of discord and violence Men have been admitted
as representatives of some of the Southern States
with the declaration upon their lips that they can
not live in the States they claim to represent
without military protection. These men are to
| make laws for the North well as the South.
These men who few days since were seeking
within their respective States are to-daJ the con-
trollers of the actions of these bodies entering
them with minds. filed with bias, and demand
that Congress shall look upon the States
from which they come as in condition of civil
var; that the majority of their population, en-
bracing their intelligence, shall be treated as
public enemies; THAT military force there
shall be kept up at the cost of the people of
| and order at the South save that which is made
| there by arbitrary power Every Intelligent
present positions to disordar but That their every
motive springs from love of power, Of gain, and
desire for vengeance prompts them to keep the
dependent of the wills or wishes of their fellow
citizens. While confusion reigns they are the dis
OF government of mere force. These men
now placed in positions where they cannot only
| enforce them. When there shall be admitted in
| this manner members from the remaining South
ern States. although they will have in truth
constituents, they will have more power in the
Senate than majority of the people of this
Union living in nine Of the great States.
| In vain members of the Republican
party protested against the policy that led to this
result While the chiefs of the late rebel on have
| submitted to the result of the war; and are now
quSty engaged in useful pursuits for the support
OF III emselves and their families, and are trying by
the force of their example to lead back the people
| OF the South to the order and industry not only
essential to their wel-beng but to the greatness
and prosperity of our community, all see that
| these, without ability or influence, have been
thrown by the agitations of civil commissions into
positions of honor and of profit, and striving
| to keep alive the passions to which they owe their
elevation, and they DANGEROUSLY insist that they
are the only friends of our Union. Proof of that
can only have a sure foundation in fraternal re-
gard, and a common desire to promote the peace,
the order, and the happiness of all portions of our
land.
Events in Congress since the adjournment of
the Convention have vastly increased the impor-
lance of political victory by those who are seek
ing to bring back economy, simplicity and Justice
IN the administration of our national affairs. Many
Republicans have heretofore chung to their party
who have regretted the extremes of violence to
while the action of their political friends has been
mistaken, their motives have been good. They
| must know that the Republican party is in that
condition that it cannot carry out peaceful
policy, whatever its motives may be- 1t is q mis-
fortune, not only to country, but to a govern
ment party ITSELF when its action is unchecked by
any form of opposition. II has been the misfor-
tune of the Republican party that the events of
the tn past few years have given it SO much power
trammel the Judiciary. and carry out the views of
the most unwise and violent of its members.
has ever been found that the Judgment OF its
ablest leaders do not control. There is hardly
can organization who has not, within the last
three years, warned it against its excess: who
has not been borne down and forced to
give up his convictions of what the interests of the
country call for; or. if too patriotic to do this,
who has not been 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 who had just
given them their positions begin their legis-
lative career with calls for and demands that
States shall be regarded in condition of civil
war, and declaration that they ready and
n hn prnS ant of fhn Init
States whenever they can persuade or force Con-
gress to bring forward new articles of impeach-
ment? The Republican party. as well as we, are
interested in putting a check upon this violence.
1t must be clear to every thinking man that dis
possession of political power tends to check the
good order of the country. The election of a
Democratic Executive and a majority of Demo-
cratic members to the House of Representatives.
would not give to that party organization
power to make sudden violent changes, but
would serve to check those extreme measures.
which have been deplored by the best men of
both organizations. The result would most
ta1nly lead TO that peaceful restoratiC. of the
Union and the re-eslablishrnent of fraternal re-
latlonshlp which the country desires.
L am sure the9best men of the Repu blican party
deplore as deeply as / 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 con-
template, must be abhorrent to every
right thinking 1 have mere personal
wishes which mslead my judgment in regard to
the pending election. No man who has weighed
of the United States can fail to be impressed with
the cares and trials OF him who is to meet its de
mands. 1t is not merely to float with popular
currents without policy or purpose. On the
to the public will, its distinguishing feature is
that it seeks to protect the rights of minorities
power-it gives force and form to those maxims
and principles of civil liberty for which the