Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-10-01
General DIx.-His Opinion of Horatio
Seymour.

Seymour.
New YORK, September p. Gen. Dix
Anne rican Minister to France, has sem
the following letter to a friend in this
tcity. It was not written for publication
but the gentleman to whom it was adj
dressed has consented to giveit to the
public:
PARIS, Sept. 4, 1865
DEAR sSIR:-It was nay hope that my
distance from home would have saved
me from all participation in political
excitement prevailing there; but l notice
in one of the newspapers that ] am
| ''heart and hand with Mr.. Seymour" y
| am not aware OF anything in the pres
ent or past which could rightfully subject
me TO such an inputation.
L have been acquainted with Mr..
Seymour more than a quarter of a cen
tury. lie Is an amiable gentleman of
EuneXceptionable private character and
respectable talents, but you know, as
well as l, that he has not single
qualification for the successful execution
of the high official trust to which he has
been nominated, and he is especially
deficient in that firmness of purpose
which, in critical emergencies, is the
fonly safeguard against public disorder
land calamity: lie has been twice at
different times Governor Of the State OF
New York, and he has in neither case
had the taleEt or tact to keep the Dem
!ocratic party of the State together more
than two years. | should regard his
election at this juncture, when steadi-
ness of purpose, decision, and self-control
are so much needed, as one of the
greatest calamities that could befall the
country.
| Moreover, he has been put in nomina-
tion by "a convention which has openly
declared the purpose of those it repre-
sents to pay the greater part of the pub
Elic debt contracted TO preserve the Union
in deprecated paper. Such measure
would, in my judgement, be palpable
violation of public faith, pledged under
circumstances which should have been
binding onall honorable men. Seymour
has made public speeches to show that it
is our duty to pay the debt in specie
In accepting his nomination to the presi-
idency, he adopts the declaration that it
ought to be paid in paper. l know moth
ing so humiliating in the history OF
American politics as this regeneration
II was perhaps not unfit that Mr. Sey-
mour, after presiding in 1e64 over the
war failure, should preside over the
Convention of 1865, in which a PROPOSE
ton to discredit the debt contracted to
carr on the war was received with tre-
mendous cheering, and, that he should
be the chosen instrument to execute this
act of national turpitude. | do not be-
| lieve that the wishes or opinions of the
great body of The Democratic party are
fairly expressed in these proceedings
| They have nothing in common with the
statesmanlike views Of policy and the
1 high sense Of national honor which
guided the party when Martin Van
FBuren, William J.. Yancy, Silas Wright,
| Lewis Cass and Stephen r. douglas
were among the conspicuous members.
! see but one source of safety for the
country under existing circumstances
/ and that is the election Of Gen. Grant.
| On his descision OF character, good sense
moderation and DISTINGUISHED patriotism,
l believe the South viii have far better
hope of regainipg the position in the
! Union to which il is entitled than under
ia man whose political career has been in
! lnotiing more conspicuously mark ed
than in an utter infirmity of purpose
! Independently of fallthese considerations
| | should be greatly surprised if the peo-
/ PIC Cl lliE - AtlGu 4obitLtS HGIc ~ SlEct
as their Chief Magistrate Il man who
was making, al the Academy of Music,
lon the 4th OF July, 1868, speech defici-
ent in all the characteristics of an eleva-
| ted love of country, at the very hDul
when General Grant was carrying the
victorious arms of the Union into Vicks.
burg, and when thousands OF our fallen
country were pouring out their blood Oh
! the plains of Gettysburgh in defense o
their homes aud the government, which
Mr.. Seymour was doing all in his power
to embarrass and discredit. | am quite
! willing you should show this letter tt
any friends who may take an interest il
my opinion in regard to the coming
election, and ! am particularly desirou,
lof removing the impression, If it exists
4 chat am in favor of Mr.. Seymour o.
She Reputation of any portion Of the
lpublic debt.
am, sir, very truly yours,
| JNO. A. DIX,