The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-23
GENERAL DIX.
He Supports General Grant and De-
nOunces Seymour.

he supports GeuerHI Grant and De-
nOunces Seymour.
General Dix, the American Minister to Paris
has sent the following letter to q friend in New
York. 1t was not written for publication, but
the gentleman to whom it was addressed has
consented 10 give it TO the pubic:--
PARIS, Sept. A, l868-My Dear Sir:- 1t was my
hope that my distance from home would have
saved me from all participation In the political
excitement prevailing there. But notice in
one OF the newspapers that l am heart and hand
with Mr.. Seymour. / am not aware OF aoything
in the present or the past which could rghtfully
subject me to such an imputation.
have been acquainted with Mr. Seymour
more than quarter of a century. He is an
am1able gentleman, OF unexceptionable private
character, and respectable talents. But you
know as we'll as that he has not single
qualification for the successful execution OF the
high official trust to which he has been nomi-
mated, and he Is especially deficient in that
hrmness OF purpose which, in critical emergen-
ces, is the only safeguard against public disorder
and calamity. He has been twice at different
times Governor of the State of New York, and he
has In neither case had the talent or the tact to
keep the Democratic party Of the state together
more than two years. should regard his election
at this juncture, when steadlnees OF purpose,
decision and selr-control are SO much needed, as
one Of the greatest calamiies that could befall
the country. Moreover, he has been put in
nomination by Convention which has openly
declared the purpose of those it represents to
pay the greater part OF the public debt, con-
tracted to preserve the Union, in deprecated
paper. Such a measure would, in my judgment
be palpaole violation of the public faith,
pledged under circumstances which should have
been binding on all honorable men. Mr.. Sey-
da to ps I m ec In
his nomination to the Presidency he adopts the
declaration that it ought to be paid in paper. 1
know nothing so humiating in the history of
American politics as this tergiyerSation. 1t
was, perhaps, not unfit that Mr.. Seymour, after
presiding, IN 1864, over the Chicago Convention,
which declared the war failure, should preside
over the Convention of 1868, in which propo.
sition to discredit the debt contracted to carry
on the war was received with tremendous
cheering" and that he should be the chosen
instrument to execute tins act OF national
do not believe 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 high sense of national
honor which guided the party when Martin Van
Buren, William l.. Marcy, Silas Wright, Lewis
Cass, and Stephen A. Douglas were among its
most conspicuous members. l see but one
source of safety for the country under existing
circumstances, and that is the election of Genera
Grant. In his decision of character, good sense,
moderation, and disinterested patriotism, be-
lieve the South will have far better hope of
regaining the position in the Union to which it
Is entitled, than under a man whose political
career has been In nothing more conspicuou ,ly
marked than in an utter inirmity of purpose.
independently of all these considerations,
should be greatly surprised if the people of the
United States were to elect as their Chief Msgis-
trate man who was making, at the Academy
of Music, on the 4th of July, 1868, speech ded-
cient in all the characteristics OF an elevated
love of couEtry, at the very hour when General
Grant was carrying the victorious arms of the
Union into Vicksbnrg, and when Thousands OF
our fallen countrymen were pouring out their
their homes and the Government, which Mr..
Seymour was doing all in his power to emoar.
Iass and discredit.
am quite willing that you should show this
in my opinion in regard to the coming election,
and am particularly desrous of removing the
impression, If it exists, that l am in favor OF
of the pubic debt. ! am, dear sir, very truly
YOURS, JOHN A. DIX