The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-11
General Dix and Governor Seymour.

Genoral DIX and Governor seymour
A specill correspondent at Paris, who
speaks from his personal knowledge of General
Dix's views Of our Presidential contest, says
that the General would ''regard the election
of Mr.. Seymour at this juncture as a great
calamity )" that ''the only hope for the peace
and tranquility of the country during the next
four years il in the frmness, good sense and
patriotism d General Grant," that the Tam
many Convention platform on the dve-twenties
means violation of the public faith; that this
platform "aad the indecision of Seymour as
well as his conduct during the rebellion" and
the element, making up the present democratic
party Sought to be decisive of the approach
ing contest
These opinions at this time from our
Minister at Paris are exceedingly interesting
and suggestive. General Dix is known as a
war democrst. AS party man he has never
been identified with the republican organiza-
ton. He vas appointed to Paris, in fact,
mainly because he was opposed to the extreme
measures and programme of the radicals, and
because he leaned rather to the reconstruction
policy Of President Johnson. General Dix, as
war democrat, before he left us was con-
cerned in q movement looking to the recon-
struction of the democratic party so as to
bring it up to the new order of things-the
fixed facts resulting from the war. Hence the
HERALD, before the gathering of the late
Tammany Hall Convention, submitted the
ticket of Chase and Dix, Western and an
Eastern man, conservative republican and
war democrat, as ticket which would sweep
the field, even against the great popularity of
General Grant, because with this sound Union
ticket the people would seize the golden
opportunity for wholesome change in the
ruling powers of the government. -~
But the democracy in convention assembled
were ruled and managed by their old self-con-
ceited and laundering Northern copperheads
and Southern fire-eaters, regular Bourbons all,
in learning nothing and forgetting nothing; and
hence the nomination of Seymour. But why
should General Dix be 80 outspoken against
this candidate2 1t is doubtless because Gene
raj Dix knows something more of the course
of Seymour during the war than the rest of us,
when Seymour was Governor of New York
and Dix was the United States General in COM
mand of this military department. The Gene
raj found the Governor, we suspect, anything
but cordial supporter of the war and more
frequently an impediment to the Union army
than helper. Our Paris correspondent says
that Gin every form General Dix, mindful of
the trials and sufferings through which our
country passed during the rebellion, and with
full knowledge Of the causes and influences
that prompted it and carried it on so long and
of the elements that are now ruling the demo-
cratic party, is an avowed opponent of the
party, its leaders and candidates in this cam
paign."
This "full knowledge" of General Dix no
one will dispute. He knows, we have no
doubt, many things which others only fear in
connection with the position assumed by the
democratic party in this campaign, and in
reference to Seymour and the war and such lit
tie episodes as our July riots of 1868. And
when General Dix, as our Minister at Paris,
and in the face of President Johnsons adhe-
sion to Seymour, boldly declares his opinion
that Seymours election would be great ca
lamity, his example will certainly have a pow
erful influence upon the war democrats of New
York and the whole country, because of his
unfinching patriotism from first to last, and be-
cause of his intimate knowledge of many
things behind the scenes affecting Gov
ernor Seymour of which the public
know little or nothing. And Reverdy
johnson, they say, and most of our other Min
listers abroad are likewise for Grant Here is
and for special meeting of the Tammany
sachems and the fasting brethren of the
Manhattan Club