Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-07-07
Sound Views.

In the Nashville Union and Dispatch of
the 18th, editorial prominence is given to
letter from an old line Wing of large politi-
cal experience, addressed to personal friend
-one of the delegates to the National Dem
oeratic Convention. 1t is a clear, sound and
succinct review of the questions to be de-
cided in the coming struggle, and an un-
prejudiced and unreserved comment upon the
qualifications and claims of the leading men
whose names have been discussed in connec-
tiqn with the Presidential nomination. Sub
Joined are some extracts from it, which are
worthy of general reading. The prime issues
in the approaching campaigns are few, he
says, and embrace as essential:
s'First. Constitutional government, which
includes opposition to the entire Jacobin the
ory of Southern reconstruction, and the su-
premacy of the civil over military power.
Second. Negro suffrage, manhood suffrage,
or any other form of negro equality. or dom-
nance over white people. Third. The
financial problem opposing the payment of
the national debt in legal-tenders (1chich by
la,O are money) to the theory of consolidating
the entire debt into obligations, payable,
principle and interest, in gold"
Dsmissing johnson, Chase and Hancock
tho latter he says, would doto trust, ifsure
of election-he says of Pendleton:
ellis record, you and l cannot object to
on the question of tie war and its cognates
On the Chief questions have stated, he is
above challenge. He is as nearly Democrat
of the old school as we can possibly find
prominently identified with the issues of the
day. He commands the enthusiastic and un-
divided support of the entire West and North
west"
Speaking of the necessity of concert of ac-
tion on the part of the old Wings and Demo-
Gratis, he says:
Having been Whig, somewhat intolerant
of Democracy, do you think it strange that
should go SO unreservedly and fully into the
bosom of the old adversary? 1t is my only
hope. 1t is the only organization that prom
iscs any relief. There is no other party with
which we can ally ourselves, and there is
none that would if could. don't want
to go against Radicalism with any doubtful
or hestating step. / embrace Democracy as
it is, at large, fully and without reserv-
alton. Upon its success as party depends
in my opinion, the restoration of the country
to liberty and constitutional government
In sustaining it through nominating vote at
New FORK for President we should make the
nomination such as would array the whole
Democratic column in one straight and firm
set line from the gulf to the lake and from
ocean to ocean. What [ mean is that the
nomination should not only contemplate a
Presidential success, bnt secure a .Gubgres-
sional success. For, no matter whQiis Press
ident, if Congress remains as it isSpow, the,
battle is substantially lost. Thssnomiaee
should give strength to the candidate and
soldity to the column in every C6pSreSio ional
district in the land. The Dein9g9ati5 candi-
date ought to have the full beusfE Of each of
the prime issues have named. and be author;
lied to go before the people with the grand
shibboleth of civil supremacy over military
law-the white man over hejblackt IA I'D the
working masses of tax=payerssas aSainst The
bond holding and gold-rece1SiSg few. . Dis
tinctly and clearly defined, with no drawbacks
from the Presidential nomination, the whole
column arrayed against revolutionary Jacob
ism would carry these issues in every part of
the field, aud achieve triumph unsurpassed
in our annals. 1t would pluck the govern
ment from the flames, and give US again some
thing of the normal original