The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-09-09
GEN. ROSECRANS LETTER
SAN Francisco, CALIFORNIA, !
Aug. 9Th, 1869. !


MoCoppin, Hon Samuel Butterworth
and Judge McCorkle, presented me
your letter and very friendly notes
from Senators Thurman and Casserly
announcing my unanimous nomina
tion by the Democracy of Ohio, a.
their candidate for Governor, in the
pending electoral canvass for State Of
fcers, and have carefully read and
considered them.
1 have likewise couversed with Gov,
Haight, who takes great interest in
the consolidation of the Democratic
organization in Ohio, on that basis Of
constitutional freedom and progress
which, in the past, gave unity to a
party that has governed the country
for more than two thirds of the peri.
cd of our national existence, and orig.
mated, or carried into successful exc
cution, nearly all the great measures
which form epochs in our history.
Grateful for the honor Of this nomi-
nation by the Democracy of my ma
tive State, 1 much regret that imper-
ious duties compel me to decline the
canvass, as l telegraphed you yester-
day.
Yielding to none in sincere devo-
ton to the Democratic representative
government, of which l consider our
lown the best model the world has yet
seen; at nearly fifty, with some knowl-
edge of men, and some experience in
governing them, 1 am still Demo
crat, from study, conviction, and a
sentiment of brotherhood with my fell
Ilow-men.
l therefore deem it a duty, under
the circumstances of this nomination,
to make few suggestions as to the
fundamental principles which I think
Ought to underlie every local Demo
cratic platform.
What of old gave the Democratic
party in the United States its prestige
and spirit, was its profound faith in
the capacity of man for selfgovern-
ment and progress, under institutions
based on the great principles of liber-
ty, fraternity and equality before the
law, and its courage in carrying the
logic ofits faith into action. Thence
arose that discipline, order and pro-
gressive originality which have mark
ed its history, and made its victorious
banner the symbol of hope to lovers
of freedom at home and abroad, while,
in the nature of things, it became the
rallying point of ofice-seekers and po-
litical adventurers, whose timid and
time-serving counsels sometimes i'm
paired the energy of its action, and
prevented the vigorous development
Of its principles.
But after a great civil war which
has changed the face of politics, the
instructive Democracy Of the Ameri-
can people remains, and the events of
the war have increased its confidence
in free institutions and in the capaci-
ty Of the people to adapt them to the
exigencies of a national life. In spite
of dreamers after Imperialism or con-
solidation, in spite of those whose on
/ ly political principles are the appar-
ent expediencies of the hour, who,
knowing that civilized man must have
government, are always cOntriving
/ tricks and schemes to make them
selves the favored few, ordained to
govern and be paid for it;-in spite of
those who consider it a weak and fee
bic experiment, the heart of the great
body of our people beats warmly, and
its judgment moves instinct with its
old Democratic feelings and convic-
tions.
Appeals should therefore be made to
these instincts and convictions by as
serting fundamental principles which
ought to govern the future develop
ment Of this great and free country,
and at the proper times and places,
announcing such measures of policy
based on them as the exigencies of
the nations life and action may re-
quire.
The country requires, and the Dem
ocratic party ought to be, a party of
principle, party of life, of action and
of progress. "FOssils" and fault-fnd-
ers do not properly belong to the par
ty, and if found in it, ought to go on
the retired list.
Leaving to its opponents of all
shades and grades, all narrow and
sectional grounds, all monopolies and
favoritism based on class, creed, RACE,
color, or National origin, the Demo-
cratic party of the United States
ought to hold high the banner of uni
versal freedom, impartial justice and
''eq1Sality before the LnU" of all who
live beneath the flag of our country.
A fact of our history, expressed on
our coat ofarms by the words "E PLu-
ri6as Ui11ma, many in one, is that we
have grown ''many" distinct, SUBJ
stantially self-governing communities,
under ''one" country, or general SOW
ereignty. To cease to be "many" or
to be "one" would interrupt this law
of our historic life. The seif-govern-
ment of the people by States, and the
union of the nation are essential laws
of our past growth and life, of which
our written Constitution is but the
formal expression, and must be fun
damental with the National Democ-
racy, whose policy must be broad
enough and wise enough to maintain
the one without weakening the other.
1t is the combined action of these
two principles, which gives our dem
oeratic representative system its pow
er of expansion, and makes it work to
the wonder and admiration Of Euro
pean statesmen and philosophers
Leaving the right of selfgovernment
to the people, and removing from the
States all the burdens Of armies, ma
vies, lines of Notifications, diplomatic
representatives, coinage, postal sys.
TENS, and that host of officials which
subtract from productive industry
, and deVour its products in the States
of Europe, it frees commerce and
travel from varying standards Of
weights, measures aud values, from
State tariffs, passports and spying
oficialism; and provides that the citi-
zens of one State may obtain redress
or payment Of claims from those Of
lanother, without the interminable op-