The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-07
Cen. Mcclellan Takes the New De-
paItuTe.

read at the Tammany Fonrth Of July cele-
bntion in New York, Tuesday,
NEW York, July l, 1871.
lion. Wa. w. Tirtsd, Grind .Slehem.
DEAR SIR have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of the invitation To
meet with the Tammany Society upon the
occasion Of 1.-THE celebration OF the approach
ing Independence day Ircgret that CIR
cumstances will not permit me 10 be in
the city then. At time like the present
it is right to express once more my deep
and abiding interest in the great princi-
pies advocated by the Democratic party;
and, remembering the former relations
between the party and myself, perhaps ii
will not seem 0tiiciOus if, in accordance
with your request, lprOiler few words
to those who honored ne 50 highly in u
season OF difficulty.
Although have retired from public
life, il has been impossible TO avoid form
ing opinions upon public Affairs, and what
have to say must be regarded simply rs
the sentiments OF private citizen. The
Presidential campaign so soon to be open.
ed is destined To be one Of the most i'm.
portent Of all that have been conducted. !
trust that every Democrat will recognize
the magnitude Of the issues at staku-nO
less, il would seem, than the very exist.
ence Of the free Institutions our fathers
gave us, the true foundations of peace,
happiness, and prOspcrily-LO bequeath
which 10 our children we should he reGdy
TO make any honorable sacrifice. | trust
that when tile moment for action arrives
there will be found none in the Democratic
ranks who will for moment hesitate TO
sacrifice personal advantage or private
feeling for the public good; Tor our object
should be not mere party triumph, but
the rescue Of the country from the hands
OF those with whom personal aggrandize'
mcnt and party ends outweigh all reyer'
enCe for the vital spirit of our institutions
and desire for the real good of the entire
nation.
trust that our leaders will clearly sec
which Of the issues that have so long agi.
tated the country are irrevoCably settled,
and that we shall not be called upon 10
contend for corpse. Let us leave behind
us the dead issues of the past, and look
only to the present and the future. Sla'
very is dead-dead let 1t remain for ever,
and let no one disturb It's grave. The ne
gro has the right'to vOte-let him keep II;
but strive to educate him to fitness for the
high privileges conferred upon him. Show
him who his real friends are, and we will
eventually turn in our own favor the wca.
pons SO carefully forged for our deslruc.
ton. Let us hope that the enunciatiOn Of
the financial principles Of the party will
| he so clear that no one can cast the
shadow Of ad0ubt upon our intentions as
to fulfilling in the broadcast sense all the
obligations Of the nation; rather than in
dulge in abstract discussions rs to the
meaning OF this or that obligation,
let us advocate, and when, in power
pursue, such policy as will make the pa
per dollar as good us the gold dollar, so
that the question will practically settle
itself.
To secure the result, II must be clearly
understood throughout the world that eV-
cry dollar Of the principal and interest OF
the national debt will be fully paid when
due; the expenditures Of the general gov
eminent must be confined TO the sums
requisite to meet the interest upon the
debt, and the expenses necessary TO main
tain the efficiency and dignity Of the Gov.
eminent; the sums drawn from this gen.
Grafton BY the tariff and internal taxation
should be limited to the purposes just
mentioned, and the effort 10 reduce pre-.
maturely the principal Of the debt at the
expense of the general prosperity Of the
nation should be abandoned. We have
borne the burden of the recent war, and
should be called upon to do no more than
meet tue full interest upon the debt; an
other generation, more wealthy and MI
merous than this, can readily take care Of
the principal.
Tic issues Of the present and the future
are distinct enough, and afford lis the
most ample and best battlefield for the
approaching contest. Universal amnesty
and suffrage the preservation OF the
rights OF the States as guaranteed by the
letter and true spirit Of the Constitution,
once held so sacred; the preservation d
individual liberty; the inviolabllitY ofthC
right Of the hdJedS corpus; the nainten
ance OF the purity and Of the relative
powers Of the three great branches Of the
General Government; strict economy ID
,, the administration Of the government
the relief OF the business interests OF the
country from It's ruinOus pressure of al
unequal, ill.arranged and unnecessary
burdens, these constitute some of tile
main issues upon which we may confident
ly hope to rest our chances OF success
With the hope that the principles pub
lished to the world nine.nve years ago
may throughout oil time guide the actions
and command the reverence Of the
American people, and apologizing fol
having tresspassed so long on your time
, and patience, am, with great respect
very truly yours, GEO, b, Mcclellan.