The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-27
Patriotic Letter from Gen. Mcclellan.

Patriotic Letter from Gen. Mcclellan.
BIS VIEWS OF PoL1TICs-LBT THE DEAD PAST
BURY ITS DEAD.
DEAR StR-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of the invitation to meet with the
Tammany Society upon the occasion of the
celebration of the approaching Independence
Day.
I Iregret that circumstances will not permit
me to be in the city then.
At a time like the present it is right to ex-
press once more my deep and abiding interest
in the great principles advocated by the Dem
ocratic party and remembering the former re-
lations between the party and myself, perhaps
it will not seem otficiots if, in accordance with
your request proffer few words to those who
honored me so highly in season of difficulty
Although I have retired from public life it
has been impossible to avoid forming opinions
upon public affairs, and what l have to say
must be regarded simply as the sentiments ofa
private citizen.
The Presidential campaign, so soon to be
opened, is destined to be one Of the most i'm
portant of all that have been conducted.
/ trust that every Democrat will recognize
the magnitude of the issues at stake-no less
it would seem, than the very existence of the
free institutions our fathers gave us, the true
foundations of peace, happiness and prosperity
to bequeath which to our children, we should
be ready to make any honorable sacrifice.
trust that when the moment for action or
rives there will be found none in the Democratic
ranks who will for moment hesitate to sac
rifce personal advantage or private feeling tor
the public good for our object should be not q
tri,po,,h h11t tha of the
try from the hands of those with whom person
al ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and party ends outweigh all
reverence for the vital spirit of our institutions
and desire for the real good of the entire ma
tions.
trust that otlr leaders will clearly see which
of the issues that have so long agitated the
country are irrevocably settled, and that we
shall not be called upon to contend for corpse
Let us leave behind US the dead issues of the
past, and look only to the present and the fu-
ture.
Slavery is dead-dead let it remain forever
and let no one disturb its grave.
The negro has the right to vote-let him
keep it; but strive to educate him to fitness fol
the high privilege conferred upon him. Show
him who his real friends are, and we will event
ually turn in our favor the weapon so carefully
forged for our destruction,
Let us hope that the ennunciatioti of the fl
nancial principles Of the party will be so clear
that no one can cast the shadow of doubtupon
our Intentions as to fulfilling in the broadest
sense all the obligations of the nation; rather
than indulge in abstract discussions as to the
meaning of this or that obligation, let US ad-
vocate and when in power pursue, such policy
as will make the paper dollar as good as the
gold dollar, so that the question will practically
Settle itself
10 secure this result it must be clearly un-
derstood throughout the world that every dol
lar of the principal and interest OF the Ma
tional debt will be fully paid when due; the
expenditures of the general government must
be confined to the sIms requisite to meet the
interest upon the debt, and the expenses neces'
sary to maintain the efficiency and dignity Of
the government; the sums drawn from thi;
generation by the tariff and internal taxation
should be limited to the purpose just mention
| principal of the debt at theexpensc of the gen
eral prosperity of the nation should be aban-
doned.
We have borne the burden of the recent war
and should be called upon to do no more than
meet the full interest upon the debt; another
generation, more wealthy and numerous than
this, can readily take care of the principal.
The issues of the present and the future are
distinct enough, and afford us the most ample
and best battlefield for the approaching con.
test.
Universal amnesty and suffrage; the preser::
vation of the rights of the States as guaranteed
by the letter and true spirit of the Constitution
once held so sacred the preservation of indi
vidual liberty; the inviolability of the right oi
the habeas corpus the maintenance Of the pu-
rity and of tho relative powers of the three
great branches of the general government
strict economy in the administration of the
government; the relief of the business interests
of the country from the ruinous pressure of all
unequal, ill-arranged, and unnecessary bur-
dens; these constitute some of the main issues
upon which we may confidently hope to rest
our chances of success.
With the hope that the principles published
to the world ninety years ago may through,
out all time guide the actions and command
the reverence of the American people, and
apologizing for having trespassed so long on
your time and patience, l am, with great re-
spect, very truly yours,