Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-10-12

General W ade Hampton Advises TIL en-
10 Take No Pant i'm the National De n
ocratic Convention--Thc Northern
Democracy Must shape the Policy ef
the Party.
COLUMBIA, Sept. 8, 1871.
Ny DEAR SIR:-The Southern Home
of the 9TH inst, containing your edito-
rial on the policy to be pursued by the
southern states in reference to the next
National Democratic Convention, reach
ed me day or two ago, and along with
it the letter in which you were kind
enough to ask my opinion on this ques-
ton. Though | cannot fatter myself
that any opinions / may entertain can
have the weight your partialitv would
induce you to attach to them [ most
cheerfully comply with the request con-
tanned in your letter, because 1t is only
by consultation and discussion among
ourselves that we can hope to act judi
ciously and unanimously. 1t would
perhaps be sufficient to say that | con-
cur fully in the views you have express
ed, as to the improperly of the South
taking any part in the approaching
convention: but, in Difference to your
wishes, give briefly the reasons which
have induced the conviction to my
mind.
FlrSt-The Southern delegates in a
national convention could exercise no
influence in shaping the policy, making
up the issues, or selecting the candi-
dates for the next contest, without Sc
riously injuring the prospect of IA Dem
ocratic triumph That this would in
evitably be the case is proven by the
result Of the last Democratic conven-
ton, where the very presence of South
erners was used to prejudice the action
and to defeat the candidates of our
party.
.SCcond-If the Southern delegates
could not with propmety exert any in
fuence in the convention, while their
mere attendance in it might result in
infinite mischief to the Democratic par
ty, it is surely the part Of wisdom to re-
frain from participating III the deliber-
ations of the convention.
IHird-The Northern Democracy
will have to bear the burden of the
fight in the next Presidential contest,
and it is only right that they should
choose the field and select the standard
bearers.
These, in brief, are the reasons, in
conjunction with those You have al
ready so ably advanced, that have con-
WINGED me that our true policy is to alb
stain altogether from all participation
in the next National Democratic Con
vention. OF course, III pursuing TINS
policy, we should take care to have our
conduct and motives fully understood
by our northern friends. We should
say to them chat We are actuated solely
by the desire to promote the success OF
Democratic principles and Democratic
candidates that we wish to leave them
free to act as the best interests of our
party demand; and that ne plcdge
Hcnl IN the contest al the aid ne can
gicc, only asking them to gire as 4
gCcG pldtcr??2, dlt2 q" occcgt0hic cu)}-
2idutcs rs Hey can, When the plat
form is announced, and the candidates
selected, the Democracy of the south
can ratlfy the action OF the national
convention, and they can use every eff
fort to secure the success of the party,
for on its success depends the existence
of the Southern States. If our people
concur in this policy, arrangements
should be made in each state to carry it
out fully and et1ectually. Should they
not concur, we must, III any event, act
in perfect accord and with entire har-
mony. Too much Is at stake for us to
differ amongst ourselves, and | for one
am willing to WELD my own opinions
for the success of any plan which viii
tend to save the south from ruin.
| am, very respectfully and truly
yours, WADE HAMPTON.
To General D. II, HILL.