Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-15
Gen. Dix ON the Presidency.


w ESTHAMPTON, july -, ISt2.
Dear Sir,-Y0ur letter of the 18th
inst, asking my aid to procure speak
cr for Greeley meeting at Hancock.
was sent tome while | was in New Eng
land and | have been unable until now
to acknowledge its reception.
do not understand on what ground
Won considered yourself authorized to
address such a request to me. If you
had been familiar with the course of my
public life, and equally 50 with Mr..
Greeley's. YOU could not have supposed
me capable of advocating his election to
the Office of President of the United
States without imputing to me utter
Abandonment Of ali political principle.
am opposed to Mr.. Grecicy
l. Because | believe him to be as ''un-
stable as water" perpctually flOundcrin@
(to carry out the ScripturaI figure) amid
the surges of opinion, and deficient in
all the requisites essential to firm.
steady and consistent administration Of
thr Government.
2 Because he has usually been found
among the most extreme ultraists on the
@reat questions Of political and social
duty. which have been brought under
public discussion during the last quarter
Of century.
3. Because he has been the advocate
(and in this case perSistentlv) of that
most unjust and unequal commercial
system. which is destroying our mercan-
tile and shipping interests and heapin@
up enormous acCumulati0n~ of wealth
in the hands of the projected classes to
the oppression and impovrrisj.m"nt OF
all others
t. Because he is associated in relations
more or less intimate, with some Of the
chief plunderers Of the city of New
York. Justly warranting the apprehen-
sion that through his completely or his
facle disposition, the same system of
fraud and corruption which has disgrace
ed the municipal government of this
city may be carried to more infamous
extremes in the administration Of the
Federal Government; and,
s. Because in the darkest hour of the
country peril, when a traitorous COmhi-
nation had Latm formed to overthrow the
Government. ne openly c0unSeled the
cOWardly policy Of nOn-rcsistance. and
an acquiesccnce in the dissolution of the
Union. whenever the cotton States should
make up their minds to 90.
The coalition which has been formed
to promote his election, is one Of the
most extraordinary in the history of par
ties, in respect both to the djScordau
elements it embraces. and the surrender
of principles it involves.
The Cincinnati convention. called to
bring before the people important meas
ures of reform, nominated him, greatly
to the surprise of the whole country,
knowing him, in regard to one of these
measures. to be an implacablc opponent
nominated him too, against the wishes
and Judgment of the chief promoters of
the movement, who accepted him either
with an avOwed or an ill-COncealed dis
rust. which would be far more creditablc
to their feelings if the act Of acceptance
were not utterly irreconcilable with their
principles.
The Democratic convention at Balti-
more endorsed and commended him to
the support of their party-not as the
exponent of any principles they have
prOfesscd or any measures they have adj
vocated, hut as a known and bitter OPP
pOnent of bOth-the man who, perhaps,
of altothers, has been the most malig-
nant assailant of the Democracy, inn
pcaching its integrity, traducing its mo-
tives and villifying its character.
The adoption of such man as their
candidate for the Chief Magistracy of
the Union is the most conspicuous aban-
donment of political principles known
to party contests.
1t remains to beseen whether the great
body of the democratic voters. and the
true friends of reform, can be made par
ties to this INSCRIPTIONS coalition between
political leaders.
That General Grant has committed
mistakes his most sincere friends admit.
But if his errors had been fOur-fold more
numerous, he would, in my opinion, be a
much safer Chief Magistrate than Mr..
Greeley, be has, in that capacity, done
much for which he deserves the thanks
of the country. Above alf he has kept
it at peace. notwithstanding the efforts |
OF sensation journals and popularity
seeking politicians to provoke hostilities |
with Spain on the question of Cuba, and |
with Great Britain on the Alabama
CLAIMS and the fisheries.
If, regardless of these titles to the |
approval of his fellow citizens, and of |
his invaluable services, during the late
civil war they should set him aside for |
Alf GfccltN III tIlc ldtieF, Il mere tfIdt- |
ic politician, uptried in any important |
public trust, should he elevated to the
Chief Magistracy of the Union-a Union
which would not now exist if his coun- |
sells had been followed-and if the man
who, of all others, has done the most |
to preserve it should be discarded for a
so i'll qualified and so nnscru-
pulously nominated and sustained, the |
example would be most deplorable in !
It's influence on all high motives to po-
litical action, and justify the most pain
ful forebodings as to the future,
am respectfully yours,
JOHN A. DIX.
A. B. CoRNWELL, Esq, Hancock, NY.