The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-09-07
Letter From the Man Who Capt0red
JEFF Davis.
NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 1872.
L. e. Dudley, Esq., Sss'yo Of Veterans Nation
NJ nnn,,,+.e. E,.6L A..a,,, uot,1 NJ. y<,,E

L. E. Dudley, Esq., Sss'y Of Yeleran.s Nation
al Committee, FstA Arenae Hotel, MsU York.
DEAR Sra: l am just in receipt
of your favor of the 1st inst, in>
viting me to attend and address
the National Convention of Veter-
ans, to be held at Pittsburg on the
18th Of September, and hasten to
assure you that, as my sympathies
are now, and always have been,
heartily enlisted in the cause OF the
Republican party, and it's worthy
standard bearers, I shall "attend
to muster" and give the best an
swer possible when my name is
called. Had the canvass now in
progress been conducted with pro-
per respect for the Presidential Of
fee, or with becoming regard for
thes exaulted character and great
public services of General Grant, l,
for one, might have pleaded the
pressure of business rs an excuse
for not participating actively in
public meetings; but under the
circumstances, / do not feel at lib
erty to decline, nor do l see how
any one who has served under
General Grant, and known him as
l have known him-a brave aad
magnanimous soldier, devoted,
above all things to his duty, a pure
minded and upright patriot; an un-
selfish and honest man, in every
station of life-can fail to do his
part toward making the Conven-
tion Of Veterans success, and
returning their chieftain to the
high Office he now fills so ably and
satisfactorily. There was time
when no man dared to charge Gen.
Grant with corruption, when all
eyes were turned toward him as
the saviour of his country, and
when all lips were glad 10 SOUND
the praises Of his virtues" He was
then no immature or untried pub
lie servant, but the successful com
mander Of our armies, who had
never abused or betrayed our trust
never wantonly injured fellow
being, and leaSt of all, never len
his influence or his name to an &C
ton Of doubtful patriotism. His
character has undergone no changt
| since he became President; he il
as worthy now Of the public prais,
as when lie was first elected; his
virtues have stood the test of civi
office; he is now what he has alway.
been, plain, straig ght-forward man
who acts in public life as in private
upon the principle that clear ant
sound dealing is the chief honor o
his nature. He hstes nothing .bu
what is dishonorable, fears nothiny
but what is ignob!e, and Loves
nothing but what is just and good
In all his trials. whether civil OF
military, he has remained "unshak
en, unseduced, unterrified." H
has never betrayed the country
nor its cause by soaking to maxi
peace at the cost Of broken ant
dismembered Republic. He neve
consented to remand one human
being back to slavery, much les
four millions. On the contrary
he vas the first of our great Gen
erals to declare openly that b
never would agree to max
peace, so long as single slav
should be left in the land. No
withstanding his earnest efforts t.
suppress the rebellion, he has don
more than any other man, excep,
ing Mr.. Greeley, ''to bridge til
bloody chasm" between the Mort
and the South, althoueh h it must
confessed he has shown no dispt
sition to see it filed with the boz
les Of our colored Sellow- citizen
He is, in fact, better friend to th
South to-day than Mr.. Greeley;
better Democrat, considered, eye
from Southern standpoint, and
better Republican. no matter ho
he may be considered. His pc
sonal and political associations al
better, his character is more stab
and his judgment is sourder. Wi,
his actual experience and succe.
as President, ne is better qualific
than ever, and l trust, will be tr
umphantly reelected.
Every soldier who served unde
Or fought against him, should vo
for him rather than for Mr.. Gre,
ley, who is not only unstable I
WATER" but has been conspicuous
wrong at the vital epoch of evel
vital question which has agitate
the country for the lasttwenty Fl,
years.
Hoping the Veteran Conventie
may be an entire success,
Iremain, very truly yours,
1Ao M WYreor