The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-16
OPINION OF AN OLD DEMOCRAT.

OPINION OF AN OLD DEMOCRAT.
a prominent Democratic member from enc Of
the Western States, who has been In Congress
over ten years, and Is one OF the ablest on the
floor, said the other day to me that from pres.
ent appearances he was afraid that Grant
he was afraid of 1t, and why he wanted Grant
renominated, he said he believed he was the
only man that tae opposition could beat, and
he was really afraid ne could not be nominal
ed. The nomination of Grant would furnish
him the only hope Of success for the party
which he represents.
nate any man but Grant at Philadelphia you
will beat US out Of sight; but If you nominate
Grant he will be overwhelmingly defeated,
and mark what say. Do you think Grant
can beat the party holding nearly all the
Southern States, large portion Of tne West vest
nectictt, New Jersey and Massachusetts,, and,
perhaps, New York and Pennsylvania, to say
nothing of the immense body Of Republicans
who have sloughed of from the party since 1t
has been In the keeping of the present admin
istration ?" asked this gentleman what the
Democrats wanted. He answered very quickly
that they would prefer to nominate and elect
their own men for President and Yice-Presi.
dent, such men as Hancock, Hendricks, Chase,
Thurman, Charles Francis Adams, Groesbeck,
or somebody of such standing, who was either
straight out Democrat, like Hancock, Hen
bricks and Thurman, or a moderate Democrat
like Groesbeck, Adams and Chase; that he was
not sure that any man from that number could
not be elected In case Grant Is ren0minated,
but that the chances would be against 1t. II
1t was thought that 1t would be hazardous TOR
the party to make nominations Of that charac-
ter, he would cheerfully forego his preference
the whole party would, to any course which
promised the defeat of Grant and the selection
Of better man.
SOUTHERN SENATOR,
who has had a long and varied experience In
public life, In high State offices, In the State
Legislature, In the lower House of Congress and
elsewhere, stated the other dag that he would
he was properly brought before the people.
He also stated, with emphasis, which must
have sprung from knowledge, that Garrett
Davis would go for his namesake, Judge Da-
Wis; that Chief Justice Chase would 60 for
Trumbull willingly, even gladly; that ne posi-;
lively knew that Charles Francis Adams would
90 for either Judge Davis or Trumbull. He
also believed that with one or two exceptions
all the Democrats In both House and Senate
would vote for any Conservative Republican
candidate In place of submitting another
four years to the present manner OF
ocrats, so far as I have been able 10
learn, would be satisfied with either Trum-
bull or Davis, with candidate for vice-Presi.
dent of conservative Democratic tendencies,
or even of the same temper as those gentle.
men. In the presence Of two or three Demo-
cratic senators, the other night, a high admin
istration of1ce.holder, remarking on the pos.
sum policy OF the Democrats, said: "Wait until
after the New Hampshire and Connecticut
elections, and then they will speak out"
s'On the contrary" said one Of the seDa-
tors, "they will be more quiet than ever.
The Democratic party has been very unwlse
In the past but am glad to see tnat 1t Us is
adroit than in the past, and It's recent defeats
have served as useful lessons to 1t. The
party will make no mistake In the coming
campaign. believe me. Now, If the Republic
can Convention, which met before ours, bad
not nominated Grant, We should have felt
obliged to do so for the same reason that the
Republicans made use of-namely, that he
was available. AS for his accepting such a
nomination, have no doubt he would have
accepted 1t as quickly as he accepted the .le-
publican nomination. On the other hand, II
the Democrats at the convention IN New York
had nominated Chase instead of Seymour, l
am not sure but he would have BEEN elected.
IsIf Grant Is nominated at philadelphia the
Democrats will keep very quiet in Ter to
allow the independent Republicans tv meet
and present candidates, and form the nucleus
of great movement. Then .he Democrats
will come out, hold a convention, and confirm
the nominations If they happen to be Davis or
of course, is out of the question. He ls broken
down physically, and his mind Is failing rap
idly. J.
I find there is very strong and very earn
est feeling here 10 favor OF Greeley for Vice
PRESIDENT and it has been gathering force for
the past week or more, until 1t has become