The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-02-20
More New Departures,

| we direct attention to the letter, puO
lished elsewhere, from Hon. Jacob
Brinkerhoff to Mr. Stallo of Cincinnati:
in which the late Chief Justice gives the
fullest Endorsement to the proposed Ma
tional Convention of Reform Republi
cans, ard promises to be present at its
deliberations Judge Brinkerhofr was
one Of the founders of the Republican
party in Ohio, and his integrity and
ability has been recognized by three
successive elections to the highest Court
Of the State. He has served ffteer
years as Justice of the Supreme Court
and three years Of this term as Chic
Justice He declined denomination in
1870. Judge Brinkcrhooff's letter pre-
sents one of the most concise arraign-
ments of the Grant administration we
have yet seen and his declaration "that
it was not the results we, now see that
such men as Tod and Brought among
the dead, and Matthews and Hoadly
and thousands of others, among the
living, stepped out from the ranks OF
old affiliations, and fell into line with
the cohorts Of Republicanism," is as
true as gospel truth.
By the same mail that We received
Judge Brinkerhoff's letter comes a more
lengthy paper from Cassius NJ. Clay, OF
Kentucky, addressed to the Missouri
state Convention, but not received in
time to be read before that body. Cas-
sius NJ Clay was the pioneer Republi-
can Of Free Soiier in the Southern
States, and wher that party limited it
self to preventing the spread of slavery,
he took holder ground and became an
ont and out Abolitonist in his own
State of Kentucky We make this ex-
tract from Mr.. Clay's letter, which illus
trates its nervous power and great truth
fulness:
IF the Democrats are wise and just,
the blacks, five millions Of the South,
will vote with the South; not because
they are Democrats or Republicans, but
because they are Southerners No man
is more an Unionists than I, yet l can.
not fail to see that there are New Eng
land interests, Western interests and
Southern interests-all OF which are and
must ever he distinct-and yet all, the
Constitution being intact, are compatl
Bile to national unity. As a Southern
man in this seEse, l have devoted by
life to the overthrow of slayery-be-
cause it was unjust to the black, and a
cause of weakness to the white.
Slavery being dead, I-fesist with the
same earnestness that l did its existence,
the attempt of the Grant conspirators
to submerge the South, and to make us
provincial for all time to a more than
Roman imperialism.
I denounce the attempt to weaken us
by studied policy of arraying the
blacks against the whites. l denounce
the design Of barbarizing us, by the
corrupt and irresponsible rule of men
from the North, who have no common
interest in our affairs, who divide our
people and waste our substance.
I denounce the attempt to reverse the
natural order Of things, by subjecting,
by constitutional changes and ingeni
ously contrived laws, the Intelligence
and property Of the State to ignorance
and pauperism.
l Idenounce the enmity Of the, Grant
rule to the independence of Cubs; he
cause they know that Cuba must in in
terest finally gravitate towards and be-
long to the South.
I denounce the union of the powers
of the executive, judicial and Legislative
departments, in the military head OF tue
nation
/ denounce the ncpotism, favoritism
and corruption and prescription of the
Grant administration.
l denounce the scheme of suhjecting
men and measures to the sole end Of re
electing q military chieftain.
And last, and above all, l protest
against the unconstitutional and des-
potic interference with the right of
peaceabe assemblage of the people and
the ballot box by the frequent and alar-
ming use Of the cartridge box.
The denomination and election of
Grant is to consolidate all these usurpa
tions and abuses, and open highway
to the overthrow of all our liberties.
Mr.. Clay concludes by giving his
warm support to the movement inaugu
rated in Missouri, i,predicting its triumph
ant success. and that by it ''peace and
brotherhood will be restored. and the
union of these States be made as secure
aud permanent as is allowed to the
works of man" .
The Clays and Brinkerhoffs will soon
crowd the mails With their protests
against Grantism. There are hundreds
holding their views in every county of