The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-05-31
TEMPLE Hull, HARRoDsBURG KY,
May 2lst, 1872.

Col. r. A. johnson, Louisrile Nv:
My DEAR SIR--In answdr to your in
quiries, / have to say, | think the Dem
.ocratic Convention, soon to assemble at
Baltimore, ought to make a nomination,
thereby preserving its Organization and
its power. Non-action Mould be 10
break up It's organization ind disband the
party. Our object is y beat Grantwith
a better man, and to dNge the policy
of his administration. i,iAwe had a fair
chance to elect a Dem6beb | would say
nominate a DemOeratl icket; but be-
lisving, as | do, such IN fination would
drive Greeley from ~ ] ld and elect
Grant, think Tie BE- aJing we can do
i-s---.~--s-,.-c-sa6 --sss-r-rr1rses-
we can't get what Ne want, we must take
the next best thing. We must accom-
modate ourselves to circumstances be-
yond our control. We must recognize
accomplished facts, and act in accordance
with them. 1t is true that Greeley and
Brown, like Frank Blair, have devoted
large portion of their lives to the extinc-
ton Of slavery; but that being an ac-
complIshed fact, from which there il no
escape, turning our backs upon the past,
| see no reason, looking to cur present
deplorable condition, why the Democrat
ic party and the Liberal Republicans
cannot act together in the future, espec-
tally as Mr.. Greeley rs willing to leave
the tariff question to Congress. 1t is
most important for us to get the next
house of Representatives, and we are
pretty sure of that by union of Demo-
Gratis with the Liberals. The Senate
will soon follow. The great object is to
overthrow the present administration, to
cleanse the government of its corruption,
or relieve the South from unheand-of OPP
preston, to get clear Of the mercilss ty-
ranny and foul corruption Of our present
rulers, and to put honest, capable men in
their places, with whom we can act in
good faith in shaping the future policy OF
the Government. As we cannot elect a
Democrat, is there a better way to do
this than TO take the least Objectionable
among the LiberalsY | think Greeley
and Brown are the men. Before the
war, Mr.. Greeley went farther in advo-
eating State rights than many of the
staunehest Democrats. lie held that the
South, under our form Of government,
had the right to secede. He held that
our Government could not force. gov
eminent upon the Southern people and
States contrary to their will, and ought
not to do il. When the war was inevita-
bic, he said, let our erring sisters 60 in
peaee--this Union cannot be held togeth-
en- by bayonets-it cannot be cemented
by shedding the blood of our brothers.
And when the war was over, he and
Brown said, let us obliterate the past.
Let us have universal amnesty-let the
Southern people and States come back
and take their positions as equals without
ilavery, as they had them with slavery,
b the Union before the war. They have
Doen orgiving, just and magnanimous
10 the oppressed people Of the South
'inee the war, Mr. Greeley having def
nuy met the ridicule, frowns and de-
of the iercest illiberals Of
bis party iuyOluntarily going JEFF Davis
lail, They are for combining the Feder-
Il Government TO its legitimate sphere Of
'etiop, allowing the States to regulate
heir local and domestic affairs, They
ire for relieving the South, and the peo-
lie Of the whole country, from the oaths,
and oppression TO which they
AYE been subjected. They denounced the
Administration and the carpet-laggers
md scalawags by whom the people of the
'outh have been prosecuted, oppressed, 4
nd robbed, as ferooly as We DO. They
re forciyil service reform, and depounec