The Van Buren press., 1872-07-23
NO. IL.
A Letter on the "Situation from Old
con Weles.

con Welles.
The following letter from ex Secretary
Of the Navy, under Abraham Lincoln's
administration, Gideon Welles, has been
handed us for publication 1t was ad-
/ dressed 10 prominent citizen OF st.
Louis some time ago, but the permission
of the writer to its publication was only
lately rcceived-St Louis Times.
We were good deal disappointed
with the result at Cincinnati. Ii would
have been difficult to find a more disa-
greeabe and Objectionable candidate to
three. fourths of the men who must vote
for him if he is to be elected, than Hor-
ace Greeley.
am not one of the extreme opponents
of his protection theory, indeed never
was demented on the subject Of free
trade or protection, they are questions
which never have and never will divide
parties points of expedency-
men in each organization will take op
posing views.
But, while have for lifetime, been
opposed to Greeley on most subjects, |
think him infinitely preferable to Grant.
The question is not, in my view, per-
sona one. and ought not to be so con
sidcrcd The Republican party has per
formed its mission Its organization Is
KEEP, up and prolonged, not to promote
essential principles, not for the best in
terest of the country, but to subserye the
selfish purposes of few individuals who
have their own ends to accomplish. li
Under these circumstances, change oi
administration is absolutely necessary.
Wo must get rid of Grant, Grantism, and
the hateful policy which for several years
has been pursued, or our federaiive sys
TEN of the United States will be entirely
subyerted. The structure OF our gov
ernment, State aud National, is, hold,
the most beautiful ever devised by man
for q great continent, but for few years
past there has been q tendency to cen
traism which threatens destruction. Let
| the government become consolidated,
and disruption will soon follow. We
shall be broken up into sections and war.
ring factions Grant has evidently no
comprehension Of our governmental sys-
TEN, nor does he care much for it. To
command and obey are his ideas OF gov
ernment lie knows nothing OF consti-
tutional restraints. The place he occu-
pics he considers his rights-a perqnisite
he has earned Congress had scarcely
adjourned twelve hours before he left the
seat of government for Long Branch.
His ease and comfort, not the welfare Of
forty millions of people, arc alone con
sidcrcd
Now we must get rid of this man and
his evil surroundings. Greeley is not
ihs instrument e,. gf u ~ ts have v.ids. s;a;' os
an improvement on the present state OF
things. A crooked stick may be made
available to beat mad dog. 1t Is nee.
essary we should dismiss minor diff
fercnoes and concentrate on one candi-
date. If we cannot have our first choice
let us have the best we can get, and be
successful 1t is not alone a change of
President, but the change Of the Nation
al Legislature IT we can elect new
chief magistrate, we can elect new and
better Congress We shall rescue the
government from unconstitutional hands
and from military rule.
Some OF the extreme and impracticablc
/" free traders, as they call themselves,
propose new ticket. This, IL it can do
anything, will aid Grant and the existing
evils. Why talk Of free trade and reve
nue., when the government itselfis in per.
il? II mans existence was cndanger-
ed, and he could be rescued and saved,
it would be the extreme of absurdity to
suspend all efforts in his behalf until we
could decide how he should be clad or
what he should eat am for rescung
the government. preserving free institu-
tons, before contending on mere matters
of expediency--whether our resources
from imgorts shall DO increased or d;-
minshed.
Grant has not single qualification
for chief magistrate. Greeley has some.
Grant has some vulgar cunning, and in
extremely selfish and avaricious. Gree
ley has intellect and generous and patri.
otc instincts If he is elected, he will
have new aud different Congress, and
all Presidents are more or less influenced
by their friends
am yours, very truly,
GIDEON WILLEs.