Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-10-12

Winchester, on the 18th prOXlmo, by those ID
voring the election Of Greeley and Brown.
am rather inclined to the opinion that this in-
vitatiou has been sent me inadvertently, or at
least in ignorance Of the views heretofore ex-
pressed bv me in regard to the adoption Of the
Cincinnati platform aud nominees; neverthe-
less, / will take the occasion 10 express some
sentiments, which trust may not be without
their use in the present conjuncture of affairs
In our State and do this the more readily
because some friends, for whose opinions have
great respect. think that there are some voters
whose action may be affected by my views
Ia the first place, | must say that did not ap-
prove of the policy of the adoption Of the Gin
ciunati platform or Nominees by the Baltimore
Convention, aud | do not now recognize its
wisdom. Both the platform and nominees are
exceedingly Objectionable 10 me, and | have
expressed myobectionS to them in very strong
terms-more strongly IN private than by any
public declaration but the choice has been
made without any agency of mine, and it is
very certain that either Greeley or Grant must
be elected President Of the United States. Ia
this coujuncture, the question presents itself to
all those Virginia Conservatives who dsap-
proved the action of the Baltimore Convention,
what action their duty to their State re-
duires at their hands Shall they unite with
their bitter and vindictive foes in the support
of the present incumbent or shall they stand
al0of from the contest and incur the risk of the
States going by default into the hands Of the
Radical party; or shall they unite with their
friends and save the State to the Conservatives q?
One of these three courses they must adopt. and
L Il laft IA
latter two has been to me matter Of very
serious consideration. | hare said that l
would stand aloof from the struggle, bat
have been lei to doubt tue proprety Of that
determination, and | am not satisfied with it,.
A support of the Philadelphia nominees by a
true Njrguiau l have regarded as 4 ting not
admissible in any contingency. 1t is very APP
parent that Grant Is a mere puppet in the
hands Of the most unpriucipled and malignant
faction that any country has ever been cursed
with, and he is the mere tool for carrying out
the designs Of such men as Mo ton, Butler,
Carpenter, Cameron, C0nkliug, Boutwell,, &c.
A continuance Of their rule under him is the
continuance Of the oppression and plumber Of
the South in the most revolving forms, and Of
the era Of hatred aud ill-wiIl until the South
EN- people snail be Inundated into the very
dust beneath the feet Of the negroes, the car
pet-baggers and native reuegades. The party
supporting Grant desires aud if possible will
establish the ascendeucy of these negroes, car
pe,-bagse-S, and reneSa3eS in all the Southern
States as they have it now in South Carolina,
Mississippi, louisiana Arkansas, and Texas ;
and If he IS elected all the power and patronage
Of tic government will be used 10 reduce the
people Of Virginia as well as Of the rest Of the
Southern States. TO the condition in which the
people of the States named now are. This
cannot be doubted by any sane man who is
not INDEED by party zeal or by prejudice. 1t
Is very possible that Gralt himSefmay not de-
sire such results, but he is a dull oGtuse,
3 cid man, with no Gated notioas of patriot
ism OF st1tesm3lsl p, VINO seems % care more
for Sc Indulgence and ease than the duties Of
lis pos ion, and leaves the Affairs of govern
msat 10 be managed by those who pauder to
his tastes and provide him the means Of luSu-
Tous diligence, a.er the manner practiced
bv the ministers aud fyorteS of the weakest
and most depvaved of the Roman Emperofs.
] have seen and read " Grants Amnesty Re-
cord, nabshed by the Republican committee
at NaShiagtou, and ranked by the Hon.
Mr.. Platt.' This document has had very
d.ae'eat eject on me, FOR one, from that con-
temp'ated by its author or those wno have un-
de-il6ea Its circulation. If the acts Of
m7guan.mity' and amnesty specified
constitute the best that can be said for Grant.
then he has very little indeed to recommend
him. For a soldier to grant honorable terms
20 an adversary who has shown his prowess in
the most Urmistakab.e manner requires no
very 6 eat stretch Of maguauimity, Tut is gen
orally regarded among brave men as a matter
OF course. and there are numerous instances 10
be found Of such terms granted even by those
we would regard as barbariaus The terms
granted 20 General Lees Army at Appomat-
tCN were matter of stipulation aud not Of
grace and have the authority of General Lee
himself for saying that IL honorable terms had
not been granted bin, he would have made the
effort 20 cut lis way out with the troops left
him. The statement sometimes made that
GRAFT returned General Lees sword to him
has no foundation In fact, for by the very terms
of tie surrender al, officers were allowed to re-
tain their side arms, their private horses. and
baggage. As to The claim in the pamphlet for
maguau'mity on Grants part in interfering to
prevent General Lee from being prosecuted
the obvious answer is that Grants own honor
was involved in preserving inviolate the terms
granted General Lee aud BIS army. Had he
not iaterie.ed TO prevent a breach Of faith, he
would have been diShunored in the view Of
honorable wcH Of all nations and the man
who then acted as his counsellor and guide had
tae sa.ac.ty to see ii, and prompt him as to
the course necessary for the protection Of his
own fame. The partial amnesty granted to
those disqualified FOR office by the ll,h amend
meut IN order % affect an approaching cleo
UJu when claimed as an act Of maguanim;ty
on the part Of the man who used all the in
dueuce Of lis Office and patronage to obtain
the passage Cf the ku-k'UX laws aud tie sus-
pension Of TIE Wit Of h1Jeas corpus, and then
proclaimed an iusuTrectiou ia South Clro'iua,
aud called upon the people to disperse when
they were quietly at their homes, looks Ike
m1ckery. There Is nothing in Grants am
uesty record % Invite CJusejerates to his sup
port nor is there anything very remarkable
in bis acknowledgement Of the " manhood" Of
The Coutcdyratgs lie had had good reason TO
know il.
Gibb0n SAYS Of Marcus Aurelius Antonius:
Sc He was severe TO himself, indugent to the
impertectioas Of others, just AMI leaefcent to
I'D, mankind He regretted that Ayidius Cas-
>ius. who excited a rebellion In Syria, had
disappointed hun, by voluntary death. Of the
pleasure Of converting an enemy into a friend :;
aud De justified the sincerity Of that sentiment
by modsratug the zeal Il the Senate against
the alherentS Of the traitor
Cpmpare Grant To this picturp If the heath