The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-06-21
JOHN B. GORDON.
A Temporary Alliance to Rescue the
Constitution no Dishonor.

ing the authority Tor sucn announce
ment, as to him. The following was
received in reply to that inquiry:
BALTIMORE, May "a, 1872.
My DEAR SIR: Your letter ad-
dressed to me at New York is re-
ceived; and | hasten to give frank
answer to the question it contains,
since merely the compliment con-
veyed in the request that ] define
my position upon the matters now
absorbing the thoughts of Demo-
Gratis, but the duty incumbent upon
every man in this crisis to see that
his position is neither misunderstood
nor misrepresented, demand both
frankness and promptitUds.
You ask me first, whether | have
"declared for Greeley" | answer,
"No."
You ask, also, if it be true that ]
'lavor his election 2" II you mean
by this question to ascertain merely
my mdtUid,eal sentiments, | again
answer emphatically "No."
Surely l need not tell you how
gladly | shall lend all the aid in my
power to the support of a Demo
cratic nominee, upon a Democratic
platform, if the assembled wisdom of
the party, in Convention, shall de-
eide upon a nomination.
To elect such ticket, upon such
platform, would be to bring back
life again-to the Republic, rcadjust
the balances of State and Federal
authority, and restore to the people
the Magma Charta Of their liberties.
Indeed, were to consult my mput-
seS alone | should advise a Demo
cratic ticket, a Democratic fight
under Democratic banners, even
though we might not win a Demo
cratic victory.
But if you ask me whether this
be wisdom--whether it be the best
mode TO secure in the end the tri-
umph Of Democratic principles and
the freedom of our Southern States
from a military despotism--l reply
that this is a question which | can
not as yet--which no man can as yet
presume to answer categorically,
until the situation, its responsible
ties, its opportunities and its perils,
have been discussed by the conven-
ton OF delegates, not yet assembled.
But | will say briefly, that | think
| it is we'll to have a National Conven-
ton. 1t is more than well--it is a.
TIL that the party organize as
Democratic partyI! 1t would be ma
tional calamity-it would be a crime
against posterity to disband an or,
ganization which, for seventy years
has survived foreign and civil con-
vulsions; which has now the proud
satisfaction of seeing some of its
c,,.,I~-.,--,>.-A p.i"eiP'os recoShlZcu
by the wisest of its former antago-
nists and whose history is the histo-
ry of whatever is benefcent, patri-
otto, or glorious in the political ca
rear of the country. Let no Demo
crat, above all, no Southern Demo
crat, talk of disbanding, so long
as there will be need for the party
which has always defended it.
Finally, let me express an earnest
hope that with the treest discussion
and most candid avowal of opinions,
no rash judgment may be formed of
the motives of any. No man is in,
taHJle. All in the South seek,
doubtless, the common good. They
have been too recently purified in
the fires of atfliction to be other than
honest; and suffer too keenly n0tC to
be long in discussing the best mode
of relief. Surely every man must
see that all our strength lies in unity
of action. Let us not divide into
detachments, alienated and embitter
ed by controversies, previous to the
assembling of the Convention.
If it be thought best in order to
defeat the destructive party to whose
misrule the South owes her ruin, and
from which the whole country suf-
fers, to vote even for Horace Gree
lev, let no Democrat strengthen the
hands of his enemies by declaring
that he will not heed the voice of
his party. Most of us have been
soldiers! let us remember wherein
lies the might OF armies. If the
Convention shall say that victory
and relief can be most surely won
by uniting in this battle with all who
oppose Federal usurpations, |, ion
one, am ready to obey its commands.
And should do so without feeling
that our standard had been lowered,
or our honor furnished by thus lock-
ing shields, with former adversaries,
tor final charge. If only by the
temporary alliance of Democrats