The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-08-15
The Letter or General Dix Declaring
for Rrant =
WEsrnAlIrroN, July

" ~ AAa AllNf July -, iSf--
DEARSIR-YOur letter Of the 18th
inst, asking my aid to procure a
speaker for Greeley meeting ut Han
cock, was sent To me while / was in
New England, and I have been an
able until now 10 acknowledge its rt-
eeption.
do not understand on what ground
you consider yourself authorized To
address such 4 request to me. If YOU
had been familiar with the course of
my public life, and equally 50 with
Mr.. Greeley's, you could nOthaye sup
posed me capable OF advocating his
election to the Office Of President Of
the United States without imputing
to me the utter abandonment of ali
political principle.
i am opposed TO Mr.. Greeley:
l. Because / believe him to be as
''un stable As water,p perpetually
fi0undering ito carry out the Scrip
tural tigure) amid the suTges of Opin-
ion, and deficient in all the requisitfes
essential to firm, steady and con-
sistent administration of tie Govern
m ent.
,. Because he has usually been
found among the most extreme ultra
lists on the great question, Of political
and social duty, which have been
brought under public discussion dur
ing the last quarter Of a century.
5. Because he has been the aCVO-
cate (and in this instance persistent
ly) of the most unjust and unequal
commercial system which is destroy
ing our mercantile system and shin
ping interests and heaping up en0r-
nous accumulatiOns of wealth in the
hands Of the protected classes to the
oppression and impJverishmenL Of
all others.
4. Because he is associated, in re-
latiOns more or less intimate, with
some of the chief plunderers of the
City of New York, justly warranting
the apprehension that through his
completely or his facile disposition, the
same system of fraud and corruption
which has disgraced the Municipal
Government of this city may be car
ried to more infamous extremes in the
administration of the Federal Gov
eminent; and,
5. Because, in the darkest hour of
the eOuntry's peril, when a traitOrous
combination had been formed tOOver-
throw the Government, he openly
cOunseled the cOwardly policy of nom
resistance, and an aequiescenee in the
dissolution of the Union, whenever
the cotton States should make up
their minis to go.
The coalition which has been form
ed to promote his election is Que of
the most extraordinary in the history
of parties, in respect both to the dis
cOrdant elements it embraces and the
surrender of principles it involves.
The Cincinnati Convention, called
to bring before the people important
measures of reform nominated him, /
greatly to the surprise OF the whole
country, knowing hun, in regard TO
one of those measures, to DE an i'm
placable OppOnent-nOminated him,
too, against the wishes and judgment
of the CHIEF promoters OF the move
ment, who accepted him, either with
an avOwed or an ill-cOncealed disgust,
which would be far more creditable to
their feelings if the act OF acceptance
were not utterly irrecOncilable with
their principles.
The Democratic Convention at Bal
timOre indOrsed and commended him
TO the support Of their party-nOt as
the exponent Of any principles they
have prOfesSed, or any measures they
have advocated, but rs known and
bitter opponent Of bOth-the man
who, perhaps, of all others, has been
the most maligant OF the Democracy,
impeaching its integrity, traducing
its EaOtiVes and Villifying its character.
The adoption of such a man as their
candidate for the Chief Magistracy Of
the Union is the most conspicuous
abandonment Of political principles
known to party contests.
1t remains to be seen whether the
great body of the Democratic voters,
and the true friends Of reform can be
made parties TO this INSCRIPTIONS
coalition between political leaders.
That General Grant has committed
mistakes, his most sincere friends adj
NIT. But if his errors had been four
fold more numerous he would, in my
opinion, be a much better Chief Mag
istrate than Mr.. Greeley. He has, in
that capacity, done much for which he
deserves the thanks of the country.
Above all, he has kept it at peace,
Notwithstanding the efforts OF sensa-
ton journals and popularity seeking
politicians to provoke hOstilities with
Spain on the question Of Cnha, and
with Great Britain on the Alabama
claims and the fisheries.
If, regardless of these titles 10 the
approval Of his fellOw-citiZens, aud Of
his invaluable services during the late
civil war. they should set him aside
for Mr.. Greeley, If the latter, a mere
erratic politician, untried in any inn
pOTtant public trust, should be elevat-
ed 10 the Chief Magistracy Of the
UniOn-a Union which would not now
exist if his cOunsels hal been follow
ed-and If the man who, OF all others,
has done the most to preserve 10
should be discarded for successor so
i'll qualified and 50 INSCRIPTIONS ly
nominated and sustained, the exam
pie would be most deplOrable in its in
fiuence on all high motives to pOliti-
cal action, and justify the most pain
ful fOrebOdings as to the future. 1 am
respectfully yours,
JOHN a. DIX.
l.