The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-08-17
ORFIcE oV rHE BALrIMoRE GlERrrE, !
baltimore, .TulB 20, 1872. I

ORFIcE oV rHE BALTImoRE GAZETTE
baltimore, July 20, 1871.
My DEAR SIR: Ever since the ad.
journmeDt of the Baltimore Convention
certain Radical journals have persist
emily misrepresented the course OF prom
inent Democrats, and have sought, in
SVery way, TO place them in false po-
sition before the country. Among the
number you have been frequently men
toned as being hostile to the action of
that body, aud in this way your name
has been used by political tricksters to
promote the success Of the Radical
cause. Without waiting for consulta-
ton with you, but simply relying on my
faith in your exalted patriotism and
unhinching Democracy, have unhesi-
tatingly contradicted all such rumors.
In times past you "have done the
state some service, and they know it,
and on the strength of your past record
| have assumed that in the present po-
litical crisis you will be quite as jealous
as you ever were before in defence o.
constitutional freedom and civil reform.
! need not ask you it am right in this
assumption, because of that | feel as
surod but take the liberty of sug
gesting that at this time your views aud
opinions upon the impending PresideD-
tial contest would afford much gratfca.
tion to the Democratic and Conservative
masses of the country.
Believe me to be, with great respect,
ever your friend, WM, Ii. WELSH
Hon j. s. BLACK.
To VILLAIN II. Welsh, Esq, Editor Of
The baltimore Gazette
My DEAR SIR: promised the gen
tleman who delivered your letter that /
would answer it fully aud as soon as |
could consistently with other engage
ments. | am fulfilling that promise.
If | take more time and space than
might be expected, you will please to
remember that | aud great many other
Democrats are in position which re-
quires something more than a mere
definition. We cannot avoid miscon-
struction without furnishing a rather
full explanation.
admit that the next President must
be Grant or Greeley. The circumstan-
ces Of the political situation limit our
choice to these two men us strictly as
if nobody else were legally eligible. We
must weigh them against one another,
and, like practical men, decide the case
before us in favor of the best Even if
we find no good in either of them, we
must take that one who shall appear to
be least bad
1t is undeaioble that the leading
measures of this Administration are not
only unconstitutional, but anti-consti-
tutional, showing not merely accutempt-
uous Indifference to constitutional obli-
cations, but settled hostility TO those
rights of the States, and those liberties
Of the people which the organic law was
made to secure. The Presidents ap-
pointment of officers and his general
exercise of public authority, under the
influence of men who paid him large
sums of money, are scandalous outrages,
and tho effort to defend them has com
bined with other like causes tended to
extinguish among his subordiuatcs all
respect for those rules Of morality which
used to be held sacred When we con.
slider what these men have done in the
North, aud add to it the large handed
robberies perpetrated in the South by
the retainers Of the President, with his
direct aid and assistance, we are com.
PEELED to acknowledge that no other
government now 10 the world is admin
istered SO entirely for personal and
partisan purposes, or in such complete
disregard for the rights and interests
of the general public. This demorali.
zation is not confined to The Executive
branch, the tide of corruption rolls in
upon the Legislature, and in some
places it has risen high enough to
touch the feet of the Judiciary. Even
the rank aud file of the Presidents par
ty have become debauched, let us hope
not altogether, but certainly 10 fearful
degree. Acts which in former times a
hardened criminal would hesitate to
whisper in the ear Of his accompice
can now be openly advocated by a po-
litical leader, not only with safety, but
with tolerable chance of being sus.
tanned by sort Of public opinion. That
love of liberty aud justice which used
to pervade the whole community now
"reueges all temper" and yields with.
out resistance TO the unprincipled dem
Agogues who would enthrone fraud.
"Make the boar leprosy adored; place thieves,
And give them title, knee and appreciation,
| With Senators on the bench"
Ii General Grant had been equal in
mind and heart to the exigencies Of the
times, he could easily have ihadc him
self great public benefactor. He might
have purified official and political morals
by simply setting the example in his own
person Of clean handed devotion to
duty. His own obedience to the laws
would have restored them to universal
supremacy. All the objects Of the
Constitution as recited in the preamble
would have been accomplished but for the
distractions with which he himself i'm
pcded them. Unfortunately the inter-
ests of certain rings were in conflict
with the interests Of the country, aud
they, by large presents, seduced him
into their service. The public contracted
to give him the salary which his pre-.