New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-09

Am INCAPACITY--MR. GREELEY's VIRTUES.
NV DEAR -: You ask my opinion in rela-
a., q, the approaching Presidential election and the
n,,ivo merits of Grant and Greeley. An application
MI greeley the subject, to Whelaw Reid the
snaeng editor OF THE TRIBUNE would have rendered
unnecessary any such inquiry because, on inc 2Oth OF
Nav ISL addressed letter TO THE TRIBUNE, which
Mr. Reid caused TO he put into type the proof OF which
Icarefuy read, and which was 20 have been puoished
IN THE TRIBUNE the 3lst. in which formally pro
tasted against the denomination Of Gen. Grant or Of any
incumbent Of the Presidency, violation of funda
mental principle Of the Wing and Republican parties
sailed from New-York on the Slst Of May, 1871 for
England and up to this time have never been Informed
why my letter suppressed after II had been accepted
and placed in type. presumed, however that 1t was
deemed nltimed 20 oppose the denomination OF
f,en Grant at so early day, and had discharged
nv whole duty the premises and as has always been
nv custom, had frankly avowod my opinions in regard
Ia matter with which was directly concerned, gave
the al lir no further thought
You need not he told that from 1927 TO sCl-a period OF
"a vearI WAS the sole responsible editor Of The Courier
and OF The Courier and Bnqrer-responsibe alike Tor
It's errors Judgment, nseparabe from an independent
journal controlled by mind only, and for the good
which did and always must result from the pellecty
honest fearless advocacy of what the writer believes
he sound political principles ana the duties OF lnd'u
uais TO each other and to society You are aware 'o
that abandoned the support Of Gen. jackson my ou
commander TO advocate whose election left the arm!
when he ceased to a Tariff man, opposed the reena
OF the United states Bank, and as Thought ~, o
removed from its custody the public moneys h
in accord these great measures in 1873 anu -, op
as have not changed my viewsin relation " Wv ,
10 this day. necessarily opposed hs -
Presidency. and did all in my power " UNIV
all the clements OF opposition IN 1871 49,. .,,,,.,a
Iacc.-i,uev wrote from Baltimore leitei' pupiisHou
=, TsC 80. and Enquirer in which recommended
a., rho Adams men, the National Republicans anti
Masons and antJackson should all abandon thelr
respective names and unite in one great national party
Ia le known as Wing, because we we're all batting III
behaf of the Constitution and against the one-hah
mover On the evening of the day that INV letter was
published being in Washington, there assembled at
old Masonic Hall, in Broadway, the largest pohtch
meeting ever known the United States up to that time
IL was composed Of all who sought reform IN puohc
affairs and the late Philip Hone, then the most usuh
nished citizen OF NewYork called upon to preside
on taking the chair he read TO the assembled multitude
oomprng all the elements of opposition to the then
Government my letter and its recommendations ana
moved that from that time forth should assume the
name of "Whig" and inscrbe Oh our banner my other
Recommendation. viz.
HE oSR-TERA PRINCIPLE.
MIR. Homes recommendation was unanimously
adopted. From Maine TO Louisiana it was enthusiast
eay responded 10. And from that time there were but
two parties in the United States, the Wings and the
Democrats, and the wings unalterably pledged to the
oneterm principle, except in time of whom, as
~ANA---A-~'-NN
The Democracy in 1870 ventured to violate this sound
prineiple in the nomination OF Martin Van Buren,, and
the result was his overwhelming defeat Gen jackson
was reelected in 1882 but from that time 10 the present.
now 40 years no incumbent has been reelected or even
renominated TO the Presidency, except Abraham Lin
coin and he solely the country was involved III
war and his nomination no violation Of great
principle because as he in the habit OF saying,
men do not stop to swap horses when crossing
dangerous ford" Tyler, Polk Fillmore Pierce buchanan
ana johnson, all desired a denomination, and so admin
isterod the Government it. But the will Of
the people was too well their leaders to permit
them 10 violate the Oneterm principle 10y nominating an
incumbent Of the Presidential chair for reelection
Not only was the Wing party from its origin to its be-
ing merged In the great Republican party OF today
pledged 10 the term principles but so universally
popular that principle with the people Of all parties,
that even the Democracy never ventuTed to act in oppos
ton 10 it. General Grant, like all his predecessors
placed in nominations by the Wing and Republican
parties, fully pledged to this great principle and
TO secure his nomination. he authorized Colonel Iorney
10 make proclamation Of his adherence TO it; and most
assuredy, l. Of all Others matter how earnestly ad-
yOeated Grants nomination in 1868, could not be eX-
peced repudiate 1872 the dOngs and writings or
10y whole political life. During the fortyhve years that
have played not unimportant role in the history OF
parties in the United States / always avOwed
that / personally, as well as the paper
controlled was bound by Party, just far Party
necessary TO sustain and develop the principles advO
Gated and no further, and time and again have de-
mOnsraed sincerity of this declaration by refusing
Iay support, and the support Of The Courier and En-
qtirer 20 bad matter how regularly nominated
and to movements based expedeney in violation of
the recognized principles OF the party with which
connected Therefore 1t was, that in May 1871, leay
ing the country, left behind appeal to my old
friends and associates and the tens Of thousands of
the old readers Of The Courier and Enquirer, 10 stand
firm by the leading principles Of the Wing and Repub
Iican parties, and repudiae the who in 1865
cure the nomination and support of the Repub
Hean party sOlemnly pledged himself to the one
term principle; and now, in violation Of that pledge
cheerfuy and voluntarily given unsorupuously repud
atos IT, and prostitutes his high office the revival Of
practice which, in every form known 10 gentlemen and
Of honor, he sOlemnly pledged TO diseOunte
and discredit.
GRANTS REPUTATION OF HIS PLEDGE.
If there other for opposing the reGlec
hon Of President Grant, his dshonorabe reputation Of
his solemn pledge to sustain the term principle"
would, my judgment, be good cause for a sufficient
number Of the Republican party to abstain from voting
his defeat The object of the one term prn-
epe" place 1t of the power Of the incumbent
Presidency to prostitute his high office to the pro-
curing denomination and reelection, and TO render 10
his well his duty 10 administer the Gov
srnment for the benefit Of the whole country by ami
biating the possibility Of a reelection And if there
intelligent man who doubted the policy and
wisdom of such plank in the platform of political par
ties most assuredy Gen. GranVs administration Of
the Government since he came into Office should
move such doubt No entertained higher hopes OF
what be would do, sanguine expectations Of
what he could accomplish than did; and
greatly doubt whether any one OF his fellOwctzens
ever urged upon him strenuousy his duty 10 the
country TO become the candidate Of the party which had
Put down the Rebellion and, as the President Of the