The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-07-07
HENRY WILSON.
A Letter from the Yice-President ON his
Late Trip---The Presidency and
the Republican Party.

ser:
Recognizing to the fullest extent the
right of the press to review and criticlse
the words and acts of public men, claim
the right and believe it to be sometimes
the duty of those so criticised to vindicate
those words and acts. Acting upon these
convictions l purpose to notice some
adverse criticisms that have recently
appeared in few republican presses.
HIS TRIP.
Eight years ago there was printed at
the capital journal which assumed to be
the organ of Andrew johnson and the
exponent of his policy" That journal
still lives and seems to be hugely gratified
with the imputed reputation of being the
organ of the present administration. Re-
Gently returned from a short journey in a
few of the States, South and West, | find
myself and trip to have been the innocent
cause of extreme solicitude to the conduct
who inspire ii, if there be any, of which
| entertain more than doubt. But all
such solicitude, assure them, is uncalled
for. That little journey Of mine was but
the carrying out of advice to take few
weeks of rest before | commenced upon
the task | had marked out for the summer
and autumn. Kindly welcomed by the
people of both races, by Democrats, Re
pubDicans and Conservatives, | visited
colleges, schools and marts of varied in
dustries. Being welcomed by people and
presses of every shade of opinion, said
nothing in the twenty-nine brief addresses
| made of public affairs or of party politics.
/ spoke of law, order, peace ; Of industry,
material development, education temper
ance of Justice to black men and gem
eIous policy to white men. / visited the
graves of jackson and Clay, of Taylor
and Polk, of Crittenden, Bell and Ben
ton. visited, too, a dying ex-Vice-
President and chatted a moment with
Mrs Jefferson Davis in the streets of
Memphis. Never did l make a more
innocent or agreeable journey than was
crowded into those six weeks. But find
on my return that allthis was very "signif-
icant" These welcomes from all without
distinction of race or color; these brief
speeches, this visit to the couch of
dying man, that little talk with the wife
of the President of the late Confederacy,
were full of meaning. The " wandering
Nice-President was too unanimous, he
was {" the victim of Presidential aspira-
TONS end he must be rebuked as other
gentlemen suspected of like desires had
been.
THE PRESIDENCY.
To all this I-reply that indulge with
thousands of my countrymen the idea
that the Presidency is lofty and respon-
sible position that to be elected to that
high office, and clothed with its vast
powers for good by 10000, 900, is an
honor by the side of which uncounted
wealth must weigh as nothing. But,
notwithstanding this high estimate, l
assure the organ and all others alike ex-
ercised that there is not one being in all
this broad land to whom | have ever
written, spoken or even limited that L
desired, hoped, expected or intended to be
a candidate | assure them, too, that l
have been so neglectful, not to say dis
courteous, as not to reply to letters
written me upon q subject these lmagl-
native ones deem me so interested in.S 1t
may soothe their anxiety further if l as
sure them that have neither money nor
patronage nor an organ ; that l never
made a promise, in a political life of
thirty-fve years, to give office or patron
age to persons or presses for votes or IN
huence, and that / never intend to Go so.
No money! no patronage! no organ
Surely this pitiable condition should con-
sole and reassure, if it does not placate,
these distressed gentlemen who see such
mighty influences in money, patronage
and organs, and protect me from their
iealousies and their suspicious.
But there is another offence, hardly less
heinous. On the morning of my return
to New York was visited by a reporter
of the Tribune, who propounded serveral
questions concerning my visit and the
condition of public and party affairs.
Those questions | answered frankly, as
would have done for any other paper,
and these answers were published without
any revision of mine. They were intend
ed to reach and influence, if possible,
those republicans who supported Mr..
Greeley and the tens of thousands of re-
publicans who aided last year by their
votes, or by not voting at all, in losing
two-thirds of the States we had carried in
1872, aud in converting a republican
majority of $50, 900 to minority of $780,
900. They who do not see that these re-
publicans of 1872, and those now deeply
dissatisfied, but who are still proud of the
record the party has made, hold in their
hands the fate of the next Presidential
election, little comprehend the condition
of public affairs and of what is necessary
to success.
A journal that does not see the wisdom
of trying to influences dissatisfied repub-
licans says that the Tribune has said
sundry unkind things of me, and ii
taunts me with being tthe most forgivine
of men" and declares that my action may
be excellent Christianity" but it is not
IS self-respect or manliness." | came
to the conclusion years ago that life Is toe
short to be spent in revenging mere per
sonal wrongs, and have been for long
while forgiving men and presses that have
said unkind, unjust or untruthful thing:
of me. expect to forgive those who are
so foolish as to say untrnthful things OF
me now They need forgiveness, and il
/ can act in the spirit of 8 excellen
Christianity" can afford to let my ''self
respect and nay :" manliness" take carr
of themselves
| DTsREsPEcr TO THE EXECUTIVE.
am accused, too, of not treating tn
President with becoming respect Where
When Howl | am surely unconsciou
of any such purpose. have seldom oh
truded my opinions upon the President
and whenever / made suggestions it ha
been because / religiously believed tina
what deferentially suggested would b
for the credit of his administration, tn
success of the party and the good of tn
nation. Ny opposition to the third tern
folly has been construed, too, into opposi
ton to the President. But nothing is NOR
| rn4rno When / saw that issna raised an.