The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-08
HENRY WILSON'S DEFENCE.

Letter from the Vice President on His
Late Trip-The Presidency and the Repub-
lican Party.
-. , NAT1ck, MASS, June %, 1875
10 tie Editors of the Boston Daily Advertiser: +:
Recognizing to the fullest extent the right
of the press to review and criticise 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, | propose TO
notice some adverse criticisms that have re-
Gently appeared in a few republican presses,
Eight years ago there was printed at the
capital a Journal which assumed to be the or.
,,an-of Andrew-Johnson and the exponent OF
6is "policy.ns That journal still lives and
seems to be hugely gratifed with the imputed
reputation of being the organ OF, the present
administration. Recently returned from 9
short Journey in few of the States, South and
West. I find myself and trip to have been the
innocant cause of extreme solicitude to the
conductors of this assumed organ, and to those
who inspire il, if there be any, of which en-
tertain more than a doubt. But all such solic-
itude, assure them; is suncalled for. That
little Journey of mine was but the carrying out
of advice to take few weeks OF rest before l
commenced upon the task had marked out
for the summer and autumn. Kindly welcom-
ed by the people of both races, by democrats,
republicans and conservatives, L visited COL
leges, schools and marts of varied industries.
Being welcomed by people and presses s. OF every
shade of opinion. I said nothing in the TWEEN.
ty-nine brief addresses 7 made of public affairs
or Of party politics. spoke of law, order,
peace; of industry, material development, ed
ucation, temperance; of justice to black men
and of q generous policy to white men: VS.
tied the graves of Jackson and Clay, of Taylor
and Polk, of Crittenden, Bell and Benton. !!
visited. too, a dying ex-Vice President and
chatted moment with Mrs. Jefferson Davis in
the streets of Memphis. Never did 1 make a
more innocent or agreeable journey than was
crowded into these six weeks. But lind on
nv return that all this is very Significant" !"
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 Contede'
racy, were full of meaning. The wandering
Vice President" was too Unanimous" ne was
sthe victim of Presidential aspirations" and
he must be rebuked as other gentlemen sus-
pected of like desires had been.
To all this I reply that | indulge with thou
dency is lofty and responsible position; that
to be elected to that high Office, and clothed
with its vast powers for good by 10000, 600, is
an honor by the side Of which uncounted
wealth must weigh as nothing. But notwith-
standing this high estimate, 1 assure the organ
and all others alike exercised that there is not
one being in all this broad land to whom |
have ever written, spoken or even hinted that
desired, hoped, expected or intended to be
candidate. assure them, too, that have
been so neglectful, not to say discourteous, as
not to reply to letters written me upon SUBJ
iect these Imaginative ones deem me so inter-
ested in. 1t may soothe their anxiety further
if assure them that have neither money
nor patronage nor an organ that never made
promise, in political life of thirty-fiSe years,
to give Office or patronage to persons or presses
for votes or influence, and that never intend
to do SO, No money no patronage no organ organ
Surely this pitiable condition should console
and reassure, if it does not placate, these dis
tressed gentlemen who see such mighty inhu..
ences in money, patronage and organs, and
protect me from their jealousies and their sus-
picions. -.
But there is another offence, hardly less hei-
mons. On the morning of my return to New
York was visited by reporter of the Tribune
who propounded several questions concerning
INV visit and the condition of public and party
affairs. Those questions I answered frankly,
az I would have done for any other paper, and
these answers were published with ont any re-
vision of NINE They were intended to reach
and influence, if possible, those republicans
who supported Mr.. Greeley and the tens OF
thousands of republicans 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,
orfsn
10000 to minority of 100000 They who
do not see that these republicans of 1872 and
those now deeply dissatisfied, but who are still
nroud of the record the party has made, hold
!n their hands the fate of the next Presidential!
election, little comprehend the condition OF
nnblic affairs and what is necessary to success
journal that does not see the wisdom OF
irving to influence dissatisfied republicans, says
that the Tribune has said sundry unkind things
of me. and it tatnts me with. being "the most
forpiying of men," and declares that my action
NAV be excellent Christianity" but it is not
0selfrespect'' or "manliness." came to the
conclusion years ago that life is too short to be
snent in reHengiug mere personal wrongs, and
have been for a long while forgiving men
and presses that have said unkind, unjust or
untruthful things of me. I expect to forgive
those who are go foolish as to say untruthiul
things of me now. They need forgiveness,
and if can act in the spirit of excellent
Christianity" can afford to let my 'self-re-
snect" and my "manliness" take care of them
Tam accused, too, Of not treating the Presi,
don't with becoming respect. Where? When !?
HowY I am surely unconscious Of any. such
nurpose. I have seldom obtruded my opinions
pnop the President; and whenever I have
made suggestions it has been because I religi-
nmsly believed that what deferentially sugges-
tod would be for the credit of his administra-
t;on the success of the party and the good of
the nation. My opposition to the third term
folly has been construed, too, into opposition
to the President. But nothing is more untrue.
snch disastrous effect upon the party by the