Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-04

must read to you what our great comrade
The chairman OF this Association and of the
great committee, organized four years ago 81
Pittsburg, sends to you in place of coming
himself. This document is signed by the mar
who gave the order more than fourteen years
ago. of any man attemptto pail down the
American flag. shoot him on, the spot.
| [Cheers THIS letter to you is signed by Gen
). A. DIX. [Voice-Three cheers for Gen
Dix.l Il Fe&. - FL
GEN. DIx's LETTER. 1885,
Gen. Garfield then read the following
letter: ~ =;
HEADQUARTERS U. S. NATIONAL. CONF
MIrTEE. FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL.
New YORK, September 18th, 1850
Comrades: ~ estr6
I5 was nay purpose to be present. as chair.
main OF yeur National Committee, at yot1s
convention on the goth inst Causes unfore-
seen until the last moment prevent my attend
ance. 1t is source Of unfeigned regret tia!
am unable to meet an assemblage of the
gallant men who perled their lives for the
salvation of the Union My regret is the
deeper as it was my wish to speak few words
to you as follows: 1 f2I 81 sat.
ADDRESS OF GEN. DIX. IS
Soldlers-Face to face on the occasion which
calls you together, it's Importance cannot be
under estimated. It is my sincere belief that
the tranquility of the country, purchased by
your hardships, you perils. your endurance
and your valor, depends on the election of
Gov. Hayes the gallant commander who led
many OF you to victory. Independently of all
party considerations I behve it to be far
better fer the South, better for tia North,
better for every portion of our vast. Republic
that the Executive power of the Government
should be confded to him, rather than to his
opponent. In placing him IN the elevated
seat once filed by Washington, you will
all feel that he will enter upon the
discharge of his responsible duties with
patrlotlsm as pure, life as
unblemished, and an integrity as unquestioned
Tho civil war through which we have passed
with so fearfal an expenditure of blood and
treasure, in TO establishing the government on
foundations which, we trust, may, by Gods
Providence, be mistaken for centuries to
come, has brought with it new responsibilities.
pa race held in bondage has been enancipated
and elevated to the rank of citizenship; the
rights with which they have been endowed by
the general consent are to be protected. Re-
cent occurrences indicate, I am sorry to say,
that there are 1T the South individuals who
are intent in disturbing the established order
While all such purposes are to be resisted and
fooled, if need be, 10y the whole legitimate
power OF the government, a generous con-
fdence and support should be extended to
those who sustain it in it's manifest duty to
enforce the requirements of the constitution
and laws.
Your organization was framed in no spirit
of hostility to any portion of your fellow citi-
zens: it was formed to maintain by the ballot
in the political ield the principles which you
upheld by the bayonet in the field of battle.
We will sustain our Southern brethren in the
snj oyment of every right aud every privilege
which we possess Their security is also ours;
but we resist; and will continue to resist. now
and hereafter. the elevation of any Northern
man to the highest Office in the gift of the
people. WHO WAS not openly anG actively en-
gagged in unfolding the Government when it
was threatened with destruction, / believe
that the election Of Gov. Tilden would be
most unfortunate for the South He would
go into Office distrusted by the whole body Of
the patriotic citizens of the North who sas-
tanned the Government in its great peril. The
overwhelming ma orities in Vermont and
Maine were called out by his nomination. The
other Republican States are only waiting for
the opportunity OF pronouncing the same em-
phatic judgment upon him. He could not
carry On the Government successfully against
this deeply seated feeling of distrust. and
without warming into life the sectional ami
mOslties which have proved go disastrous to
the country, and which could not fail to in
volve US into new discussions.
We are starting off at the beginning of the
second centu ry of our national existence. on 8
new career Of prosperity, animated by the
hope and confidence which are inspired by the
triumphant success of the past. They must
be clouded or turned into disappointment by
onr own errors of judgment, or of conduct.
There are already dawnIngs of renewed activ-
lty IN the channels OF industry. country
with such immense powers Of production CAN
not long continue urprosperous no portion of
the Union has so great an interest in sreserv-
ing the internal order which is essential to the
successful development of our resources as the
South; none which would be affected 80 disas-
trously by it's disturbance.
The pubic quiet cannot be maintained
by Mr.. Tilden. He has no other pres
tige than that of a party manager; and
it is now understood in his own state, and will
be clearlv shown throughout the Union, that
his claim to be a reformer is baseless and
fraudulent. leave for discussion elsewhere
his long continued association with the profit
gate politicians by whom the city OF New York
was plulldered, and recent developments
which have go seriously impaired the public
confidence in his personal integrity. 1t is
enough for us that he is presented to the PEG
pie as the exponent of the principles and pol
icy of the Democratic party; that he declared
the var q failure, when you were bringing it
to triumphant conclusion; and that he re-
fused to take part in upholding the govern
ment when it was menaced and imperiled; a
government which would not be in existence
If his example and his counsels had prevailed
with his c0untrymen.
Comrades, In seasons OF danger and trial
you have fastened to the support of the
Republican party with devotion and an energy
which have always been crowned with success.
1t appeals to yon again for aid ia contest
involving the public honor and prosperity, and
the continued tranquility of the Union. No
party in the hundred years of our national life
has done so much for the good name and
welfare Of the country, by it's patriotism, its
frmness and its perseverance,. It upheld the
Government and saved the Union from disso-
luton; it abolished slavery and obliterated for
ever the only blot On our national escutcheon.
In eleven years. by prudent financial manage
ment, it has paid off 800, 900 of debt con-
tracted for the preservation of the Union. I
conjure you. by the triumphal achievements OF
the last sixteen years, by the remembrance OF
your heroic comrades who are slumbering in
honored graves. and by the memory Of the
martyreG Lincoln, under whose guidance in
saying the Union and abolishing slavery We
achieved the greatest of all human Victories
by all these hallowed recollections I eonjure
you to stand by the party which inspired
and enabled by his example, and the cause
which was consecrated by bis blood. You
fellow citizen, comrade and friend ~ stea
(Signed) JOHN A. DIX.
then addressed the audience in an elo
quent speech of some length. He was
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