Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-09-15

il in. the man we have sadly needed in The
Senate ior lie last lew years, aud, if be re-
fused to 90, he turned his back on the call Of
nublic duty d. not dcuy his right to refuse,
although in general hold ii sound doc
lrine that man Of good health aud indepeod
enr fortune ought to serve the State when duly
and honorab!y selected but if Mr.. Hayes was
ever to be candidate for the Presidency he
ought to have pursued public career III the
subordinate places which opened to him, he
ought to have allowed Us to see Tim In those
pIaces, and he ought to have made record
on which We could form a judgment today AID
not be thrown on the say so OF his friends. Ii
he is to be elected, | shall certainly not pre-.
Judge him, nor allow any prejudice to arts. in
my mind, and when look back on former
ca. es iu which the campaigo enthusiasm has
surrouodrd an uutricd man With halo which
has subsequently faded into something worse
than obscurity, my imagination refuses to act.
Another point in this canvas which very
deeply interests me in the condltiou and future
of the South. The campaign seems TO be turn.
ing more and more to that issue after all, aud
it seems to be found that distrust Of rebels aud
the old war spirit arr still SO strong as to b. the
best available campaigu capital. II that Is to Dc
so, than | must take sides against any further
administration Of the airs Of the South by
the North acting through the general covert
meut. | have had occasions within year to
review the whole history oil reconstruction.
The effect upon my MUD has been shame and
blame to myself Tor The share which L, as re.
publican, have had 10 helping to build up che
worst legislation Of The nineteenth century. l
have been shocked TO rcaliza by what success,
sive stages we have built up here system Ut
restrictive and cnerci7r Legislation which very
| few Northern republicans know III even lis
| broadcast features, aud l can only recognize lr
q rider, not, lusluic, irresponsible official ty
Fanny, industrial loss, the results which have
! followed everywhere in history from coerclve
| legislation enacted by one community against
another The republican cauddltc for thH
Vice Presidency devoted his letter OF accept
ance almost exclusively TO the Southern qucs
tioa. lie believes that the Sou hern 5 ats
| are not civilized up TO the standard OF thu
| Mort hern States, and he wants tu bring then
up. | agree with him that they are on lowcl
grade, but submit that il is Dot his bushes
nor ours to civllize them by any political meas
| ureS
therefore desire now, as regards this pc
litcaI question, that the South be left 10 worl
out its own social problems uud.r 20 arbltrar!
! = WV
straint oil social au! ccoDomlc forces,
Finally, IN regard 10 aocthcr matter which
have ve,y much al heart, but which is hardl
al active ISSUE 10 the campaign, whatever hep
there is for tree trade lies in the election o
TihicD.
II, then, a decision is forced upon me,
simply judge, on all the information | pos'css
that Mr. IildeD has NOR. knowledge, ability
skill. AID will to d. wha | want to see done il
politics than MIR. Hayes. Nevertheless, | an
nos called upon TO bind or pledge myself III au.
way, and bold myself free to take aDy courS
which may upon further Information or r'h c
ton, seem best However the ceclioD may Re
suit shall be guided 10 my relations 10 til
n XII administration entirely By its pcrlurmaD
Cos in regard to the matters | have here dis
cussed. ". &. SUMNER.
Srptembcr IL 1876.