The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-28
The PreslGsncy--Y fews or Senator
EfaesftaasR. OF Of.io.
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fSreciat ~ 5,J,tcaoo r.yrro.

CoLUMDUss o., January "a. United statea
4 Senator John Sherman has addressed the fol
q flowing letter 10 State Senator a. AZ. Burns
1 It was received this morning, and shown Il
the. Times representative. It will create
some excitement In president-makipg circles;
United States Senate Chamber, Washing
ton, January 21.-Dear Sill, Your letters d
| the I'd and 18th instant were duly received
and delayed answering the first sooner
partly for personal reasons, but mainly thai
l might fully consider the questions raised
by you as to the approaching presidential
contest, The importance OF which cannot be
overstated.
The election of Democratic President
means a. restoration to full power in the Gov.
eminent of the worst elements OF the rebel
| Confederacy. The southern States are to be
organized by violence and intimidation into
compact political power, only needing q
small fragment of the northern States to give
it absolute control, when, by majority rule
Of the party, it will govern the country, as
it did in the times of Pierce and Buchanan.
If it should elect President and both houses
of Congress the constitutions amendments
would be disregarded, the freedmen would
be nominaly citizens but really slaves !; innu-
merabfe claims, swollen by perjury, wsuld
| be saddled upon, the treasury; our public
credit would be impaired, the powers of the
General Government would be crippled, and
the donors won by our people in subduins
| the rebellion would be subjects Of reproach
rather than pride.
The only safeguard from these evils is the
| election of Republican President and the
adoption OF liberal Republican policy,
| which should be fair, and even generous, to
the South, but firm in maintenance of all the
rights won by the war. Our election in Ohio
last fall shows that even under the most adj.
verse circumstances we can win on this basis.
Every movement made by this Democratic
House of Representatives Is an appeal to
every man who ever voted with the Repub-
lican party to rally to its support again, and
to every man who fought in the Union army
to vote with us to preserve the results of his
victory. All we need Is such presidential
ticket as will give assurance that we meau TO
stand by our principles. and that we will adj
minister the Government honestly and eco
nomicalY.
As to candidates, the drift OF public opinion
is rapidly reducing the list, and has already
settled adversely the chances OF many OF
them. Above all, it has positively closed the
question of q third term. The conviction
that it is not safe TO continue in one man Tor
two long period the vast powers of Pre-
sdent is based upon the strongest reasons,
and this conviction is supported by SO many
precedents set by the voluntary retirement
at the end of a second term OF so many Ere
sdents it would be criminal folly to disre.
gard It. do not believe that General Grant
ever seriously entertained the thought of 3
third term; but if be did, the established
usage against it would make bis nomination
an act Of suicide. Il would disrupt our party
in every Republican State. Happily for US
we do not need to look for the contingency
| of his nomination.
Among the candidates now generally
named | have no such preferences that
could not heartily support either of them.
| They are men of marked ability, who have
rendered important public services. But,
considering all things, believe the nomina-
| ton OF Governor Hayes would give US more
strength, taking the whole country at large,
than any other man. He Is better known in
| Ohio than elsewhere; but the qualities that
have made him strong in Ohio will, as the
canvass progresses, make him stronger In
leyery State. He was a good soldier, and
though not greatly distinguished as such, he
| performed his full duty and noticed when
travelling with him in Ohio the soldiers
| who served under him loved and
respected him. AS member Of Congress
be was not a leading debater or manager
in party tactics, but he was always sensible,
industrious, and true to his convictions and
the principles aud tendencies OF his party,
and commanded the sincere respect OF his
colleagues. AS Governor, thrice elected,
he has shown good executive abilities and
gained great popularity not only with Re-
| publicaus, but with our adverSaries. On
| the currency question, which is likely to en-
ter largely into the canvass, he is thoroughly
sound, but is not committed to any particu-
lar measure so as to be disabled from CO.
operating with any plan that may promise
success. On the main questions protection
for all, equal rights, and the observance OF
the public faith-he is as trustworthy as any
one named. He is fortunately free from the
personal enmities and antagonisms that
would weaken some of his competitors; he
is unblemished in name, character, and con-
duct, and he is a natiye-born citizen OF our
State. ...-.--. b.
I have thus, as you requested, giVea you
my view Of the presidential question, taken
as dispassionately as If was examining q
proposition in geometry and the result
drawn from the facts, not too strongly stated,
is that the Republican party in Ohio eushf,
in their State Convention, 10 give IoFtrnoi
Hayes united delegation instructed to sup
port him in the National Convention. MOI
that we have any special claim to have can
didate taken from Ohio, but that in Coy
ernoe Hayes we honestly believe the Repub-
lican party in the United States will have
candidate who can combine greater popular
strength and greater assurance Of success
than other candidates, and with equal ability
to discharge the duties of President Of the
United States in case Of election.
Let this nomination be thus presented
without any wire-puling or depreciation OF
others, aud as conviction upon established
facts, and believe Governor Hayes can be,
and ought to be, nominated but if our
State is divided, or is not in earnest in this
matter, it is far better for Governor Hayes
and the State that his name be not presented
at all. We have never sufficiently cultivated
our State pride, with every reason for in
duIgiug it, and thus our proper Influence has
been wasted and lost. Now we have good
opportunity TO crafty it, and at the same
time contribute to the common good.
Remember me kindly to personal friends
in the Senate. Very traly yours,
JOHN SHERMAN.
To Hon. H. M Burns.