Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-02-03

| luSy expect " COfeT up the UutCueIlcS
of Andersonville and Libby prisons.
W. G.. BROWNLOW,
Senior Editor Knoxville Whig and
Chronicle.
Sherman Oh Hayes.
| UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
WASHINGTON, January q.
DEAR SIR-Your letters of the I'd
and 18th instants were duly received
and delayed answering the first socn-
er, partly for personal reasons, but
mainly that might fully consider the
question raised by you as to the ap-
preaching Presidential contest, tine inn
pOrtapce of which cannot be Overstated.
! The election of Democratic President
means restoration to full power in the
Government OF the worst elements of
the rebel COnfederacy. The Southern
States are to be organized by violence
anu intimidation into a compact pOliti-
cal power, only needing small frag-
ment of Northern States to give it ab-
solute control, where by a majority rule
OF the party it will govern the country
as it did in the times of Pierce and
| Buchanan. If it should elect a Presi-
dent and both Houses of Congress the
| Constitutional amendments would be
disregarded, the freedmen would be
nominally citizens, but really slaves,
| innumerable claims, swollen by per-
jury, would be saddled upon the Treas
| ury; our public credit would be i'm
paired, the powers of the General Gov
ernInent would be crippled, and the
honors won by our people in subduing
rebellion would be subjects of reproach
| rather than Of piide.
The only safeguard from these evils
is the election Of Republican Presi-
dent, and the adoption of liberal Re-
publican policy, which should be fair
and even generous to the South, but
firm in the maintenance of all the rights
won by the war. Our election in Ohio
last fall shows that even under the
most adverse circumstances we can
win on this basis. Every movement
made by this Democratic House of
Representatives is -aH-appeal to every
man who ever voted with the Republi-
can 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 us will give
principals, and that we will administer
The Government honesty and economi-
cally.
AS to candidates, the drift of public
opinion is ra apidly reducing the list and
has already settled adversely the
chances OF many of them. Above all
third term. The conviction that it is
IA. to in fNr
too long period the vast powers of
President is based upon the strongest
reasons, and this conviction is support
ed by 50 many preeedents, set by the
voluntary retirement at the end of a
second term of SO many Presidents that
would be criminal folly to disregard it.
/ do not believe that General Grant
ever seriously entertained the thought
of third term, but even if he did the
established usage against it would
make his nomination an act of suicide.
1t would disrupt our party i'm every
Republican State. Happily for US we
do not need to loOk for the contingency
OF his nomination. Among the can0i-
dates now generally named | have no
such preferences that could not heart
lily support either of them. They are
men of marked ability who have rem
dered important public services; but
considering all things l believe the
nomination of Governor Hayes woulu
give us more strength, taking the
whole country at large, than any other
uaan. He is better known in Ohio than
elsewhere, and is stronger there than
elsewhere; but the qualities that have
made him strong in Ohio will, as the
canvass progresses, make him stronger
in every State. He was good soldier,
and though not greatly distinguished as
such, ne preformed his full duty, and
noticed when travelling with him in
Ohio that the soldiers wEo served
under him loved and respected him.
AS a member of Congress he was not a
leading debater or manager in party
tactico, but he was always sensible, in
dustriOus and true to his convictions
and the principals and tendencies of his
party, and commanded the sincere re-
spect of his colleagues. AS Governor,
thrice elected, he has shown good abili.
ties and gained great popularity, not
only with Republicans, but with our
adversaries. On the currency question,
which is likely TO enter largely into the
canvass, he is thoroughly sound, but is
not committed to any particular meas
ure, SO as to be disabled from cooper
ating with any plan that may promise
success. On the main questions, pro-
lection from all in equal rights, and the
observance of the public faith, he is as
trustworthy rs any one named. He is
fortunately free from the personal en-.
mites and antagOnisms that would
weaken some of his competitors, and
he is unblemished i'm name, character
and conduct, and he is native born
citizen of our State.
L have thrs, AZ you requested, given
you my view OF the Presidential ques-
tion, taken as dispassionately as if /
was examining proposition in geome-
try, and the result drawn from these
facts, not too strongly stated, is that
the Republican party in Ohio ought in
their State Convention to give Cover
ntr Hayes "A united delegation instruct
ed to support him in the National Con-
vention. Not that we have any special
claim to have the candidate taken from
Ohio, but that in General Hayes we
honestly believe the Republican party
oi the United States will have candi-
date for President who can combine
greater popular strength and greater
assurance Of success than other candi-
dates, and with equal ability to dis
charge the duties of President of the
United States in case of election. Let
this nomination he thus presented
without any wire pulling or deprecia-
finn Of fharS op6 Ia q convict Inn ns,or,