The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-07-24

lbNtAbJs LILO AGlhhLOub N4bA hLGoJ COLA-
panics, his thorough comprehension OF
their history and requirements, md his
practical energy and decision, have given
hin such mastery over all the questions
that arise III the organization, adminis-
tntion and financial management OF
canals, rs well rs railroads, that his III
iluence more than that Of any other
man i'll the country seems insepArably
associated with their prosperity and sue
cess, not only in his own country but
abroad. 1t is, we believe, an open So
cret that his transatlantic celebrity
brought to him quito recently m Invita-
ton from the European creditors of the
New York and Erie railway topndgtake
reconciliation OF the various interests
in that great corporation, which tho pro-
pricties and duties Of his official posi-.
tion constrained him to decline.
Till the war came Governor Tilden
madp every effort to avert the struggle.
When his efforts, combined with those
OF other prominent patriots, had proved
abortivo, his convictions of duty were
perfectly decided aud clear. They were
to maintain the integrity Of our terri
tory and tho supremacy OF the coustitu.
tio;iaI authorities. He hnd been olu-
Gated ip tho school OF Jackson, and had
hGcu Il diligent student OF the lessons
taught by t6u nplliticat;op CONTROVERSY
of lS3, Hu had studied carefully auI
profoundly the relation OF tho Federal
and State Governments. anl Of tho citi-
zeps OF those Governments. He had
thus ca.iy formed perfectly clear aud
settled opinions, about which his mind
never ynelllutel, They were the opin-
ions of jackson. of Van Buren, of
Wright md of Marcy, with whom, dur.
ipp most of their public lives. he had
been on terms OF personal intimacy.
Durinp tho virter Of 19G0.Gl he at
tended 4 meeting Of the leading men o!
hath pn,tips in the CITY of New York TO
consider wha: measures wero necessary
and practicable 10 avert an armed col
lisiun between what were then termed
tho free aid tho slave States. 10 tho
North hc urged reconciliation and for
bcarause, approaching rs he did more
clearly than most o! those around him
the fearful and disastrous consequences
OF civil war, Whatever might prove its
ultimate result 10 the South hc urged
de!erencG TO the will of the minority
md 4 respect Tor the provisions Of the
Federal Constitution, within which they
would DO sure OF adequate protection
for themselves aud fer their property;
but ho warned them that outside OF the
Constitution they could expect protec-
ton for Icithcr.
When tho war did come Mr.. Tlden
associated himself with ind was the
private adviser Of Mr.. Dean Iichmond,
then at the hcsi OF tho DomOcraticparty
Of THIS Stale, and who WAS accustomed
on all important questions to visit Mr..
Tiden i'll his retirement aud seek bis
counsel. ~
AT II moetirp held nj tho house of
General Diy, inst after the first call OF
President Lincoln for 7J, 900 troopy, Mr..
TiIdru was urrs,nt end participased in
;l,s discussions which took place. He
tIInu md there cxpresscd the opinion
thot they wore on lie eyeof Il rrctt war.
and maintained thnt instead Of 10000
troops Mr.. Lincoln should have called
ont at Least 5OO, ,OOO. half for Immediate
s,,rvicc and thc other hnIf To be mt in
rvnng Of instruction and trained ior i'm
pending exiceucies, Uulappily that
roncrgfion bad seen 40 little o. war mud
Gnd such limited means OF Comprehend.
ing tho rapidjty with which the war
suirit. once lighted, will srrcal among
n nronlr. thnt II was not competeut to
mnprcciate Tho wisdom OF this advice.
Which Il adopted. would probably.layc
prevented the necessity OF any further
increase OF military force.
10 Sacrotary Chase and liS friends
Mr.. Tlden Insisted that tho war ought
to he carried on under n system of sound
finance, which ho did not doubt the peo-
plu would chccrrully sustain II tho gov
crmcnt would have tho courage 10 pro-
poso il. At later period OF the war hc
was invited by the government ut Wash
iugtOn to give his advice ms to tho bcs.
methods Tor its further conduct. Hu
sail to tho secretary of war:
YUu have no right to expect n great
military genius to come to your assist
ance. They only .ppcar once in two or
three centuries. You will probably have
to depend upon tho average military
talent Of tho country. Under such cir
cumstnnccs your ouiy course is to avail
yourself of your numerical strength and
your superior military resources result
ing from your grentor progress iu in
dustlnl arts aud your greater producing
capncitica. You must have reserves md
concentrate yonr forces on decisive
points, and overwhelm your adversaries
by disproportiouute numbers aud re-.
serves"