The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-05-31
GEN. VESTS POSITION,
As DEFINED by HIMSELF.
Holly SPRINGS, Miss, May 22nd 1875

Horny SPRINGS Miss, May END 1879.
DEAR SIRs:-I am in receipt OF the hony
Springs Reporter OF the ga lhst'' co1'a .i
ing your letter addressed 10 me- utteu thS
14fb inst / am also in receipt of other let
ters from different parts OF the State OF Ike
;mnort. all of which have been carefully
considered. -
For reasons now unnecessary to STATE
have been, since the war; unwilling 10 p1
come an active participant in the party pol-
ltics of the times, preferrlng, so lilr Us l W,'a
canoble to devote my time in betteriuS tne
condition of our people, i'll other neias oi
Thought and labor, and have only appeareo.
before the public in different capaclty AZ
The instance of my fellow citizens, and not
then for lucrative positions or any OF the
yoIned prizes in public service, and without
ot,actotion. | am now reluctant to appear
before the country in any other capacity
than the one chosen by myself; and were
to consult my own comfort would now De
silent but as you address me as my consul
tuents and friends, | am not at liberty 10
withhold an expression OF my oplninOua
upon the subjects referred to by you Len
years ago prepared platform emDooylns'
in the main, the principles now unuer CON
sideration, which were adopted by a puollc
meeting in Water Valley. Mr.. Goode OF
that placeand myself We're sent as delegates
in 1870 to National Labor Union ConVen-
tion in Philadelphia, non political organi-
cation, charged with the duty OF presenting
this platform to the consideration OF the
convention. II was presented and adopted.
A letter was received from Peter Cooper OF
New York, commencing the action OF the
Convention. was delegated to visit MI
Cooper and thank him in the name OF the
convention for his timely letter and to IN
woke his future active cooperation. Went
s,w and presented thanks i'll bret speech,
he responded, both speeches were publlsned.
By invitation | spoke in Boston to an I'M
mense concourse OF people III advocacy Oh
the principles of that convention. Inc
National party is the successor OF the Na-
tonal Labor Union and the representative
of its principles.
The condition of our people is lamentabIe,
and growing worse every day, and Will so
continue until we degenerate into lower
degree of civilization, unless by the inter-
position of some influence, our downward
tendencies are arrested and new impulse
given to society. l am persuaded that Il
practical application of the principles re,
terred to would better our condition anu
soon restore the country to It's former pros,
perity But the agencies to be used
for their application, and this seems
to be the leading idea OF your lnqul-
nv. have been subjects of much anxious
Thought and great diversity of opinion
among our friends in this state growing out
of our peculiar surroundings.
As the best apparent means of success, l
advised. in my Hull letter, the formation OF
Greenback clubs in and under the auspices
of the Democratic party, and for the same
reformatorv reasons that led john Wesley
TO form religious societies within the Epls-
conal Church. Said clubs, failing to lmo
nress the Democratic party with the para
mount importance of these principles,
would have been thus in a favorable posi-
tion to crystalze into a separate political
organization. as the Wesleyan societies did
into a separate religious church, and, ike
if. become known throughout the world for
the hberality and justice of its great doc
trines But as these efforts have been de-
feated by our trajned political IeateTS and
the party machilery used to discredet those
of rs who Were their most earnest adVo-
Gates. there is no alternative left for men OF
YOUR political feith, but to withdraw from
the Democratic party, and organize more
Homogeneous party, and one that is more IN
harmony with the people and the peaceful
industries OF the states.
As the Republican party is, in the main,
responsible for the origin of the evils Of
which you complain, and manifest dispo-
sition to perpetuate the same, it would be
unwise to look to this agency for relief
The Democratic party being its antagonist
and rival, before, during and since the
war, has in its eagerness to acquire power,
lost sight of the fundamental doctrine, that
+bo and that tho
eminent is Of 10y and for them, and now
proceeds upon the idea that party is SOW
ereign, and that the people and their
principles must be subordinated to its
success. 1t is not, therefore, surpris-
ing that under the combined influences
of these parties the country should be kept
in constant turmoil, strife and struggle. by
the agitation of old issues and war meas
ures for party ascendancy. Nor is it sur
prisng that under their joint influence,
the country should cease to be the common
centre of attachment or that each party
should find that centre only in itself.
Party spirit has SO darkened the minds of
the leaders and managers of these parties,
that in spite Of themselves, and verify be-
lieve without their knowledge their devo-
ton to pdrty has become stronger than
their devotion to country. The promotion
of the interests of party more important
than the promotion of the common good of
the whole, and their triumphs and ascend
ancy objects of far greater solicitude, than
the safety and prosperity Of the commu-
nity.N These two parties have so long
waged incessant hostilities against each
other, for the high and glittering prize of
governmental honors and emOluments that
falsehood, injustice, fraud, artitce, SANDER
II. = F. F,7- IL .Ao,I l..
as legitimate weapons; followed by all their
eomuptlng and debasing influences, alb
sorbing almost every feeling of our nature
both social and individual; and now, By
their frenzied and tumultuous action III
Congress, putting in jeopardy HJerty itself
Besides, the leaders of the Democratic
party are now educating the people to sup
port TiLden, Bayard, Randall, or any other
man who can best secure the electoral vote
OF New York, and thereby compel the peo-
PIE II acqule7oo ia tho financial policies of |
Wall Street to their own degradation and I
ruin. The danger Of this policy is iIlus~
trated in the history of the Wing party inI
its concessions TO the abolitlanists. and inl
the history of the Democratic party in its
concessions to the extreme States riobts
men of the South, each for party ascendant
cy. Moreover the wealth of the Democratic
party of the North an much Of its talent
are in direct antagonisnl with our principles
and necessities. These Influences Gnresistl
ed, will ultimately combine, and illindelil
bly, impress themselves upon the Democrat |
&c party and leave the rights and interests
of the South to languish and perish
The government of the United States |
will then pass into the hands Of a monied
arstocracy to be hereafter administered by
their agents when tho songs Of liberty vii
cease to he heard save as funeral echoes of
its departed spirit. The composition and
necessities of the Den ocratic party North
are, therefore, such as to render their sup
port Of our financial measures improbable;
and as the Democratic party South is now
organized upon the idea that we in the
South must be subserVient TO the require
ments of the Democrats in the North. they