Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-10

Seated before a bright, cheerful
log fire l had several hours nve
sation with Governor Seymour. He
is q delightful taiker and invests the
most simple subjects with u wonder
full interest. He talked of farming,
Of manufactures, of horticulture, OF
cheese aud butter making, of the
west, the growth OF u country II
its future, and drew a sketch in ON
parison with that of England sug-
gestcd by a recent visit to him of Il
committee of Englishmen sent over
to inquire into our modes of farming
and manufactures which are so rap
idly s~uperseding those of England
in fact the governor talked of every
thing except the one subject l wished
to hear abOuL-and that he never
preached. But l did at the proper
time, and, as l thought, in the proper
manner. told him l had not come
as Il newspaper man for q formal ill.,
terview, or to ask him to say posi-
lively that he would accept the dem
Ocratic nomination for president next
year. l came simply as a western
democrat, who was i'll the position
and had the opportunity of knowing
The sentiment of western democrats,
and | wished to say to him that tie
almost universal sentiment among
democrats was he should not refuse
q last service to his party i'll this its
supreme crisis; that we considered
his name the talislman that would
lead the party to victory; that l
spoke authoritively when l assured
HIM Mr.. Hendricks would accept the
second place OH the ticket with him
self, and that with such u ticket and
a united, enthusiastic party there
would be q glorious campaign end
ing in Il glorious victory. l felt 1t
my duty to acquaint him with the
feeling among western democrats
aud wished him to duly consider ii
before he made his final decision.
He listened attemLively and with
much interest, stopping me frequent
ly TO ask specific and detailed infor-
nation OH various points, aud then
he spoke freely and candidly Oh the
absorbing topic. He began by saying
he thought it was q mistake that he
would be the strongest candidate.
He reviewed the troubles OF the party
in this state and told of the factions
and their conflicting interests. The
misfortune was that the local patron
age was Of greater Importance to the
politicians than national affairs and
policy, and each faction was jealous
of the power and p%referment Of amy
New York man who did not stand i'll
with them, and thus Il national call
didate was from necessity between
two fires. For this reason he thought
that u suitable candidate from some
other state would be stronger IN New
York than any New York
But in saying this he was very
positive in stating b u this Was
simply his general opinion; that
New York had many able lei and If
any OF them were candidates his state
pride would naturally lead hlm to
their support; he spoke simply as one
who has put away political ambition,
but he could not be uuneighhorly.
He spoke very kindly of Mr.. Tilden,
aud said if Mi. Tilden should nOL re-
ceive the nomination he and his
friends would naturally feel less
chagrined if some one else outside
the state should be nominated, and
MIR. Seymour urged this also as an
other reasonsagainst his own n0mi-
nation.
He alluded to his age as another OBJ.
lection, and 10 the fact he had re-
fused the unanimous nomination for
governor three years ago, and also
the u. S. senatorship when rendered
him by Ills friends, Senator Herman
among the number. He said he be.
lieved i'll robust manhood physically.
as a sine qua ron for u public officiaI
occupying a responsible position, and
he refused the Office of governor be.
cause he did not at that time feel able
to discharge its duties. | reminded
him that a short while previous IL
that time he had had a slight sun
recovered, and that physically he
} was now better off than he was then.
which he admitted wac true. also
told him that all we asked was the
use of his name-that he might throw
a Gordon of pickets around Deerfield
and keep OF the politicians during
the cappaign and thus not be all
nOyed with its excitement, and thai
be satisfied the duties of the Office
would be properly attended to. LIZ
laughed aud said he had been in pol
itics enough to know how exacting
sharp campaign was ; that he sincere
ly deprecated the use of his name
and dreaded to think of ever having
to undergo what he had in politics
he had laid aside all AMBITION, ant
only wished now to be q counselor
for his party, etc.
During the lengthy conversation
Governor Seymour had repeatedly
said he did not want the nomination
and would not be q candidate for it
but at no time had he said he woult
not accept the nomination if tender
ed him /; and finally l put it to him il
this wise:
: "Suppose, governor, when our con
ventiOn shall meet and the demOcrn
cy of the United States, after look
ing over the entire field and compar
: ing views should find that you ar
, not only the choice of the democrac!
: for president, but that your nomina
+, ton is a necessity-and you shoult
be nominated unanimously - yol
) would not refuse the nomination 7"
He replied without hesitation, an,
| his answer was significant. Thes
} are his words:
at eooutd not do for me to sag no,
!. that I would refuse the nominatio,
-, under such circumstances, for If
c did 1t might be claimed I despaire,
; of the success Of my party IN ad
: camce, and thus an injury might b
i, done should some one else be nomi
> nated."
did not press the matter further
but the conviction left on my mind
taking the interview as a whole, Wa
e that while Governor Seymour SINGER
!, ely aud honestly deprecates the us
of his name In connection with tn
: nomination, and while he Graves tn
u peace aud quiet of his rural life, we
, If his party unanimously ask him I,
become their leader next year he will
. not refuse to make the sacrifice. Blu
under no circumstances will he be
:, candidate for the nomination nor will
= he raise a finger to secure ton til,
. contrary he will discourage the ide
d i'll every possible manner. Still, III,
\ prediction is he will not refuse tn
nomination if rendered him unanl
moucly, and l further predict tina
i Seymour and Hendricks will be tn
. democratic ticket in 1880. Nj.