The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-09-21


The Montgomery Advertiser deems it
of vital Importance that the solid South"
should cast her vote for Hancock. Il win
be necessary for him to get them, TO Sc
cure his election. This, however, is not
the reason of our earnest desire that it
should be SO
The people of the North, who affiliate
with the Republican party, point to the
probability of such contamination as a
cause for apprehension of the gravest
character. They recall our efforts to Sc
cure such vote for Seymour, for Greeley
and for Tlden, and would persuade them,
selves that motives attributed to us then
influence as now.
The charge against us when Seymour
was nominated, clothed itself in language
like this: " You want Seymour because
you believe him at heart to be inimical to
the sentiment of the North, and grieved
at the result of the rebellion You
offered Greeley the nomination in fit of
desperation, and believed you could bride
him with the gift of great Office. You
chose Hlden to bear your standard that
you might have the prestige of his popu-
lar administration of the affairs of State
for New York.
But, in each instance, the prompting mo-
tive was an unwillingness to abide the
award of arms, and hatred of, and for,
everything pertaining in any manner to
the conquerers."
Let us admit all this, for the present,
that we may use it in giving point and
force to what will follow.
We now inquire for the reason con.
straining us, to support General Hancock.
He is unquestionably the hero of Gettys-
burg. To that great battle we attribute
the defeat of the Southern cause! The
chieftain, whose skill and valor achieved
our ruin, is to-day in the military service
of the government he fought to defend
and preserve. The purity Of his charac-
ter is unsullied; his love for the Union
and Constitution, no man will gainsay or
deny. Tried in the fires of battle, he won
renown; tried in the hour of peace, he
seemed to know the constitutional rights
of freemen, as if by inspiration. He fred
his guns upon the South but when the
South submitted, he sought to protect
Aofonoo1oco vonV1lo from no owl Aocirr,1c
of those, who, under the guise of patri-
otto duty, were threatening the integrity
of the Federal government at it's hearts
core. When the South from his stand
point would do wrong, he was her fear
less foe, but when she was striving to do
her duty, he had encouraging words for
her unhappy people.
What then has the South to expect, or
even to hope for, when he comes to the
Office of Chief Executive Magistrate?
Only this and nothing more: A fair and
faithful administration of the government
under the constitution and laws of the
Union! Could the South have brought
herself to wish for his nomination if any
rebellious feelings were lurking at the
heart Does it not demonstrate, beyond
peradventure, that with us there is an
earnest desire for peace, for liberty and
for fraternity and good will, throughout
this broad land? Who will deny to us
the glorious consummation of restored
Union, and yet have the hardihood 10
proclaim himself true patriot?
The reason for such support of Han
cock is now apparent; the South really
desires her place again in the American
Union!
We have considered this subject, up to
this time, from a Southern standpoint,
but our reasoning leads US to declare that
a solid South for Hancock should be de-
manded by the North, as the pledge Of
our acceptance of the results of the civil
war. 1t is the keystone of the arch,
without which there is neither strength
nor stability for the fabric Of the Union.
If such support be given General Han
cock, and in the spirit indicated; and if
it be received by the North, as we now
offer it, as pledge of our fidelity to the
Federal government-then the cruel war
will indeed be over, ard a true and last
ing peace will dawn upon this land for
then, and only then, can we hope to be
an united people, trusted and to be trusted
h. oun nunAhnr