Year: 1868

Seymour, accepting the nomination of the


National Democratic Convention for Pres.


ident:


UTICA, N. Y. August 4, 1868.


GeneralG. W. Morgan and others, Com


mittec, dc.


GENTLEMEN: When in the city of New


York, on the 18th of July, in the presence


of vast multitude, on the behalf of the


National Democratic Convention, you ten


dered to me its unanimous nomination as


their candidate for the office of President


of the United States, l stated I had no


words "adequate to express my gratitude
for the good will and kindness which that


body had shown to me. Its nomination
was unsought and unexpected. 1t was my
ambition to take an active part-from
which L am now excluded-in the great
struggle going on for the restoration of
good Government, of peace and prosperity
to our country. But have been caught
up by the overwhelming tide which is
bearing us on to great political change.
| lind myself unable to resist its pressure


You have also given me copy of the res
outions put forth by the Convention,
showing its position upon all the great
questions which now agitate the country.
AS the presiding officer of that Convention,
am familiar with their scope and import.
AS one of its members, l am party to
their terms. They are In accord with nv
views, and stand upon them in the con-
test upon which we are now entering, and
shall strive to carry them out in future,
wherever may be placed, in political or
private life."


then stated that I would send you
these words of acceptance in letter, as is
the customary form. I see no reason,
upon reflection, to change or qualify the
terms of my approval of the resolutions of
the Convention. I have delayed the mere
formal act of communicating to you in wri-
ting what | thus publicly said, for the pur-
pose of seeing what light the action of
Congress would throw upon the country.
Its acts since the adjournment of the Con-
yentlon show an alarm lest change of DO
litlcal power will give to the people what
they ought to have-a clear statement of
what has been done with the money drawn
from them during the past eight years.
Thoughtful men feel that there have been
wrongs in the financial management which
have been kept from the public knowledge.
The Congressional party has not only al
lied itself with military power. which is to
be brought to bear directly upon the elec-
tions in many States, but it also holds it.
self in perpetual session, with the avowed
purpose of making such laws as it shall see
fit, in view of the elections which will take
place within few weeks. It did not,
therefore, adjourn, but took a recess to
meet again, if its partisan interests should
demand itsreassemblipg. Never before in
the history of our country has Congress
thus taken menacing attitude toward its
electors. Under its influence, some oftbe
States organized by its agents are propo-
sing to deprive the people of the right to
vote for Presidential electors, and the first
bold steps are to destroy the rights of suf
frage. 1t is not strange, therefore, that
thoughtful men see in such action the
proof that there is, with those who shape
the policy of the Republican party, mo-
tlves stronger and deeper than the mere
wish to hold political power-that there is
dread of some exposure, which drives
them on to acts so desperate and impolitic.


Many of the ablest leaders and journals
of the Republican party have openly de-
plored the violence of Congressional ac
ton, and its tendency to keep up discord
in our country. The great interests of our
Union demand peace, order, and return
to those industrial pursuits without which
we cannot maintain the faith or honor of
our Government. The minds Of business
men are perplexed by uncertainties. The
hours of toll of our laborers are lenpthened
by the cost of living; made by the direct
and indirect exactions of Government.
Our people are harassed by the heavy and |
frequent demands of the tax-gatherer.


Without distinction of party, there is
strong feeling in favor of that line of ac-
tlon which shall restore order and conf
dence, and shall lift off the burdens which
now hinder and vex the the industry of the |
country. Yet at this moment those in
power have thrown into the Senate Cham
ber and Congressional hall new elements
of discord and violence. Men have been
admitted as representatives of some of the
Southern States, with the declaration upon
their lips, that they cannot live in the
States they claim to represent, without
military protection. These men are to
make laws for the North, as well as the
South. These men who few days since.
were seeking as suppliants that Congress
would give them power within their re-
spective States, are to-day the masters and
of the actions of those bodies.
Entering them with minds filed with pas
sions, their first demands have been that
Congress shall look upon the States from
which they come as in conditions of civil
war; that the majority oftheir population.
their intelligence, shall be trea-
ted as public enemies that military forces
shall be kept up at the cost of the people
Of the North, and that there shall be no
peace and order at the South, save that
which is made by arbitrary power.


Ill