Year: 1876

WASHINGTON, Feb G. 1876


Colonel Thomas b. Swami, an exConfedorate officer
who, like LongstreeL completely
structed that he went to the republican party
when he got within the Union lines lawyer of
siderable local fame in West Virginia, and resides in
the town of Charleston Kanawha county He also en-
joys the distinction OF being connection Of Cen
erai Grant, his wife's mother, Mrs. Tompkins being
the Presidents cousin, and in the summer of 1874
was the recipient Of visit from his Presidential
relative whose sojourn mado great sensation in the
region of bitumnous coal Colonel Swami, who
should not be confounded with ex- Governor Thomas
Swami, of Maryland, visited Washington last week,
returned the Presidents visit and may be inferred,
was welcome guest at the White House, where he
made lengthy stay.


The appointment OF Jacob B. Blair as an Associate
Judge Of the Supreme Court ofwyomng Territory was
of tho fruits Of the Colonels visit, and
another is undoubtedly the following letter
advocating the project of a tard term for
President Grant The papers in the section
where the Colonel lives say that letter having equal
significance as to the Presidents designs IN relation
the third term has as yet appeared In print for the fol-
lowing s:-First because Colonel Swami is a
man of influence and ability and intimate terms
with the President and secondly, because It follows
upon the hoes Of extended visit and frequent con-
ferences between them. Blair and Swami have large
control in connection with the editor, of the West
Virginia Journal which paper is perhaps the most
ultra-repubIican organ the State; edited by H. H.
Atkinson, prominent republican mentioned for a
prominent place upon the State ticket and the
Postmaster at Charleston. The following the letter.


From the West Virginia Journal Feb 81
II Is NOT sAFE TO SWAP HORSES CROSSING A STREAM


AN OPEN LETTER FROM COLONEL T. h SWAMI


MY DEAR ATaNsoS-We approach critical period in
our national history The contest is still being urged,
with undetermined results in the public mind, whether
State sovereignty shall rule America nationality
shall triumph. II has been withdrawn from the
Judgment Of arms and the party vanquished
upon the field has appealed to the country
sword But the tact remains that have reached
the end. change of leaders may involve disas-
ters from which recovery may not be possible Had
the struggle lasted in the field would it be wise to
change commanders every four years. 1t does last
far settled results involved with this alarming
difference, the disbandng of armies has thrown to-
gether the elements of strength at the North who
against nationality. Their union makes the
final results more alarming than when they were
separated by war; their sympathes unit they
cannot overthrow the general and axe It
subordinate to the States except by revolution which
they will provoke in the effort they enter upon their
work in lS76 with arer prospects than in 1861 because
unit


'Brothers come back and the inheritance shall be
ours, after We have slain centralized government or
nationality


For the national party the presence of a military
Chief Magistrate is continuing necessity 1t will take



ity and place the Republic upon a solid enduring basis
Ii the revolutionary party reach power after all that
has transpred within the last fifteen years. after the
argument Of the sword the press and the FORUM their
triumph Will extend the Conicderacy from the Lakes
to the Gulf The protection OF the national government
withdrawn the hostility OF the States lately in robel
hon VIII drive liberal minded men, true to nationality,
from their territory and renew more the contest
which must end as before IN


Slavery not the cause of the late war, but the
developing agent The cause Is found in the
resolutions OF 179S and 17D9 AS long as the seminal
ffa Of At nil ha
posed 70 revolutions. 1t is too aggressive upon tho
principle Of selfpreservation for nationality to endure
without effort relieve itself from a which
must sap its LIE unless removed We are still
crossing the stream of angry passions. The Centen-
NAL year Is breastwork behind which the enemy has
concealed his purpose. The command, Gle low " has
passed along the lines; disocatcd power is reunng its
plans and strength Again the nation is about to enter
for the trial OF its strengths with Grant 1t can win.
The enemy fear him and he knows their weak points;
If we swap horses now we may go down In the waves
Of passion IL will take Grant third term TO bury the
democratic party. IL is not wise either to change the
undertaken the of burial services until the
grave reached and the dead deposited AT the end OF
the third term bury the democratic party Let
the procession move ON one more term until all the lv
ing have peace


That part Of the country watered by the streams that
flow through the Mississippi River into the Gulf OF
Mexico holds the preponderance OF political power
future and its interests not entirely homo
geneous with the interests OF other sections Our fu
ture Presidents with rare exceptions, will DO Western
men, no matter which party IS in power. We must
select western men OF broad, patriotic views whose
sympathcs not warped by sectional feelings Wo
know General Grant will maintain the national faith
The financial issues will require wisdom and nrmness
for years TO They involve the difficult problems
OF LABOR and capital, so jealous in all ages and all
countries OF each other they involve the public safety
With General Grant at the head Of the government
there Is of safety, which would be materially
weakened with untred man at the head of the gov
ernment We cannot sec far enough into the future 10
make a change now.


The republicans OF the North look at the
third term from the standpoint Of past preju-
dices We OF the South look at IL from a
standpoint Of present danger and necessity
Again, General Grants personal character would
secure a large vote, which other republican can
got With democratic President the future of the
South is a problem which would rather not see
solved until the country quiet, the results Of
greatest need another term Of quiet and the who
will secure ik


Yours truly, t. B. SWAMI.


Charleston, w. Va, January 2s, 1876.


The editor OF the Journal upon the letter
a foIlows-


We have only space add at this time that Colonel T.
B. Swami man who Is generally in advance of public
sentiment The republican party in this state has always
hitherto come up to his ideas measures OF public
policy. He is original thinker, aud is candid and
honest in tho expressions of his convictions The
above open letter speaks for ITSELF and II cannot be
denied that in important facts advanced While
perhaps the country will not ndorse IL as a whole
this time yet they cannot deny that many Of the
points mentioned In relation TO the President are well
taken. II VIII doubt be fully discussed by the press
generally important document, inasmuch as
Colonel Swami is the first prominent ex-Confederate
who has announced himself squarely favor OF third
term.