Year: 1872

The Political situatiOn-W what an Old


Democrat Thinks.


Correspondence Of the Union and American


WINCHESTER, June, 1872. = "HaviDe
within the last few days been relieved of ouI
civil disabilities by wise and paternal gov
ernment, and being desirous to manifest
our gratitude" therefor, we propose to give
a few good reasons why the Democratic
party can and ought to support Mr.. Greeley
in the present contest. And in so doing
we propose to notice some of the issues
presented by Mr.. Daniel W. VOORHEES, in
his recent speeches, and this we propose to
do from Southern standpoint.


We premise what we have to say by
the remark that we will support the Baiti-
more nomination, should one be made, pro-
vided 1t Is fair expression of the will of the
party throughout the nation. But We do
not think it proper or expedient for that
convention to make an independent nOmi-
nation, or do anything else in that direc-
ton but to recommend the Cincinnati NOM
inees. It would not be proper to nominate
them, for that would be a further endorse
ment of them than they could consistently
give or Mr.. Greeley accept, for he has not
vet said be was Democrat, nor is he eX-
pected to say so; but be has laid down GER
tain liberal propositions that the Democratic
party can sustain without any material de-
parlure from their fixed principles.


He has been very liberal and kind to the
Southern people on several occasions which
they gratefully remember. lie has exposed
and denounced the thousand carpet-bag-
gers that have been sent to prey upon them,
upheld by the party in power, and for this
they commend him and viii support him,
and In doing so they do not mean TO en-
dorse the many things charged TO him by
Mr.. voorhees, In his bill of Indictment, nor
are they required to forget them.


The great question Of the hour for the
calm dispassionate reflection Of the Demo
cratic party, is not what mean or selfish
thing this or that public man has done or
said in the past, but the vital question is,
how are we TO break up the Radidal party
that Is ruling to rum the country. This
overshadOws all other considerations, and
addresses itself to every patriot who is de-
sirous to bring the country back again to
honest government.


Can the Democratic party do this single
handed and alone? Can Mr.. VOORHEES, or
anybody else be the subject Of such an IN
reasonable delusion?


The only hope that he or anybody else
gives of success Is based upou the idea that
BY the candidacy of two Republicans such
a crease viii be opened that a Democrat
will be enabled to run in as Mr.. Lincoln did
in 1850.


Now if we could succeed in this one in-
stance, of what benefit would it be? Our
President would be in a minority in the
country and Ii Cct'Eress, and we should
then witness again the disgusting spectacle
presented to the country during the admins
tration of Mr.. johnson Of a Congress striV-
ing with all its power to embarrass the Ex-
ecutive in the honest discharge Of his duties,
and to wrest from him in disregard of the
Constitution the powers and privileges it
placed in his keeping. Does not every one
know that this Eould be the result We
need not try to conceal the fact flor every
body knows it) that the Liberal Repubii-
cans expected the Democratic vote before
they made their nomination, nor need we
try to conceal the fact that Mr.. Greeley eX-
pected it when he accepted that nOmina-
ton, notwithstanding The surprise that
Mr.. Voorhees, seems to manifest
thereat, nor Deed the fact be cOncealed; that
Mr.. Greeley would cease to be a candidate
the very moment that support was with
drawn. He and his friends, if they did not
return to their old love, would be the un-
eeasing enemies of the Democratic party,
which they would be sure to think had de-
ceived them. Now, we don't mean to say
that any authoritative trade or promise was
made TO them, but we all know the uniyer-
sal encouragement given to it, and the very
seneral, though tacit, understanding that 1t
would receive the support ofthe Democratic
party. Under these circumstances he must
be silly indeed who supposes that the Lib
eral candidate would continue in the field,
for he knows just as well as we do, that
without the Democratic vote he can carry
no single State, if indeed he could carry a
single civil district in all the Union. Yet
we believe, and so does he, that be can
carry with him a per centage of his party
that, like himself, are tired of Radical cor
ruption, large enough, with the combined
vote of the Democratic party, to beat the
nominee of the party In power, while each
is powerless to do it separately.


BENE VOLo.