Year: 1872

We take great pleasure in publishing the fol-
lowing letter from Col. Cobb, in reply to disor-
gan:zing letter in regard to the coming Philadel-
G i,d convention. II utters the true sentiment of
sne nspuohcans OF Kansas. They universally be-
heve tnat no better man than Grant can be selec-
ted, ana they know that the people are emphati-
caliy for him. Col Cobb's letter most truly reu-
resents the patriotic sentiment Of Kansas:


AN OPEN LETTER.


WYANDorTE, KAN, April 26, 1872
Gen. III. 4. Barnsm New York:


DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt of letter from
and Bartlett, of Massachusetts,, the subject mat
ter of which is made pnbc in the associated press
dispatches of this morning. l therefore reply to
the letter publicly.


You say you "have conferred with many re-
preventative soldiers of the late war, and find a
general concurrence of opinion that they should
raise their voice in protest against the further
progress of the alarming disinfegration of the
Republican party, which has taken place under
the Administration of General Grant. To effect
the several States who hold these views are wan
ted to append to a call for national convention
of soldiers and sailors, to be held in New York
city at some time i'll May prOximo. which conyen-
tiOn shall formally, by resolution OF otherwise,
call upon the Philadelphia convention to nomi-
nate other than Grant, and one who will lead the
party to victory If concur in this movement,
you solicit my name and the names of other re-
preventative veterans of Kansas to append to the
call"


do not concur in the movement. MY reasons
are these: No good can possibly arise from such
convention. 1t will only operate to still furth-
er disturb the elements of disc0r in the Republi-
can party. believe the continuance of the Re-
publican party in power to be imperatively deman-
ded alike by the exigencies of the country and
public sentiment of the age.


The administration of General Grant has not
been without fault. In his camp are to be found
many time-servers and camp-follOwers who dim
the usfre of their chief. believe, however, that
General Grant as President has acted in all re-
spects from the purrst motives and to best Of his
ability patriotic statesman. l deem the as
saults upon him at this time wholly without pre-
cedent justification. His administration has
been one of great prosperity, happiness and re-
nown to the whole country. hold no office un-
der his administration, neither do l seek or ex-
pect one. l am squarely in favor of the nomina-
tion of General Grant by the Philadelphia con-
ventiOn. 1t is apparent to all that the great mass
of the Republican party concur with me in this.
minority Of the party failing to control the
majority threaten to leave and 90 to Cincinnati.
This the minority have a right to do. But they
have no right to steal the name of the party they
have abandoned. Outside of it they have no
claim upon its history and its glory. They have
no right under the abused name of Repnblicanism
to attempt to do in the country at large what
they have done in Mssouri-restore the Demo-
cratic party to power. In that State the rose
smells no sweeter by change of name. l will not
agree that this minority shall dictate by their
"Border State Convention" whom we shall not
nominate at the National Republican Conven-
ton.


Do not misunderstood me. know some of the
best men in the land are moving toward Cincin-
natl. think they will not stay there. l know
how ilustriOus are the names of the gentlemen
signed to this letter. But the rank and file of
veterans / am puEsualed will never consent
to abandon, at the dictatiOn of his enemies, the
leader that has so often pointed the way to vic
tory in other fields in the dark hour of their
try's peril, in this day of supreme calumniOus
assault upon him.


l would cheerfnlly give you the names of Kan
sas soldiers that would do SO to append to your
call if l knew them. But, to their honor he it
spoken, do not know one republican soldier in
the state who would even consider the question
of abandonment now.


SEPHEN A. COBB, of Kansas