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 GREELEY VS. GRANT. 
 
 _ 9 2.? 
 
 ThegDuty of True Democrats. 
 
 ANeOPEIN-LETTER BY HON. PHILLIP CLAYTON, OP 
 
 GEORGIA. 
 
 ./* 
 
 WHA1V- ft-J^FE'LONG DEMOCRAT THINKS— LETTER OP 
 GEN.' JOHN A. DIX, OP NEW YORK. 
 
 &TERHTA, Ga., July 22, 1872. 
 
 2W&t<ew£3r&0/ Georgia: 
 
 When tlio Baltlmoro Convention dissolved 
 the' Democratic party,, by substituting a now 
 platform of principles for the time-honored 
 one it was their pride to proclaim and their 
 boast to maintain; and when upon this new 
 platform thoy placed a candidate with whom 
 they hod antagonized more than a quarter of a 
 century, it left each individual Democrat to 
 choose between the only two candidates in 
 the field,. General Grant and Mr. Greeley. 
 la ^the exercise of the right which belonged 
 to each individual member, and in obedienco 
 to the stern necessity their action had im- 
 
 rsedyl gave publicity to tho course, which 
 had oft repeated in private circles, I in- 
 tended to pursue. In doing so I have aroused 
 the indignation of that portion of the press of 
 $hls State who- have determined, some from 
 choice and some from the irresistible despotism 
 of party, to support Mr. Greeley. Their modes 
 . or^expressing their disapprobation are various 
 .arm amusing— one thinks and so says, " I have 
 ffun' the thing in the ground;" another says 
 twoP-Clayton has written a letter in favor 
 of Grant;, another is merciful on account 
 oi^xaj former position and the standing of 
 my -family, while another has a statement 
 that 1 was influenced to the course I have 
 thought proper to pursue from motives of 
 JnterestUjfcl mention these, not that I am go- 
 £ng to make war; upon the press, but to re- 
 «nind them that courtesy, In any discuwlon, 
 whether moral, legal or political, Is the dis- 
 iftjJnguiBhing characteristic of a gentleman; 
 and while, from tho manner in which I have 
 jbeeiv *roatodv* am under no obligation to 
 theuv to impart the information, if, in the 
 future^they will profit by tho instruction, 
 
 I The people of Georgia are now interested 
 In but one issuo in tho pending controversy 
 for President, and that involves exclusively 
 thoir honor. In my opinion they can vote 
 for General Graut and maintain it. They 
 can not voto for Mr. Greeley without trailing 
 it in the dust. 
 
 In ruy former letter I gave only some gen- 
 oral reasons for the courso I intended to pur- 
 sue, knowing that it was impossible, hav- 
 ing regard for the truth of history, to contro- 
 vert the reasons for my opposition to Mr. 
 Greeley. 
 
 The Baltimore Convention acted more like 
 a mob, it they have been correctly reported, 
 than like statesmen seeking the public good 
 and guarding the public interest. The Wash- 
 ington Chroniclk, tho Washington Patriot, 
 and the Baltimore Sim (see their issues of 
 the 11th and 12th instants) represented in 
 their report of tho proceedings of said con- 
 vention that the old soug of "John Brown" 
 was sung on the occasion, and that when Mr. 
 Bayard, of Delaware, attempted to speak in 
 favor of Democratic principles he was hissed. 
 Such was the birth of this new party and 
 new candidate. Other comment is unneces- 
 sary, than the inquiry, which addresses itself 
 to every voter in Georgia, "(Jan you main- 
 tain your honor by voting for such a can- 
 didate or sustaining such a coalition?" 
 The cry of, "anybody to: beat Grant" 
 may sustain you under excitement, but when 
 the calm hour of reilection comes, as it will, 
 you will be mortified in tho remembrance 
 that you suffered your judgment and your 
 justice to be influenced by your passions and 
 prejudices. Preliminary to investigating the 
 life and history of this new-found favorite 
 to Southern sympathy, I propose to remind 
 
 tbeytttfcYSacaS^ 
 
PL (a 
 
 
 they have been betrayed by the Baltimore 
 conventi m and the acknowledge'! mode of 
 h i x tl i bo gulled. 
 
 The first; exposition of the. action, of the' 
 
 Baltimore Convention took pi. '.;•.•• at Winning-, 
 
 • C , "•! lii.- r.'Uri'j.l'.uit. (See Wash-' 
 
 Ington Patriot of the IBtA, the Democratic^ 
 
 political organization freely indulges? they 
 discover nothing hut a pledge to " maintain? 
 themnionoib these .Statesi^mancipation and! 
 leu^npjtfflgnjfeu g , ahUWAoppose .any reopen- 
 jing-of'thvqu'a^tion'o^uttledlhy'llliQ^hirfceeDth; 
 (iV)urteent!f,-'iu: J4ilfeeiitlJi.4ltL3ndnients of. -the 
 iOonstitution.r^'aii'cl'v'tlifi'TeCoTdpd fact tliat 
 o gan.) Tim twQ principal speaker.-, were';."<we reraemberwith' gra't!itQde> the heroism 
 
 Senator 'I'if>t«!T>, of Nebraska! and Senator 
 Stockton, <it New Jersey, represeutatives of 
 
 I :■> winga of tho Obalition. Senator 
 Stockton Bald, on that occasion, "There was 
 a widi' difference between tlio antecedents 
 of the preceding speaker (Senator Tipfcon> 
 and liiui-vli". Ho was proud to say of him- 
 sell that he bad alwaya been, was now, and 
 always would be a Democrat He was as- 
 tonished at himself, iinding-he had conn' bore 
 to ask these people to vote for such a man as 
 Horace Greeley, lie was not surprised at 
 his colleague (.Mr. Tipton) for doing so; but 
 for himself he could hardly comprehend how 
 it came about, lie had been sent by the 
 people of New Jersey to tho Baltimore Con- 
 vention without instructions. He believed his 
 constituents did not want, him to vote for Mr. 
 Greeley, and ou the first ballot he was one 
 of that small number who had voted 
 against him. His people did not want Mr. 
 Greeley; so far as they were concerned th3y 
 would have elected a Democrat. It was your 
 Southern men who did this. You forced 
 them upon us and now we shall look to you 
 
 irember to vindicate your wisdom." I 
 havegiven tliM extract from Senator Stock- 
 ton's speech to show the infatuation of the 
 .Southern delegations at Baltimore, as well as 
 to fix the responsibility of Greeley's nomina- 
 tion where it belongs. Senator Stockton de- 
 
 I in a public speech on Southern soil: 
 "It was your Southern men who did this." 
 And.yetthero.is not within the broad limits 
 "> Georgia! a supporter of Greeley among 
 the Democrats who pretends that he has any 
 othertfecomoienddtiou than "anybody to beat 
 • .rant." It is the excuse of every Southern 
 
 ition, we could not elect a Democrat 
 and we were compelled to take Greeley and 
 his platform, and yet in Che very opening of 
 
 campaign, on Southern territory, a 
 Northern Democratic Senator proclaims: "It 
 was. your Southern men who did this— you 
 forced them upon \«." What a Spectacle! 
 A i;d worse than all, what a humiliation! But 
 
 tiofaiof She lialtimore Convention is a 
 pastissuo. The' living issueis, must the people 
 Soutbobey their dictation? It is are- 
 Ma fact that in this state, so far as I 
 
 been able to examine, there has not ap- 
 ditorial in any Democratic 
 
 i recommedding Mr. Greeley u$on his 
 
 •'" the high office to which they have 
 nominated him. 
 If they turn to tne pa I rei ord of his life, 
 
 made up of vindictive abuse of the 
 : n pi >p a and their institutions, and 
 ii :iiey look in liis promises for the future 
 ll'iy Qnd nothing but his assurance, in ac- 
 cepting tbe nomination, that "he was as 
 a Itepubllcau as he ever was." if 
 ! ■ kurn to the platform of principles 
 '••" " which they have placed him, besides 
 
 general declaration*, in whioh every 
 
 and.sacrifice^f'the soldiers and-sailors of tha 
 Republic, and novact. of ours shall ever de- 
 tract from their- justly-earned* -fame- or tho 
 full reward of their patriotism." The thou- 
 sands of Southern soldiers who sleep in their 
 graves made sacred by their efforts to defend 
 our rights, are not even honored with a re- 
 spectful remembrance. 
 
 I am not drawing upon* your sympathy, 
 but am recording what has. beGomo history; 
 if it does not arouse your indignation it will, 
 at least, excite your astonishment. Contrast- 
 ing the life of General Grant with that of 
 Mr. Greeley, no one can fail to perceive the 
 difference. The one indicates no want of hu- 
 manity, the other exhibits no evidence- of 
 kindness or affection. If you take the ad- 
 ministration of General Grant in its details 
 or its totality you will not find a measure re- 
 pulsive to Southern sentiment that did not 
 meet the^warm approval of Mr. Greeley. 
 Even the Kuklux law, which every Southern 
 man condemned, challenged the admiration 
 of Mr. Greeley to such an extent that he de- 
 clared that " on every proper occasion he had 
 advocated and justified the Kuklux act." " I 
 hold it," he said, "especially desirable for the 
 South; and if it does not prove strong enough 
 to effect its purpose I hope it will bo made 
 stronger and stronger." 
 
 I have sought in vain to find one sentiment 
 ever uttered or published by Mr. Greeley In 
 which he manifested even a common human- 
 ity toward the people of the South. His 
 friends say that he went on Mr. Davis' bond, 
 and magnify this single virtue to such an ex- 
 tent as to claim for him a merit that entitles 
 him to be made the Chief Magistrate of this 
 great nation. But give him the benefit of all 
 they claim, how poorly does it contrast with 
 the noble conduct of General Grant in stand- 
 ing by and defending that greatest of patriots, 
 Genera! Robert E. Lee. In the appendix, 
 page 553, of the life of General Lee, by J. E. 
 Cooke, the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, in a tribute 
 to General Lee, upon the occasion^ of his 
 death, remarks, "When I heard he was about 
 to be prosecuted in a Virginia court for the 
 alleged crime of treason,! wrote to him at 
 once, and with all my heart, that if he be- 
 lievedlcould bo of any service to him pro- 
 ially, I was at his comjpaand.'^ I re- 
 ceived a characteristic reply in terms of 
 friendship and grateful thanks. ■■> He wrote 
 that he did not think the prosecution would 
 take place. Hearing, however, some time 
 after that the prosecution would commence 
 at Richmond, I went at once to that city and 
 saw his legal adviser, Hon. William. H. 31c- 
 Farland, one of the ablest men of the bar 
 of Virginia. Mr. McFarland Showed me a 
 copy of a letter from G en e.ral Leo to Gene- 
 ral Grant, inclosing an application for a 
 pardon which he desired General Grant to 
 present to the President, but, telliug-hiurnot 
 

 to present it if *any stops, had been taken for 
 his prosecution) as ho was willing to stand 
 . tho tost General Grant,a^pnco replied, and 
 "" ho showed his reply to wo-.. Ho wroto that 
 o j he* had 6e en tho President andt protested 
 against any eteps being taken against Gen- 
 eral Lee, and informed him that lia con- 
 sidered his honor and the honor of tho na- 
 tion pledged to him. Tho President became 
 satisfied, and no proceedings were* ever 
 3 taken. General Grant transmitted to the 
 President tho application of General Lee for 
 pardon,.hidorsed with his'niost earnest ap- 
 provals ISTo pardon was granted." I am 
 now contrasting tho hearts of the two candi- 
 dates—In their political opinions there is no 
 difference — in that period of time which em- 
 braces General Grant's administration. 
 
 One other scsap from the records and I' am 
 done*' for the present. When General Lee 
 reached tho point where a continuance of the 
 struggle was madness, he received the follow- 
 ing letter from General Grant: 
 
 April 7, 1865* 
 
 General El E. Lee, Commanding (7. 8. A.: 
 
 General* The result of the last week 
 must-*convinee yon of the hopelessness- of 
 farther resistance on the part of the Army of 
 Northern Virginia in this struggle. 1 feel 
 that it is so, and regard it as my ditty to shift 
 iron* myself the responsibility of any fur- 
 ther effusion of bloud by asking" of you the 
 surrender of that portion of the Confederate 
 .Southern army known as the Army of North- 
 ern "Virginia." 
 Very respectfully, your obedientservant, 
 U. S. Grant, 
 Lieutenant General Commanding Armies of 
 United States. 
 
 April 7, 1365. 
 General: I have received your note of 
 this day. Though not entirely of the opin- 
 ion yon express of the hopelessness of further 
 resistance on the part of the army of North- 
 err* Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to 
 avoid useless effusion of blood, and there- 
 fore, before considering your proposition, ask 
 the terms you will offer on condition of its 
 surrender. R. E. Lee,' General. 
 
 To Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, com- 
 manding army of the United Slates. 
 The result of this correspondence was a 
 surrender, which is as follows: 
 
 Appomattox Court House, 
 
 April 0, 1865. 
 General It. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. : 
 ^.In accordance with the substance of my 
 letterto you of tho Sth instant, f propose to 
 receive the surrender of the Army of North- 
 ern. Virginia on the following terms, to wit: 
 Polls of all the officers and men to be made 
 in duplicate, one copy to be given to an offi- 
 cer designated by*me^.the vother to be, ; re- 
 tained by such officers as you 1 may designate. 
 
 Tho officers to give their individual parolo 
 not to take arms against tho Government of 
 the United States until properly exchanged, 
 aiuheaeh. company or regimental commander 
 tottsignwaklike parole fbctke.nien.of, their 
 commands. 
 
 i ThoAarms^ artillery,- audvpublic^property4to 
 be parked and* stacked^ and -turned* oveiyio 
 the officers appointed by me to receiv©>the'nr.. 
 f This will not embrace the side-armsflofi«tho 
 officers, nor their private horses or baggage-. 
 
 This done, each officer audcmaiywiiubo 
 allowed to return to their horaes^not-tokbe 
 disturbed by United States authority soalong 
 as they observe their parole and- thetyfcvws*in 
 force where they may reside. Very*respect- 
 fully, U. S.* Grant^T 
 
 Lieut;, -General. 
 
 Headquarters Army of---Northern 
 Virginia, April 9,- 1865. 
 Lieutenant General IT. £'. Grant*-. Command- 
 ing If. S. A.: 
 
 General: I have received your- letter 1 of 
 this date, containing the terms of' surrender 
 of the army of Northern Virginia,. as**pro- 
 posed by you. As- they are substantially- tho 
 same as those expressed in your letter ofr the 
 Sth instant, they are accepted.. IwihVprc- 
 ceed to designate the proper officers" to carry 
 the stipulations into effect. Very- respect- 
 fully, your obedient servant, 
 
 R. E. Lee, General. 
 
 Now, when the passions have subsided, and 
 "hands are shaking over Ihe bloody chasm," 
 the calm and reflecting survivors must admit 
 the humanity in every lino of this surrender, 
 and Gcneral'Grant will at least have accorded 
 to him some kind feeling over this general 
 calamity. 
 
 How was it with his present opponent, .but 
 then his political friend? Iii the Tribune of 
 the 1st of May, on the fourth page, in tho 
 fourth column, these were Mr. Greeley's 
 terms : 
 
 "But, .nevertheless, we mean to conquer 
 them; not merely to defeat, but to conquer; to 
 subjugate them; and we shall do this the 
 most mercifully, the more speedily we do it. 
 But when tho. rebellious traitors are over- 
 whelmed in the field and scattered like leaves 
 before an angry wind, it must not be to re- 
 turn to peaceful and contented homes. They 
 must find poverty at their firesides and see 
 privation in the anxious eyes of mothers and 
 the rags of children." 
 
 What a contrast. The one full of human- 
 ity and the milk of human kindness, the 
 other an execrable wretch, belching forth 
 feelings and sentiments that would have 
 disgraced Robespierre, in the zenith of his 
 cruelty. Others under the lash of party des- 
 potisnrmay feel no dishonor to their victim 
 in supporting Mr, Greeley. I can not so see 
 it. Every feeling of my heart revolts at tho 
 sacrifice, and no consideration- can Influence 
 me to make it. P. Clayton. 
 

 
 MWEBrGF GENERAL JOHN A. DDL 
 
 WOJSTIUMPTOITy July 27, 1872.. 
 *DEAn Sm^Tour letter of tho*l3th Instant, 
 nsklngimyaid to* procure a speaker for a 
 Greeley meeting at Hancock was sent to me 
 while I wa3 in New England, and I havo 
 been unable until now to acknowledge Its rs- 
 qoption,. 
 
 I da not .understand on whafc ground you 
 Considered yourself authorized to address 
 Rjncha.roquest to me. If you had been fa- 
 jfnjharvwith the course *f my political life, 
 andequally so with Mr. Greeley's, you could 
 «ot hare supposed mo capable of advocating 
 this election to -the office of President of the 
 Snitod States withomt imputing to me an 
 uiter abandonment of all political principle. 
 
 f uun-opposed to Mr. Greeley: 
 
 ©- Uocause 1 believe him to be as "unstable 
 <n.ge water,*" perpetually floundering (to carry 
 ant the Scriptural figure) amid the surges of 
 <ipinioni»nd deficient in all the requisites 
 Sissentuu to a firm, steady, and consistent ad- 
 juilnlstratknxof the Government. 
 
 J9vJ3ecaus9> no has usually been found 
 Among the most extreme ulcraists on the 
 great questions of political and social duty 
 Tidiieh nave boon brought ander public dis- 
 cussion for the last quarter of a century. 
 
 C, Becanse ho has been the advocate (and 
 Sn«this instance persistently) of that most 
 ajniust and unequal commercial system which 
 &s destroying our mercantile and shipping in- 
 terests, andheaping up enormous accumula- 
 tions of wealth in the hands of tho protected 
 glasses to the oppression and impoverishment 
 Cjall others. 
 
 ift. JBecause Tie Is associated, In relations 
 more or less intimate, with some of the chief 
 plunderers of the city of New York, justly 
 warranting the apnrohonsion that through 
 ibis xjompheity or his facile disposition, tho 
 samo system of fraud and corruption which 
 lias disgraced the municipal government of 
 this city may be carried to more Infamous ex- 
 tremes in the administration of the Federal 
 Government; and. j 
 
 C. Because In the darkest hour of the 
 country's peril, when a traitorous combiua- 
 tion-cadbeen formed to overthrow the Gov- 
 ernment, he oponly counseled the cowarclly 
 policy oi non-resistance, and an acquies- 
 cence in- the dissolution of the Union, when- 
 inror the cotton States should uaako up their 
 minds to go. 
 
 The coalition which fcas been formed to 
 promote his election io one of tho mast extra- 
 ordinary in tho history of parties, in respect 
 both.to the discordant elements it embraces 
 and tho surrendor of principles it involves. 
 • The ClnoinnaXi Convention, called to bring 
 I bc&icjlifc Bfignjfr 4njn;>rtRuUoeaaui£A flfcw* 
 
 form, nominated him, greatly jtaihe-aurprise 
 of the whole country, knovipa&iin, in re-- 
 gard to ono of those measures, to be an im- 
 placable opponent— nominated Jilm, too. 
 against the wishes and Judgment ofihe chief 
 promoters of tho movement. whcMtCcepted 
 him, either with an avowed -or an ill-con- 
 cealed disgust, which would be far more 
 creditable to their feelings if tho act of ac- 
 ceptance were uot utterly iu"acoucilabie>.with J 
 their principles. 
 
 The Democratic Convention at Baltimore 
 Indorsed and commended him to the support 
 of their party— not as the exponent of any 
 principles they have professed or any meaa-r 
 ures they have advocated, but as a known 
 and bitter opponent of both — tho maa-who. 
 perhaps, of all others, has been the^mosc 
 malignant assailant of tho Democracy, im- 
 peaching its integrity, traducing ifca motives, 
 and vilifying its character. 
 
 The adoption of such a man as tltetf can- 
 didate for the Ghief Magistracy of the Union 
 is the most conspicuous abandonment of po- 
 litical principles known to party contests; 
 
 It remains to bo seen whether the great 
 body of the Democratic voters, and the true 
 friends of Reform, can bo made parties to 
 this unscrupulous coalition between political 
 leaders. 
 
 That General Grant has committed" mis- 
 takes his most sincere friends admit. But if 
 his errors had been four-fold more numerous, 
 he would, in my opinion, be a much safer- 
 Chief Magistrate than Mr. Greeley. lie has, 
 in that capacity, done much for which ho 
 deserves the thanks of the country. Above 
 all, ho has kopt it at peace, notwithstanding 
 the efforts of sensation journals and popu- 
 larity-seeking politicians to provoke hostili- 
 ties with Spain on the question of Cuba, and 
 with Great Britain on the Alabama, claims 
 and tho fisheries. , 
 
 If, regardless of these titles to the approval 
 of his fellow-citizens, and of his Invaluable 
 services during tho late civil war. they should 
 set him aside for Mr. Greeley; if the latter, a 
 mere erratic politician, untried in any Im- 
 portant public trust, should be elovated to 
 ttie Chief Magistracy of thc.Unlon— a Union 
 which would not now exist if his counsels 
 had been followed— and if tho man who, of 
 all others, has done the most to preserve it 
 should be discarded for a successor so ill 
 qualified and bo unscrupulously nominated 
 and sustained, the example would bo most 
 deplorable in itslniluenceonall high motives 
 to political action, and justify tuxi moat pain- 
 ful forebodings us to the future* 
 | i am respectfully yours, -«Iqiu?A.T)ix. 
 U A.,B^-Connvc.ll ) ..i>vq.,:II:u'aof;k"N.\ r . 
 
P Ag'l? 
 
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 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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