Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the PREFACE. In the compilation of this work, I have had the following aims in view : 1. To give a truthful and accurate résumé of the personal and political careers of Hon. Horatio Seymour and General Francis P. Blair, Jr., the Democratic candidates for President and Vice-President in the contest of 1868. 2. To state fairly and succinctly the issues now before the country, upon which the people are asked to give their verdict next November. 3. To deal honestly by my readers, making no unfair appeals to passion or prejudice, giving currency to no doubtful statements merely because they might damage the Republican party or its candidates, at the same time claiming no more for the Democratic party, its platform and ticket, than I think is honestly their due. Wherever it has been possible, I have made use of Governor Seymour's public utterances to explain his views. In short, my design has been to compile a book, which, while it will be a storehouse of facts invaluable to Democrats during the campaign, will yet be so candid in its spirit, and careful in its statements, that no fair-minded citizen, of any party, will be repelled from reading it. Such a work, I humbly conceive, will be far more effective as a means of proselyting inquiring or wavering Republicans, than one filled with strong party appeals, and abounding in the reckless charges so common in the prints usually put forth by political parties upon the eve of important elections. The contest has opened very bitterly. Nor is this surprising. There are vast material interests at stake. A question of racesuperiority is involved, while the passions and prejudices generated during the war have been stimulated into a new life, so as to affect the result. It is the duty, however, of the great body of the American people, who are neither office-holders nor office-seekers, whose only concern is to see our financial system reformed, the revenues collected, and the Union restored in its integrity, to discountenance these exhibitions of party folly and fury, and address themselves to the task of discussing the candidates and the issues of the campaign temperately and candidly, in order that a wise and honest verdict may be given at the polls next November. To this class the following work is respectfully addressed and dedicated. Many of the facts, and all the speeches, orders, messages, and documents, are taken directly from Governor Seymour's private papers, to which he has been kind enough to allow me access, and from which, for lack of space, I have been able to make only such extracts as are absolutely essential to a fair exhibit of his career as a public man. His official secretaries have also given me valuable assistance. So far, this work may be considered authorized. But for the language used, opinions expressed, statements made, as well as the arrangement of the matter, I am wholly responsible. Whatever shortcomings may be noticed in the composition of this work, can easily be accounted for when it is known that it was written within a week, and that week the warmest known in the history of the country. For valuable assistance in the preparation of the work, I am indebted to Messrs. Salem Dutcher, Henry E. Sweetser, A. C. Wheeler, St. Clair McKelway, and Hiram Calkins-all members of the World Editorial Staff. JULY 17, 1868. DAVID G. CROLY. |