"CARONDELET, ST. LOUIS CO., MO., _October 10, 1868_.
"HON. S. J. TILDEN, New York.
"MY DEAR SIR,--Your favor without date, enclosing me a note written to
you by Governor Seymour, was received last evening.
"The Governor's letter is very delicate, kind, and considerate.
"I have been confined to my room since the 10th of September, and in
that time to my bed until within the last few days. I am far from well
now. My wound, which had closed after opening, threatens to reopen. It
may not do so immediately, but I presume it is but a question of time,
as it had been allowed to close too soon.
"It will be many days, probably weeks, before I shall be in condition
for any effort.
"I am a member of the 'Dyer' court of inquiry, which has been postponed
from week to week on account of my absence. So soon as I am able to
endure the fatigue of travel I shall be compelled to go to Washington
on that service.
"I had always believed that it was not well for officers of the army
to engage actively in political campaigns, and I had concluded so long
as I remained in the army not to set a contrary example to younger
officers; still, the crisis is of such vital moment that I might
probably have acted differently in the particular case urged by you,
especially when possibly our eventual success depends upon the action
of my own State in October. But neither time nor health permit me to
act. It is therefore not necessary to discuss the question.
"I believe the election next Tuesday will decide the result of the
Presidential election if the majorities in the States are at all
positive.
"Our carrying two of the three will insure us a victory in November.
"I feel great interest in the result, I believe no person more so than
myself.
"It is our only and last chance.
"I am, Truly Yours,
"WINFD. S. HANCOCK."
S. J. TILDEN, AUGUSTUS SCHELL, AND AUGUST BELMONT TO W. F. STORY
(TELEGRAM)
"NEW YORK, _October 17th, 1868_.
"W. F. STORY, Chicago, Illinois:
"Telegram just received. The suggestion made to change ticket was
wholly unauthorized and unknown to National Democratic Executive
Committee or any member thereof. The proposition is regarded as
absurd, and is received by our masses with astonishment, derision, and
indignation. In October elections we gained largely on much increased
vote, compared with eighteen sixty-six, and nearly carried Pennsylvania
and Indiana. Been overborne only by systematic frauds and rejection
of votes of citizens of Irish and German birth by party that claim
suffrage for negroes as national right, and practically accords him
supremacy over white men. We came nearer to our expectations than
Republicans to theirs. If our friends continue contest in all States
with same vigor, our foes will find it impossible to spread their
resources over so vast an area with equal effect. Our masses are
resolved to renew contest under our chosen leaders, with our old flag
flying, with organization unbroken, and with two and half million
voters compact and always ready to rally for rescue of constitutional
government and civil liberty.
"S. J. TILDEN,
"AUGUST BELMONT,
"AUGUSTUS SCHELL."