.MjAx.NDM2

Recd Nov 15/78

Col: J. J. Gautt

Lucas Place

St Louis

Mo

Richmond

November 4th 1878

My dear colonel,

Your very interesting letter of October 18th came here in due time - but when I was away - trying to convince the voters of the counties of this district that money cheap to them would be as as much to their [?]. In which, by the way, I was remarkably unsuccessful. A large number of them accepted the green backer promise of money to cost the next to nothing, but receivable at par by their creditors. All the [?] accepted this idea - and are clinging to it. Being away until tuesday afternoon, (election day) and finding then an accumulation of professional business (is Insurance a profession?) I have postponed the acknowledgment of your letter till now.

I don't think that the Electoral commission was at all due to the [?] of our democratic members of Congress by the Republicans - but to the fright inspired by Grants 700 infantry in Washington and 5 iron-clads on the Potomac. As the democrats in Congress could count the votes of each party in the electoral electoral commission we can ascribe their acceptance of it to no motive but fear. They naturally supposed that the infantry and iron-clads were to be [?] against them. And escaped that danger and the indignation of their constituents by putting their responsibilities upon the commission. But my opinion of Mr Tildon was formed long before the devisiry of that subterfuge. Genl Grant's bulldozing commenced very soon after the election. The most prominent politicians on our side in New York were then in favour of meeting those threats with expressions of our intention to see the president whom we had elected inaugurated. And were confident that such a course would prevent any use of force by Grant to control the count of electoral votes. This, it was said at the time, was prevented by Mr Tildon. And it is generally, in the south, believed that he prevented a course that would have secured a fair count of the electoral votes. I received this impression in New York from very prominent democrats. At the same time there was great excitement among the people. One night there was an enormous gathering in Union place, threatening a riot. It was only satisfied by the assurance that their party leader would see that the many they had elected would be inaugurated. I had this the next morning from the N.J. Senator T.J. Randolph.

I admit that while governor of New York Mr Tilden exhibited admirable administrative capacity. But I fear that he would not be a president for these times. And it seems to me very improbable that he could be elected. Indeed, unless our people return very speedily to the principles Benton professed - and practiced too, we shall have no democratic president. If you remember, I never disparaged his politics - only didn't much approve his personal character.

The periodical you mention came in my absence - and was not looked at by me until after reading your letter. I should have read your article eagerly for financial knowledge if I had seen the pamphlet before the election - for currency was the question here. I shall read it as soon as practicable, and very attentively, in the confidence of improving decidedly my knowledge of the subject.

It is to be hoped that the result of the recent elections will bring the democrats north and south to their senses in time for that of 1880, when Mr Hayes's successor is to be chose.

As ever, yours very truly

J. E. Johnston