The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-02-01
Columbus Correspondence.
COLUMBUS Jan. 2sd. 1861.

llme, or Tor long term oil years, enter
tained, in reference 10 any person, and,
especially when this opinion is founded
from the public reputation Of the individ-
ual, is suddenly destroyed, we are apt 10
so keenly feel the disappointment as that
! it gives tone TO our words and acts. For
! Zen years past, since tie sitting OF the
Constitutional Convention, your cores
pondent has had an unusually favorable
opinion OF Judge Thurman; that, although
Democrat, he was man, able, honest,
reliable. That Illusion is all dispelled.- -
True, bis ability may admit, and, as O
jurist, may respect him but, as a man,
my estimation Of him is entirely changed.
The most mserab!y contemplate, partisan
speech ever uttered in my hearing, fell
from his lips in the Democratic Conven.
ton here to-day, of which Convention he
was chief spokesman and fugleman gen.
| orally. In effect, he said 10 the South,
you are all right; go ahead there is a
large party AT the North who will stand
by and support you; you cannot be sub
dued; you are too strong, and there is too
much Of justice on your side. Austria,
with hundreds of well.disciplinel troops
in her standing army, was unable 10 sub
due Hungary, With the noble Kossuth at
her head, until she called TO her aid the
Northern Bear Of Russia and then, in
words added, "that the wrongs suffered
by Hungary at the hands OF Austria, are
not to be compared with the wrongs which
the South has suffered at the hands of the
North" He charged all these alleged
aggrcssions of the North to the prevale nee
Of The principle which is at the bottom Of
the Republican organization, in fact, 10 that
party and then gave us to understand d
that the great Democratic party was the
only hope Of the country. While making
these charges, he did not attempt TO
specify any one act OF aggression.
AS you aware, this Convention was
oslensibIy called TO consider the present
distracted state OF The country, and in
dictate what should be done to harmonize
conflicting sentiments and settle difficult
ties | say thus was ostensibly the object,
but the real object was the reconstruction
and union of the Democratic party,
hoping by taking advantage Of the con
vulsions Of the times, TO turn up in the
majority. In the movement thus far, it is
thought here, that they signaIIy failed.
There were in attendance upon the Con
ventlon, 1t is true, some Of the strongest
men Of the party, but, as a whole, it ap.
peared to me the weakest, both in point of
numbers and weight Of character, Of any
witnessed here in the last four years.
They resolved in favor of Convention
Tor amending the Constitution, and also
adopted the following resolution, which
is quoted TO show how near they got to
expressing any opinion upon the right Of
States to secede. and the duty of the Gov
ernment 10 enforce the laws:
Resolved, Thet the two hundred thou.
sand Democrats Of Ohio send to the
people Of the United States, both North
and South, greeting: And when the
people OF the North shal! have fulfilled
their duties to the Constitution and the
South-then, and not until then, will it be
proper for them to take into consideration
the question OF the right and propriety of
coercion.
Judges Key and Warden didn't like
this resolution, and tried TO amend il so
that there should be something tangible
aboMt it, but were overruled, and then
voted against the resolution. This move
ment of Judge Key caused ripple upon
the current Of things, which indicated the
coming storm, whereupon Citizen Sam.
Medary, the old "WhceI Horse" mounted
a chair, and pouring little of his essence
Of fDemocracy.saving oil upon the rising
waters, so modified the tempest that the
resolution passed with some degree of
unauimiIy, not, however, until the Hon.
Mr.. FIagg, Of Hamilton, mounting a
chair and vociferously spou;ing speech,
declared, "that, were il not for the fact
that the South understood that there was
n party at the North sympalhizng with
them, they would not be where they are
now" Guess there is some ruth in This.
When States are daily resolving them.
selves out OF the Union when citizens
of these States are daily speaking, ac;;ng
and disseminating treason, arming against
the General Government, and by force
taking possession Of ihe forts, arsenals and
other property Of that Government :;
when each successive report from the
South, is but the history OF repeated acts
of this nature, 10 hear such men as are
leading this Democratic party, take this
position, it does make ones very blood to
boil, and We can but feel, that il the time
comes when the strong arm OF the Federal
power takes hold for the execution OF the
law upon traitors and the plotters of trea.
son, the work will not be done until those
furnishing them "aid and com fort" at the
North are brought to feel its penalties.
The Temperance Convention holden in
this city to-day, has been well attended,
and considerable interest was manifested
in its proceedings. The resoIu ions
adopted look 10 legislation which shall
render onr present laws for the sup.
preston Of the traffic more easily and
effectively administered and also calling
attention to the great importance Of more
earnest effort on The part of the friends of
Temperance, to educate the public mind
upon the subject in other words, that
more "moral suasion" be used. This
seems TO me important. While, from the
necessity of the case we have been seek.
ing for law TO aid in this reform, we have
neglected TO educate and persuade indi.
vlduais 10 principles and habits of tam