Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-08-14
Forney on tho Partisan Democracy Of OHIO
and New York.

degree, perhaps, tnan any Otuet mhiii Hi'sS
upon the action Of the partisan
Democracy of Ohio and New York;
aThe action Of the Ohio and New York
State Democratic Conventions virtually set
ties the political position of the loyal States.
The Republican organizations Of these States
te ldered to the Conventions representing the
Democratic party, a compromise in the shape
Of Union ticket. They presented as mu-
tnal platform this simple pfineiple-Loyalty
70 the Union-conddence in the Administra-
tion-and an unqualified support Of its war
measures. In both States they controlled |
n majority of the votes; in both States it was /
in their power, under ordinary events, TO |
maintain possession of the Government, and |
TO place their friends in nearly every de-
pertinent OF the government. And YET |
anxious TO conciliate the Democratic sentl-
ment, and to recognize the devotion and self
sacrifice of the Democratic masses, they gen.
erously rendered them one half of the offices
to be filled. Nothing could have been fairer.
The platform was one which no patriot could
have refused to occupy; the interests at stake
we're those involved In the destiny of our
beloved country, and certainly no citizen was
anxious TO revive the platforms OF Oincinnati'
Chicago OF Baltimore, or to discuss any az
struse or obsolete principle therein declared,
when his only duty was one to bis country
What do we care about popular Sovereignty
or Congressional Intervention, when the Ma
tional Sovereignty is threatened; and the
peace of the country destroyed by the inter
vention Of the sword2 So far IS the mere
personnel of the positions are concerned,
there are able and honest men enough IN both
parties to execute their duties properly
There are men who would have gladly ac-
cepted the united suffrages Of both PARTIES
The proposition was a feasible one, and 1t
would have been accepted by the masses OF
the country with enthusiasm. Why then,
has 1t been rejected?
The New York Democratic Cons 'a. b., y
declining to unite, SAY that it IS 'tu- .e
Federal Government to hold ou ras
peace and accommodation to
States, assuring them of their as r
the Constitution" The Ohio Clnve 40 81,
among other things, recommends National
Convention for restoring and preserving the
Union, and condemns the Presidents "lste
attempt to suspend the writ of habeas cor
pus." These two propositions embrace the
whole platform of the Northern Peace Party,
and on these propositions The Democratic Or
CARNATIONS of the North have placed them
selves and gone before the country. And
yet they mean nothing more than divided
: North now, and divided Union in q year or
3 two to come. These gentlemen forget that
for the North to 'hold out terms Of accom-
mediation to discovered States" is to accept
c the cup of humiliation and disgrace. What
I -, If WhaF ien
can be msde2 Why did not these Conven-
tions, in laying down their platforms, 60
more into details? Has the South not been
E Hassured of all their rights under the Consti-
tution" In faes, what has the Government
been doing for the past year but giving these
2 very sssurances2 The Republican leaders
covered themselves all over with such
pledges Mr. Seward in his Senatorial
D speech-Mr. Cameron repeatedly as Senator
: and IN fact, every representative Republi-
: can, without even excepting such radical
men as Mr.. Loveioy in the Hcu3e or Mr.
Sumner in the Senate, Joined in the desla-
rations of the Secretary of State and the See
n retary of War. The President in his inau.
. gural gave the South the most abundant ss-
n surances of his kindness to the South, snt
1 his respect for their rights. The first duty
? the Administration assumed was sn attenp
4 to negotiate "terms of accommodation" anC
. they were carried forward with earnestne5s
. and good faith By the President and his Cab
q met, until the unprovoked assault upon For
Sumter assured the nation that the only
!, ''terms of accommodation the South enter
. tained were the cannon of Fort Moultrie and
. Morris Island. In a spirit of haughty dis
n dain they told the North that the only terms
4 they could accept would be complete sur
: render on the part of the North, the evacu
alton of the capital, the disgrace and ami
hilation Of the Republic. 3 -
Are these the terms of accommodation
which the New York Democracy propose
: There can be no other. The South is in
t earnest, and they have proved their earnest.
? ness at Charleston and Manassas. We may
assure them of every possible right the Con-
stitution bestoWs, and they would most GER
d tainly hold the bearer Of the Hassurances y
: a prisoner of war, and 60 on building their
? entertainments within q mornings march Of
Washington City. Their ultimRtum is q
: complete and final separation, and in view OF
this there can be "no terms of accommoda-
I tion which will not assume the accom-
, plishment of a separation as a part of the
treaty. Is that the meaning of the Demo-
/ cratic Convention of New York The pro
position of the Ohio Convention is equally
wicked, for it not only endorses the sc-
commodation" scheme Of New York, but
makes an issue directly on the Administra
tion, and insists that the Democracy of that
State shall condemn the Presidents "laie at
tempt to suspend the writ of habess corpust'
If the Democracy of Ohio condemns one
act of the Administration, they must con-
denim every act. If it was wrong for the
President to suspend the writ of habeas
corpus, it was wrong for him 10 attempt q
reinforcement of Fort Sumter to reinforce
I Fort Pickens; TO call out the three months
volunteers to open the road to Washington,
to occupy Alexandria; to erect Notifications
Q on Arlington Heights to blockade the South
ern ports to arrest the Baltimore Com
missioners; and drive traitors from the capital
Every one ofthese measures was undertaken
q for the public good. They were necessary
Is means Of national self defence. Il one is
to be eensured, all are to be censured; and il
the Ohio Democratic Convention insists that
the President is 10 be condemned for suspend
ing the habeas corpus they must also condemn
, him .or not abandoning Washington, and
permitting jefferson Davis to carry out his
boast that he would dine in the While House
on the Fourth of July. A National Conven-
ton is an insult to The North--sod even il
= the North demesned itself into n sirT The
profer, what States would be rept1 n d2-
Who would South Carolina, c. T17 "a, OF
Alabama send? (? Where woullitl q ven
= ton sit2 Would it be in Ricuu,.gt. under
E the traitors flag, Or in Philsdelpbi4, under
I the stars and stripes2 What can they d.
"towards restoring and preserving the
J Union ?" What propositions can they make
{ that the Administration has not already
: made /? For the administration has gone
. as far as national honor will permit, and No
National Convention can go farther. g
Fhe truth is that the Democratic organiza-
tions, both in New York and Ohio, are con-
trolled by the meanest the old Breckinridge
cabaL They were principals in the treason
: against the Democratic ty-they were