The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-10-28
rhe erouna of contest.

Ohio carried to q successful issue2 The can
yass was net sustained on local questions.
State policy was not a controlling element in
the discussions sAllfelt that the contest was
National. and that the controlling feature in
the strife was, on the part of the Unionists,
an endorsements of the war policy of the Ad-
ministration, embracing the suspension of the
writ of habeas corpus, the act Of confiscation,5
and pre-eminently the proclamation of eman-
cipation. IS
The contest was not circunscribed to any
such narrow point as Vallandig hams arrest,
for many who supported the Union ticket
with the most fervent zeal, still doubted the
propriety, OF policy, rather Than he justice of
that act But the series of measures adopted
by the President and Congress for the sup
preston of the rebellion, was discussed and
accepted as the issue of the campaign. The
Copperheads pressed these measures upon the
Unionists. audsthey plumply and squarely
met and sustained them And yet strangely
enough, the New York Tribune, SO generally
accurate in matters Of this character, denies
that the result of the election in Ohio is iis
general endorsement of the Federal Admin
istration.p Its language is the following:
Nor is this--what will in some quarters
be claimed forsit+-a general indorsementlo of
the Fedora, Administration. 1t is quite prob
able that the People would have elected Mr.
Lincolns or some leading member of his Cab
met, had the Presidency been at stake; they
doubtless would have done so rather than
But this was not the. question they decided
last Tuesday, Nor did they; intend to ap-
p1and and sustain the conduct of the war
On the contrary, many of them sbelievedEthat
it might have been prosecuted more wisely,
more vigorously and more effectively. Gen.
Halleck may be the greatest strategist that
ever organized victory,,' but they are not
yet sure of it, and did not mean to express
any opinion on that point" 81 ga
1t may well be admitted that every detail
in the conduct of the war, and that the entire
strategetic policy of Gen. Halleek did not
enter into the contest, but, generally, the
leading measures of administrative policy for
the overthrow of the rebellion, were support
ed. in opposition to the assaults of the Cop
pefheads, by our papers and speakers. Mr..
Brough, our Governor elect, SO understood it
aud SO does every intelligent man who mixed
or mingled in the contest. Mr.. Brough ad-
dressed concourse of citizens at Painesville
on Friday, the 18th inst, at y jubilee in hon
or Of the victory achieved at the ballot box
and in the course Of his remarks he said :iegs
Again, it is no uncertain victory. VIZ
have fought it on the broad issues of sustain.
ing the Administration of the country ip the
measures deemed necessary for the crushing
of this rebellion. We have lodged no issues
There have been noE such words as pozicy oi
erpe5iency in our councils. We have fought
the battle on the broad issues presented to US
and the result has justified US in 50 doing"
The facts in the case are thus well stated
The result is an endorsement !" of the meas
ures deemed necessary for crushing the re
bsllion,'' and let the Administration have tn
benefit of the glorious triumph for its strength
and encouragement ). A Is qs{54i saI
The Tribune says the people sid mean +
say that q This atrocious rebellion must b
put down, and the unity of the Republic re
stored and n.aintained.,' Yes, the people di
mean to say that, and to accomplish it, the
did mean emphatically to endorse the proc
lamation of freedom to the enslaved, and a
other proper and efficient measures to seeur
that end - rs,JT gss sa1s
BY this voice and verdict of the people
the Administration may be encouragedsto to g
forward in its most earnest and determine
efforts to restore the integrity of the UnioI
and the authority of the Government, assul
ed that the people will. sanction the most vie
orous blows that can be aimed at the 'lrehe
lion--and assured, also thatst the people wi
brook no letting down from the high groun
assumed, no recession from the Positio
that tie cause Of the rebellion must be wipe
out with the rsbelliensitself.n