Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-10-02
ADDRESS OF THE WAR DEMOCRACY.
c. E. SMITH,
Co, /, 32d o. VI


i assembled at Columbus on the 22d ult.,
j their Address to the Democracy of Ohio,
thus forcibly state the reasons which imp
L them to oppose the election of VaIlandighau
! You as well as we, are called upon by th
imperative" voice of convention TO vote 70
@. L. Vallandigbam for Governor of the Stat
of Ohio. We admit the full force and efer
of this call; it comes to US clothed with th
power and prestige of party ties and part
eAlty; it comes to us ladened with the associ
atiors Of former years; but all these cannot b
made 10 avail feathers weight, when ou
country, our kindred, aud the future of thi
Republic are at stake. Believing. as we dC
that the action of the Convention in nomina
ting Mr.. Vallandgham was great mistake
and one which If approved and sanctioned by
the people at the polls, will seriously endangel
the perpetuiiy of our Government, we have
felt and now feel it our duty to withhold from
him our support, and thus clear our skirts o
all completely with the agency by which it is
brought about.
And in so doing, We stand by the doctrines
advocated By Douglas, by every Democratic
member of Congress from Ohio, and by the
entire Democracy of the North except Val
landigham and a small faction, prior TO Mr..
Vallandigham's nominntion for Governor and
in no wise affiliate with, or approve of the
doctrine of Abolitionism or fanaticism of any
kind
But self-respect as well as duty to you re-
quire that we should state briefly, and candid
y the reasons why we are thus compelled to
withhold our votes from Mr.. Vallandigham
and which perhaps, in ordinary times we
might pass by in silence even if unable to ap-
prove, for the reason that such views, although
entertained by the candidate would never iud
An opportunity to be made effective. and
could not influence the people of others States,
not then, as now, in rebellion.
First: We cannot support Mr.. Vallandig-
ham, because in his sIeech in Congress, Feb.
20, 1861, he said:
at is vain TO tell me that States cannot
seoede. Seven States have seeded. In three
months their agents and commissioners WiiI
return from Europe with the recognition OF
Great Britain and France, and OF the other
powers of the Continent" p Record, p. 76.
Again, Secession has been tried and has
proved speedy and terrible success. The
practicability Of doing it and the way to do it
have been established. = Record, p. 81.
Again, ''If any one or more Of the States of
Of this Union should secede-for reasons of
the suffciency of which, before God and the
great tribunal of history, they alone may judge
much as deplore it, 1 never would as
Representative in the Congress of the United
States, 70 one dollar Of money whereby one
drop of Ameicrn blood should be shed in
civil war; Record, p. 81. ...
AgGin. "There is not man in this house
fit to be a representative here who does not
know that the South cannot be forced to
yield obedience to your laws and authority
again."
AgGin. Accordingly have not voted for
any army or navy bill, nor any army or navy
appropriation bill, since the meeting Of Con.
gress on the Ath of July, 1861 Record,
page 147.
Again, "Stop fighting, make an armistice--
no formal treaty. Withdraw your armies |
from the seeded States. Recall your fleets,
break up your blockades," &c.-Record, page
200
70 these and kindred sentiments held and !
uttered by Mr.. Vallandighan from the be-
ginning of our troubles, and now prominently
thrust forward by him, we cannot subscribe, |
believing them to be anti-Democratic and sub
versive of the Government and all the best in.
terest Of the people. We prefere rather to /
adhere to the ancient landmarks SO truthfulIy |
pointed out, and firmly maintained by Andrew
jackson, in bis contest with South Carolina in
1882, as evinced by the following declaration /.
of principles found 10 his Proclamation of
December 11th, 1882, and bis Message Of Jan
uary l7th, 1888. Il consider" says Gen. jack
son, the power to annul law of the United |
States assumed by one State, to be iucompati'
ble with the existence of the Union, contradic-
led expressly by the letter of the Constitution,
by its spirit, inconsistent with
every principle on which it is founded and de-
struclive of the first object for which it was
formed.
'Ths right to secede is deduced from the
nature of the Constitution. which they say is a
compact between sovereign States, who have
preserved their whole sovereignty, and the re-
fore are subject 10 no superior; that, because
hey made the compact, they can break it when,
IN their opinion, it has been departed from by
The other States. FallaciOus as this course
Of reasoning is, it enlists State pride, and finds
advocates in the honest prejudicCs of those
,rnment sufficiently to see the radical error on
which it rests"
To say that any State may at pleasure se-
,ede from the Union, is to say that the Uni
led States are not nation; because it would ,
be a solecism to contend that any part of a
nation might dissolve its connection with the
,ther parts to their injury and ruin, without
an Ofense."
Secession, like any other revo- ,
act, may be morally justified by the
of oppression; but TO call it con- j
right, is copfounding the meaning ,
If terms and can only be done through gross !
rror."
Men of the best intentions and soundest
Tiews may diier in the construction Of some
PARTS Of the Constitution but there are 9th ,
re on which dispassiOnate reflection can leave
10 doubt. or this nature appears TO be the ]
ssumed right OF secession"
1.-The right of the people of q single State ]
o absOlve themselves at will and without the
consent OF the other States, from the most
olemn obligation, aud hazard the liberty and
happiness of the millions composing this
Juion, cannot be acknowledged. Such au-
bority is believed to be utterly leplgnant /;
10Th 10 the precepts upon which the Gener. h,
! Government is constituted and Il objects =
shich il is expressly formed to attaiu."
Again, General Jackson, speaking Of tlo :