The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-10-02
Address of the war Democracy.

The State Convention, held az Colum- |
buson the 22d of September, which
was largely attended by the people,
issued the following able and patri-
otic address,
To lie Democracy of Ohio
FFLLow- -CrrTzESs - Having met
for the purpose, amongst Other things,
"to adopt such n""~'.Tes as the eNi-
gencies of the hour may seem to de.
mand tor the welfare of our common
country" we feel it to be duty
which we cannot ignore or thrust
aside, to address you briefly, but
plainly and truthfully, upon the mo-
mentous questions Of the day, and il
possible stay the mad and furious
torrent of fanatiolsm, which seems to
be sweeping with almost irresistible
force over the face Of our once happy
country. We have indeed fallen up
on "troublous times" Passion and
prejudice seem to rule the hour
! Reason and judgment have fed the
throne, and fanaticism and ultraism
sway the scepter undisturbed over
the public mind. Our country, our
Government, that blessed Inheritance
descended to us from our forefathers,
is to all, but the hopeful, in the very
last throes of expiring nature. In
whatever objection the eve is turned,
the horizod Of our national existence
lis overcast with portentous clouds,
which human wisdom and human sa-
: gacity seem totally inadequate to pen
. citrate or brush away.
We are notth7 apologists for the
mistakes and errors of the Admins
tration in the prosecution of the war,
nor do we apppve of or sanction the
factious opposition which is being
brought to beG against the lcgiti.
mate rs well as the doubtful powers
of the Government TO put down the
rebellion, "suppress the resurrection
and enforce obedience to the Consti.
tuition and the laws of the land, and
when we are asked to sanction and
approve, by the exercise of n most
solemn and important privilege, the
elective franchise, that fractious and
as we think and believe, to use nc
harshcr term. misguided opposition
which, from tho very beginning, has
studiously and persistently opposed
every effort put fo;tb to save the life
of the nation--we do most earnestly
yet calmly and deliherntcly, enter ouI
solemn protest against it, and call up.
on and earnestly entreat all candid
men to reflect before voting for the
very embodiment of this opposition.
You, rs well rs we, are called upon
by the imperative" voice of Con
vention to vote for c. L. Vallandig
ham for Governor OF the State oi
Ohio. We admit the full force ant
effect Of this call; it comes to Il,
clothed with the power and prcstig,
Of party ties and party fealty; i
comes to lis ladened with the associ
ations of former years, but all thes,
cannot be made to avail Il feather,
weight, when our country, our kin
Idred and the future of this Republi,
are ut stake. Believing, as we do
|. that the action of the Convention il
nominating Mr.. Vallandigham was ;
great mistake, and one which, if ap
proved and sanctioned by the people
at the polls, will seriously enlanoeI
the perpetuity Of our Government
we have felt and now feel it our dut,
t. Withhold from him our support, anC
thus clear our skirts of all completely
with the agency by which it i:
brought about.
And in so doing, we stand by the
Idoctrines advocated by Douglas, by
every Democratic member of Con
gress from Ohio, and by the entir,
Democracy of the North, except Mr.
Vallandigham and small faction
prior to Mr.. Vallandigham's nomina
ton for Governor, and in no wis,
affiliate with, or approve of the doc
trine Of Abolitionism or Fanaticisn
of any kind.
But self-respect as well as duty t.
you, require that we should stat,
briefly and candidly the reasons VIII,
we are thus compelled to withhold
our votes from Mr.. Vallandigham
and which, perhaps, in ordinary time
we MIGHT pass by in silence even i
unable to approve, for the reason tina
such views, although entertained b,
the candidate would never find al
opportunity to be made effective, anC
could not influence the people of 9th
er State, not then, as now, in rebel
} lion.
: FIRST. We cannot support Mr.. Val
landigham, because in his speech il
Congress, Feb, 20, 1861, he said:
1T is vain to tell me that State
cannot secede. Seven States hay,
sece led. In Sthree months thei
agents and commissioners will return
from Europe with the recognition o
Great Britain and France, and of th,
other poweas of the Continent. y
Record, p. 76.)
Again. Secession has been triec
and has proved a speedy and terrible
success, The practicability of doing
it and the way to do it have been es
tablished." Record, p, 81.
I Again, "If any one or more of tn
States of this Union should secede-
for reason of the suiliciency of whicl
before God and the great tribunal O
history, they alone may judge--mucl
rs | should deplore it, l never woul,
rs a RenreSentatiYe In the Cnnnrnss q