The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-03-20
DEMOCRATIC MEETING.
EpIrna JEpFERsoNiAs. SIR.

~ ''t' "NNoubN VI wv tbko w
the Democratic chiefs, at their
council Of last Saturday evening
may be Of interest to your readers
We hold it unjust to tell what the
President said, because his official
character compelled him, out OF
gratitude. to aim to plesse thosr
who made him president, whether
he pleased himself or not.
Mr.. Blackiord WAS called upon
first. He stated his position explic-
lily to be that OF o supporter of the
laws; said the sonscription law was
necessary. and would meet the
prompt obedience OF Democrats. l,
WAS the only way to obtain an hen
orabls peace. He was not in favor
OF the law in detail, but good citi-
zens would obey it Every citizen
had right to criticise the policy OF
the governments right which the
speaker claimed for himself. We
think no reasonable Republican
could esk more from known and
persistent Democrat. than was con-
coded IN this speech. Ii obedience
TO the laws in letter and 10 spirit Is
10 be the order OF the day, with the
Democracy, we can unite with them
in all the principal duties Of citi
xans.
Mr.. Colt was called ont. and
made very good war speech His
pol tics he had learned from Jeffer
sor He objected to the three hun
dr d dollar provision Of the con-
scrittior Law, because it favored the
rich man. But h. and all good cit
z ns would obey the law, aud
heartily support the war. Ii did
not become Americans TO turn their
backs upon their soldiers in the
field He would not advert to the
cause # the wsr, il was enough thai
IT is prosecuted for the ma ntain-
aDce OF our government. The
heart of this speaker is evidently
right
Judge Whitley being called, re :
sponded tc the following effect:-
He considered it an experience
meeting, and would givs his expe-
rience. 1t was a public mt citing or
he would not be iounG ut it. Il
WAS II meeting tor the Tree express
ion of opinion, and there w2s no law
or authority TOR lettering that ex-
preston on matters Of public policy.
He knew no criterion to Judge of n
mans loyalty, except obedience to
the laws and the constitution; and
judged by thSt criterion the Democ
rscy was loyal. But th:t did not
mem obedience. to the proclamation.
That was very foolish measure -
1t united The South and divided the
North, and did no possible good,
ior before, the slaves had been freed
where the army had gone, and
there was no material objection
made, and the proclamation can do
no more. (The Judge did not re-
member that before the proclams-
tion the army held a neutral posi-
'ion on slavery in theory. and pro.
slavery position in tact. Slaves
were in most places freely delivered
to rebel masters By the officers OF the
army.) He and Mr.. BIackiord and
all his irisnds had frequently de-
clarcd that II the rebellion could not
be pat down without destroying
slavery ''let slavery go;' he said &c
yt, But government wac not there
tore justified in nsing such mess-
ures he would lead tho people to be
lieve that the war at first begun for
a glorious purpose, had degeners =
ted into an Abolition crusade. The
people had reseou to think so, and
he regretted that the government,
had given it. The contiscation act
was impolitc and wrong. 1--WE think
he added uncOnstitntionsI because il
deprived the South OF all motive TO
return to their allegiance. To re-
,nTn was 10 suffer loss OF citizen
ship ann properly, and especially
the loss OF representation in Con
gress. But there was a better time
comirg. He prophesied that in
thirty days the mad policy OF the
President would be changed, and
the North would be again a unit
Tnurlow Weed was busy in bring
ing abont the change, and he had
more brains than the Pr sident and
all the cabinet In TACT, Weed had
never failed in his undertaking. Il
that policy was changed Hancock
would need no conscriptiOn law, at
least Tor tho Democracy. Ia that
case the Democracy would lend n
cheerful and willing obedience which
wOuld render one solder worth
twenty-five who went with q feeling
OF sluggish Indifference. The poll.
cy Of the President was disastrous,
but even il not changed, the De
mocracy would respond Ia men snd
money. A few foolish men, but
no others, would talk OF resistance
He owed ne allegiance to A Abrshsn,