Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-07-24
THE SENTIMENTS OF AN HONEST
DEMOCRAT.


A Protest Against Vallandigham,s N0m-
inatiOn. Let Every Democrat Read
From the stubenville Union, Democratic paper
In the midst of sanguinary revolution shak-
ing the foundation of our government, it cannot
be considered at all strange, that men Of all par
ties should think alike in regard to its cause,
and the best means of subduing the rebellion.
As the editor ofa Democratic journal, we have
always stood on the outer verge of Democratic
principles having as little affinity with aboli-
tionisin and Black Republicanism as any Dem
ocrat living. We have no natural or acquired
tastes for the party which placed the present
administration in power. When we remember
its long contest with the old Wing party which
it fought to utter humiliation, and its more re-
cent and terrible contest with the Black Repub
lican party, which nothing but the rebellion
saved from being overwhelmed in like des-
truction, our heart clings with renewed affec-
tion to all those time honored principles which
rendered our party terror to all factions and
fanatical organizations, opposed to the Govern
tneut originating North or South. Now, in the
midst of the rebellion and when the Democratic
party has taken a new track in regard to it, we
for one will place oursef and the journal we
control, upon those eternal principles of Democ-
racp handed down to us by Jefferson and Jack
son, and all the great lights of the party.
We have watched with intense interest the
movement of Democrats who called the State
Convention. We hare been grteuousty dtsap-
pointed in the results of the Convention. We be-
1ieve that no party can survive except by full
and explicit declaration of principles on the
great questions before the people. Has the
Democratic Convention done so2 Have we de-
rived no wisdom from the teachings of jefferson
and Jacksonf Has the Democratic party for
gotten these maxims and measures of the DEM
ocratc creed, which placed the preservation of
the Union paramount to all other political or
personal considerations? We hope and pray
not
The recent Democratic State Convention pre-
sents platform to the Democracy of Ohio, with
nothing but @glittering generalities" and COM
pletely ignores the preservation of the Union.
With halfa million of rebels in arms against the
Union, is it possible that the great Democratic
party in the State Of Ohio will assemble in Con-
vention and utter NOT A SINGLE WORD
TO EXPRESS ABHORENOE OF THIS
CRIME2 Could the party invoke the memo-
ries of its mighty dead, General Jackson would
declare: @ZHo Union shall be epreserved." Worse
than all this, can this Convention invoke the
sacred name of Democracy against the Govern
ment-not the Admnistration-in its efforts to
ploce an army in the field sufficient to crush
out the rebellion and save the Union. If this
Convention believed treason a crime, why not
call it so2 Why in the name of God, this equiv
ocation or evasion of the one only great question
in the minds of every person-the preservation
of the Union, or the success of the rebellionf
As the editor of Democratic paper which
has always advocated Democratic principles, we
enter our solemn protest against the Democratic
State Convention, which has left the friends anc
enemies Of the Union in doubt whether it desires
the preservation of the Union or the success of thu
rebellion.
We protest against this Convention because
it does not denounce the rebellion.
We protest against this Convention because
it employed all its rhetoric in proclaiming these
Io1 he of
pie, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the
press, the freedom Of the person from unlawful
arrests, and could find no words in all its politia
cal vocabulary to denounce treason and armed
rebellion TO the Government.
And finally we solemnly protest against this
Convention for placing in nomination Q. b. Val
landigham, who in Congress believed in the
right Of the States in rebellion to dissolve the
Union-who has proposed but one way ofput
ting down the rebellion, viz: not by opposing
force with force, but by collaborating our armies
OonUention, and an Grnetstice! We admit thi
looks like very easy solution OF the difficulty
but we cannot comprehend any good results
from such a course, unless the rebels ask fol
some one Of these three things, which they have
always snoered at.
We should hesitate to take course not ap-
proved by Convention of Democrats, did moi
our conscience and judgment tell us we were
right. We have no other interest in the world
budu 70 cling 70 buC OCinOCIdAtC party, anu We
intend 20 adhere to it in spite Of the 'world this
flesh and the devil" We are not Of that clas
Of politicians who have ever sought fame at thu
sacrifice Of country, or to be baffied in what W.
in our humble opinion think right, by fear
We are for the Union as our fathers gained it,
by toll privations and hardships and one strug
gle, great and long. The smooth tongue of dis
stimulation had no charms for General jackson
when treason was mentioned. He was ready
10 sign the death warrant Of all who raised
voice against the Government But things hav
changed; there is a latter day democracy tina
eonsels resistance TO the policy andulaws of th'
Government and the champion Of it boastet
that he never voted dollar, or man TO crusl
the rebellion, THAT IS NOW SHAKING the corner
stone Of our political structure.
We will not ask the father or mother--broth
or or sister, who has brother or son in the
army, what they think about this matter2
Here, therefore, we rest and the sentiments
we have expressed we viii defend. We stand
for the preservation Of the Constitution and the
restoration Of the Union without a particle o.
hesitation and in favor Of supporting the Gov.
eminent in all lawful means Of crushing on,
With force Of arms, five cannot have peace up.
on honorable terms-al traitors at war with
the Union