The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-10-02
Address of the Union War Democracy
To The DEMOCRACY OF Ono:

purpose, amongst OtneT tOlngs, 10 auOpt
such measures as the emergency Of the
hour may seem 10 demand FOR the welfare
OF our common country" we feel it TO be
a duty which we cannot ignore nor thrust
aside, to address you briefly but plainly
and truthfully upon the mon,entous ques.
tons of The day, and il possible stay the
mad and furious torrent OF Jdnatieisn',
which seems 10 be sweeping with almost
irresistible force over the face Of our once
happy country. We have indeed fallen
upon "troublous times" Passion and
prejudice seem to rule the hour. Reason
and judgment have fled the throne, and
fanalcsm and ultrsism sway the scepter
undisturbed over the public mind. Our
Country, our Government, that blessed
heriiance descended to us from our fore.
fathers, is, to all bat the hopeful, in the
very last throes of expiring nature. In
whatever direction the eye is turned the
horizon OF our national existence is over
cast with portentous clouds which human
wisdom and human sagacity seem totally
inadequate TO penetrate or brush away.
We are not tie apologists for the mis-
takes and errors Of the Administration in
the prosecution OF the war, nor do we ap-
prove Of or sanction the ytactious opposi-
ton which is being brought to bear
against the legitimate as well as the dOuJt-
jul powers Of the government TO Put down
the rebellion, suppress the insurrection,"
and enforce obedience 10 the Constitution
and the laws OF the land and when We
are asked 10 sanction and approve, by the
exercise Of most solemn and important
privilege. the elective franchise, that fac.
tious, and, as we think and believe, to use
no harsher term, misguided opposition,
which, from the very begicnlng, has stu.
diously and persistently opposed every
effort put forth to save the life of the ma.
tiou--we do most earnestly, yet calmly
and deliberately, enter our solemn pro.
test against it, and call upon and ear.
nestly entreat all candid men 10 reflect be.
fore voting for the embodiment OF this op-
position.
You, as well as we, are called upon by
D the "imperative" voice OF Convention
to vote for G. l.. Vallandigham for Gov
ernor OF the Stale OF Ohio. We admit the
lnll force and effect OF this call it comes
10 us clothed with the power and prestige
OF party ties and party fealIy ; it comes to
us ladened with the associations OF former
years, but all these cannot be made to
avail feathers weight, when our coun'
Try, our kindred, and the future Of this
Republic are al stake. Believing, as we
T do, that the ac,ion Of the Convention in
. nominating Mr.. Vallandigham was great
mistake, and one which, if approved and
o sanctioned by the people at the polls, vii
q seriously endanger the perpe:ui'y OF ou
Government we have felt and now fee
i; our duty 10 withhold from him our sup
port, and thus clear our skirts of all com
= plicity with the agency by which it i
: brought about. ... 49,.
y And, in so doing, we stand by the doc
q rnes formerly advocated by Douglas
G by every Democratic member Of Congress
n from Ohio, and by the entire Democracy
. Of the North, excebt Mr.. Vallandighan
and small faction, prior to Mr.. Valian
digham's nomination for Governor. and il
, no wise affiliate with, or approve Of thu
!" doctrine Of Aboli.ionsm or Fanaucisu
of any kind
> But seff.respec,, as well as duty 10 you
y require that we should state briefly, ant
8 candidly, the reasons why we are thu
:. compelled 70 withhold our votes from Mr.
IS Vallandigbam, and which, perhaps, il
5. ordinary times we might pass by in silenc
!. even il unable to approve, for the reaso
# that such views, although entertained b
y the candidate, would never find an oppo'
;. tunity to be made effective, and could nc
~ Influence the people Of other States, nc
u" then. as now, in rebellion.
y First We cannot support Mr.. Vallan
10 digham, because in his speech in Con
TT gress, Feb. go, 1861, he said:
IN at is vain to tell me that States cannt
secede. Seven States haze seeded. !
10 three months their agents and commits
,s soners will return from Europe with til
10 recognition Of Great Britain and France
~ and OF the other powers Of the Continent.
(Vallandigham Record, p. 76
Aqain, Secession has been tried an
;" has proved a speedy and terrible success
ep The practicabiity OF doing it. and the wa
e. to do it, have been established" Recor'
10 p. IT,
ms again, "Tf any one or more OF Il
to States Of this Union should secede-f
,s- reason of the sufficiency Of which, befo
he God and the great tribunal Of history, tht
nd alone may judge-much as should d
ira plore it, never would as Represent
,,o live in the Congress Of the United State
~ vote one dollar Of money whereby o.
ne drop OF American blood should be sh'
III in civil war" Record, p. 9l,]
us, Again, "There is not man in Il
is house 6t to be representative here W
or does not know that the South cannot
te- forced to yield obedience to your laws Al
ing authority again"
,ei. Again, Accordingly I have not vot
Nd. for any army or navy bill. nor any arr
or navy appropriation bill. since the me'
ing OF Congress on the 4th Of July, 1861
vel, Record, p. l47,
ss. Again, "Stop fighting, make an arm
Ing tce, no formal treaty. Withdraw yo
ex- armies from The seeded States. Rec
Wit. your fleets, break up your blockades
IAN &C.. &c. page 200,
ose To these and kindred sentiments hi
Of and uttered by Mr.. Vallandigham FRI
md the beginning of our troubles, and n
AZ H.,