The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-10-14
"the Chicago Platform should be the law
afJ

| W.-Yes. Mr.. Lincoln said that he
had just been elected on the issue between
freedom and slavery, and he could not
now turn round and eoncede all that had
been won in his election He (Mr Lin
coln) was determined that liberty and
freedom should prevail in this land the
people had so decided it, aud he would
abide by their decision. Valandigham
wanted to make slavery universal and ex-
tend it all over our national domain.
V.-Will the people of the Northern
States introduce an institution into their
midst which they do not like, and which
they do not want?
WI do not mean that Vallandigham
wanted to extend slavery over the Northern
States, but to put it beyond the control of
Congress or Territorial Legislature
Mr.. West here read the 18th amendment
to the Constitution of the United States. |
V.---Has not the Supreme Court Of the
United States decided that question
W.-Then why amend the Constitution?
Are you not satisfed2
V.-Because you Abolitionists say you
will not abide by the decision of the Courts
in this particular; you say there is higher
Court, and a ''higher law" The old Con-
stitution was good enough for me, as it was
for our fathers, but the Abolitionists North
and the secessionists South, construed it
to suit their particular views, the result
of which was the creation of two sectional
parties; the fruits Of which we are now
reaping in the present deplorable civil war.
Valandigham by his amendment desired
to prevent recurrence Of like controvsr-
siss and like results, by excluding from
Congress all sectional questions, by put
ting it in the power of each section to
protect itself from the aggressive legisla-
tion of any and all sections.
W.-Do you lndorse Vallandigham's
amendment
V.-If three fourths of the States ap-
prove it, shall, most certainly, not OBJ
ject.
What is not ths question. I want
to know if you indorss the proposition.
VI do Sir, and will give my reasons
at length to morrow evening.
W.-Now let me ask you If you indorse
Vallandigham's refusal to vote appropria
| TOMS for their families.
V.-Vallandigham has never refused
separate interests were concerned, and he
never refused his vote for appropriations
except when the bills Incorporated some
section or provision indorslng Lincoins
unconstitutional acts, appropriating part
OF the money to the carrying out OF A DO
| lition schemes, such as the buying OF
negroes in the District OF Columbia, Mary
lani, or Missouri.
W.-Vallandigham is very warm,
friend OF the soldiers no doubt, but let me
ask you why you went into the army if
you thought Failandisham was right,
when he said he never would vote one
dollar of money whereby one drsp OF
American blood should De shed lii civil
warl
F.-Sir, like Vallandigham, l would
not, aud no patriot would vote dollar to
commence civil war, but 'whlie L would
not III the beginning have given dollar
or a man to Commence this war, 1 am will
ing now that We are III the midst OF 1T,
without any act of ours, to vote just as
many men and just as much money as may
be necessary to protect and defend the
Federal Government" and L acted accor-
DINGHY.
wv by did you go into the army and
why did you leave ltf
VI went into the army to fight for
the Union and the Constitution, under the
pledge of the President and the Congress
that the war should not be waged for any
purpose of conquest or subjugation, or
purpose OF overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions
of those States, but to defend and maintain
the supremacy of the Constitution, and
TO preserve the Union with all the dignity
and equality of the States unimpaired." "
And you, sir, and your party as well as
my party, stood pledged to that policy.
That is the reason why Lwent into the
army; but when l saw the objects of the
war changed, needed the last exhortation
of Douglas, in which he said, ''lf this war
shall be perverted from its original pur-
pose to war to stir upa servile population
to an indiscriminate warfare upon defense
less women and children, and gray haired
men; or be waged for the purpose of over
throwing the institutions Of the States, or
the subyersion of the Constitution and the
liberties of the people, then l will oppose
any such policy with all the power at my
command" | believe that is the declara-
tion of Douglas, in his exact words, if l
mistake not; at least they are my senti-
ments-That, Sir, is why am opposed to
this Abolition war, and that was one of the
reasons why lett the army.
W.-You went into the army TO fight
the rebels, but when you thought it had
become an Abolition war, you left it. l
presume you fought and bled and died in
this war?
V.-Allow me to ask you, sir, as your
remarks have become personal, ifyou have
ever been in the army, er ever expect to
be in it?
W.-You went in as Captain to es-
cape the draft, and you resigned as soon
as the draft was over.
! What, sir, is base falsehood?
| W.-To sum it all up, my opponent is
not willing to stand by the old Constitu-
ton. He goes Vallandigham and his
kLof infornol