Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-27

The slate understood to have been made
up by politicians to be presented to the Au-
gust 5th Convention, has entirely ignored the
democratic heroes of the Union Army. The
Starkweathers, the Hobarts, the Fairchilds,
| the Larrabees, and a host of others, whose
democracy is as pure and steadfast as that of
Jefferson are to be set aside by class of
men who see nothing in these braves to ex.
cite their admiration or inspire their graft
tude'' But instead, men are slated whose
efforts have not been to encourage the sol
diers' energies or administer, by voice or pen
encouragement to the Government in its
struggle with armed treason; men who favor
that great stroke OF encouragement to jeff
Davis and his minions-the Fernando Wood
peace movement of the day." e. @.a
The event showed this statement to be too
true, and the ''slate," made up by the copper
head politicians aforesaid, was the ticket
nominated by the Democratic Convention.
And this is not the whole. The official
proceedings of the Convention show that not
one single rote was given in the Democratic
Convention for the nomination to ana office of
any man acho has taken part IN the arar for the
suppression of the rebellion and restoration
of the Union.
There were numerous Democratic officers
| who are or have been in the army, and who
have distinguished themselves in battle, and
some at least who are still Democrats of the
stralghtest sect, and have not, at least pub
liely, endorsed the acts of the Administra-
ton whereof complaint is made The put
| ting of some Of these war-worn Democrats
upon the Democratic ticket would have given
| 1t eclat, and added greatly to its strength 1t
would have gone far to disprove the charges
now made, with such abundant justification,
of disloyalty to the Government and opposi-
| ton to the war for the Union. 1t would
have secured some support from the soldiers
We happen to know that at least one Demo
| cratic officer was confident of liberal sup
port ia the Convention, and hoped from it a
nomination for high Office How he was
disappointed it is unnecessary to say.
Fighting Democrats, however, were not
the style of men satisfactory to those who
| managed the late Democratic Convention.
10 have taken part in this war on the side of
the Union was to them conclusive evidence
Of unsoundness in the faith. They preferred
men who had remained at home withholding
support from the war, and seeking to embar-
rass the Government, They agreed with the
Chattanooga Rebel, when it said of VALLAN-
D1GHAM: " He is our style of man."
This was further shown by the tone of all
the speeches delivered, and the resolutions
read to the convention, in which there was
not one word of praise to our gallant fell
| low citizens who have taken up arms in their
| Country's cause, while those under whose
lead the war is prosecuted We're villifed and
denounced without stint. Instead of any
| thing to encourage the soldiers, everything
was said to make them believe they were
engaged in a most unjust and hopeless con-
test and to feel that if they did not lay down
thoil arms, they deserved, they certainly
received, "a fire in the rear" The soldiers
who were present understood and appreciated
this feeling.
A stronger contrast than was presented by
the Union Convention cannot be conceived
In every way spontaneous and irresistible
men who have faced death that the country
might live; the men who, without an eff" or
but" have stood for the Union; who, on
the weary march, on the lonely sentry's beat,
in the quiet camp, and amid the storm of
shot and shell, the blaze and smoke of battle,
have ever been ready to "raly round the
Flag" % f-r
Col. AMAs4 COBB, who gloriously led the
noble Fifth Wisconsin on the Peninsula, in
many fiery trial Of their yalor from Will
liamsburg to Malvern Hill, and on other
fields, was made temporary chairman. ~, :.
1t Col. STERLING, the modest soldier who
has rode with the I'd Cavalry in many per-
ilous scout and chase of the enemy in Missou-
ri, and Arkansas, and Tennessee, and Missis-
slppi, was made permanent chairman. -
Maj. Gen. G. S. HAMILTON, who counseled
wisely and led bravely in Virginia, the hero
of Iuka and Corinth, was placed on one of
the committees. e.. .g.... rG...s Il.
The modest, plucky, war-scarred, brave
Col. LUCIUs FAIRCHILD, who has led the iron
veterans of the ever glorious Second in so
many hard fought, deadly battles, was put on
the ticket for Secretary of State, and none
who witnessed that outburst of wild enthu-
siasm which greeted him, and heard the thun-
derlng cheers which woke the echoes far
away, for him and his noble comrades, can
doubt that they were cherished in the heart
OF hearts Of every man in that Convention.
1t Col. E. l.. BUTTRIcK, who served honora-
bly, with the gallant Oath Regiment in Ken
lucky and Tennessee, would doubtless have
been placed on the ticket for Attorney Gene
raj had he not sacrificed his own ambition in
urging the nomination of his friend, the
present Attorney General, WINFIELD SMITH.
In the speeches of Senator DooLITrLE and
Governor LEWIS, and others, the warmest
tributes Of praise were given to our brave
volunteers, and the resolution which was
adopted with such heartiness recognizing
their bravery and devotion, and pledging them
succor, leave no doubt of the feeling of the
members of the Union Convention towards
them. 1t is as follows:
RESOLVED, That the warmest thanks of the loyal |
people are due, and hereby rendered to the |
brave and devoted soldiers who have rallied the
defence of the ole flag, and noby and persistenty
fought the battles of the country, and met and |
vanquished many fields the hosts of rebellion |
seeking to destroy our national life, and that |
pledge ourselves, before Heaven, to sustain them,
by filling up their HIM ed ranks in the expe-
ditious manner until the end OF this rebellion shall
nn 20 he re tnrp fn he and