Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-27


Great Mass Meeting at TOIedO---OpeninE
Of the Campaign.
The Mass Meeting at Toledo on Wednes-
day was grand gathering. Large delega-
tons Of Union men assembled from all the
county round about to hear the speech of
John Brough; this being the formal open
ing Of the political campaign. The meet
ing was called to order by Hon. J. NJ.
Ashley, and Hon. James Myers chosen
President.
Mr. BrCugh spoke with the power and
eloquence for which he is so famed, and
had no soft phrases with which to gloss
over the rebellion or its adjunets.
He reviewed the causes which lead to
the war, showing that there is less excuse
for this rebellion than fer any that have
been in any country since the world was
created. Referring to the. Democratic
party, he said, "The old Democratic party
boosted that it was in favor of the last
war, and IS in favor of the next but the
party Of to-dsy is q negative party in
Government is now its chief doctrine,
which, if any man had predicted ten years
ago, the parry would have spurned him as
8 traitor. The Convention which recently
met at Columbus, and which nominated Mr..
Vallandigham, have given US platform,
in which there are tWenty-three resolu-
tions.
know something about platforms, hay-
ing helped 10 erect many myself, but 1
never knew one in which there was not
some policy asserted. This platform is a
cries Of negatives from beginning to end,
and the only exception is that they are not
against the rebellion. Only think Of a
Democratic Convention meeting in COlum-
bus at time when the country was in q
state Of civil war-setting twenty-fOur
hours and passing twenty three resOlu-
tions-and not saying word calculated
to support the Government nor a word Of
condemnation for the rebellion"
Upon "Arbitrary Arrests, &C." Mr..
BrOugh said"
HAnother thing Arbitrary arrests are
stated as a cause for grievance. Jr. Pugh
has 80 stated, but his impulses have some
times led him astray. The substance Of
Mr.. Pugh's assertion is, a. come forward
to plead the right of the citizen to do as
he pleases, to assail the Government when
he chooses, &C.. How many men have
been arrested and sent to prison for en-
deavoring to prevent enlistments, and for
abusing the President Several, in Ohio.
This was right | maintain the power Of
the Government 10 arrest these men when
the necessity ARISES forit, When a man s
life is menaced he has the right to take the
life Of his adversary, and so has the Gov
ernment the right te deal severely with
those who are seeking to destroy il, or i'm
pair IFS usefulness. 1t is the law of self
preservation. But to arrest a men, under
our forms Of law, when he is doing all the
mischief be can, i5 too slow Work-there
must be power to "greb" him quick.
Freedom Of speech and Of the press are
guaranteed to each man, but not the abuse
Of these privileges. The motto Of Jeffer-
son that every form Of errcr could be tol-
Grated so long as truth was left free to
combat it. was true at all times, but we
must not forget that evil will predominant
over good. We are all prone to abuse
every institution. When our fathers spoke
Of the freedom Of the press they did moi
mean the licentiousness Of the press Of TO-
day, when the President and public men
who are striving to do their duty, are GOV
cred with the slime elected by towards anC
knaVes.n