The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-31
A Very Excellent Letter from
Judge Thurman,

BTtuJ DemOcTaJlc meeting AZ Marion,
on Saturday, the 18th instant, but being
unable to go, he wrote the following time.
ly and appropriate letter to the Chair.
man of the Democratic Central Commit
tee at that place. 1t is one of tho finest
and best of the many excellent papers
that have been given to the public since
the opening of this campaign, and re.
fleets great crediton its distinguished au.
thor. 1t is the production of a scholar
and a stateman, and will be perused
with intense interest throughoutthe State
The papers will print it, and the people
will read it. Here it is:
JUDGE TuURMAN's LETTER
COLUMBUS, OHIO, July l6, 1868.
My DEAR SIR:-Yours of 18th inst.
has been received. 1t would give me
great pleasure to attend your meeting
next Saturday, were it in my power to
do so. But the Governors call for the
Militia. has taken every male person
from my premises, save myself, making
my presence at home indispensable. At
some other time during the campaign, it
will give me sincere pleasure to meet
the Democracy of Marion.
have inst returned from visit to
Camp Chase where | witnessed scene
that should put every traducer of the
Democratic party to the blush of shame
Thousands upon thousands of Demo.
Gratis are there assembled, in obedience
to the Governors call, ready to shed
their blood in the Country's defence. -
Upon a moments notice, at the busiest
season of the year, and at q pecuniary
loss that can hardly be overestimated,
they rallied under the old flag, literally
leaving the plough in the furrow, the
sickle in the field, and the tools of the
mechanic idle in the workshop. And
what is true of Camp Chase is equally
true OF every other camp to which the
Militia have been called. It's not too
much to say, that not less than fifty
thousand Democrats have responded to
the Governors Proclamation, and are
now in the Military service of the State.
And these are the men who, for two
years and more, have been denounced
as sympathizerS with treason, and who
notwithstanding this manifestation of pa.
trlotism, will continue to be so denounc.
ed. These are the men who are stigma.
llzed by even the highest officials in the
land, as Copperheads; and who are
threatened with the heel of the army
when the war shall have been brought
to close, if not before. These are the
men whom the army is being educated
to denounce as its foes, and as traitors
to the country.
These are the men whom the Aboli.
tion press and politicians, (aidiug and
abetting the RebelliOn,) hold up to the
Southern people as their friends and al.
lies. And for what? Simply because
they will not surrender their freedom
abandon their manhood, and tamely bow
their neckS to the barbarous Abolition
yoke.
The Democratic party is struggling
against great odds, to maintain and per.
petuate the dearest rights that ever be.
longed to people-the right of self.
government, of Constitutional liberty, of
nvioIate homes and property, Of fcee
thought, free speech, and a free press -
All that the term Constitutional Free>
dom" imports, is at stake in this contest.
After nearly a century of undisputed
sway, Liberty is sunddenly called upon
to Vindicate her claim to the respect and
allegiance of the American people. 1t
seems almost too strange to be true; yet
the fact is undeniably so. The most
solemn guarantees of the Constitution
are treated with contempt by the men
in power, and host of their deluded
followers, who are, unwittingy, binding
upon their own, as well as our limbs, the
fetters Of despotism. If the doctrines
promulgated in high places, and not on.
ly promulgated but carried into effect,
shall receive the sanction of the people,
we may bid long farewell to those free
institutions that have hitherto been the
chief source of all our happiness, aud
which, out lately, were our highest pride
and boast. | do not, however, despair
of the result. We may have prolract.
ed struggle before civil liberty shall be
secure from danger; but in the end that
security will be attained Whoever
thinks that the American people will
long submit to despotic government,
knows but little of their character OF
history, or is incapable of proGting by
what be does know.
But it will not be without effort that
our rights will be preserved. 1t is O
law Of nature that the more valuble q
thing is, the more toll is requisite to &C.
quire and preserve it; and hence, there
never was truer saying than the trite
maxim, Eternal Vigilance is the price
Of Liberty" 1t is notvigilauce one day
andsupinenesS the next; itisnot vigilance
in time Of peace aud indifference in time
of war; but it is unceaSing vigilance
vigilance at all times and under all
, circumstances, that is required of free
men who would continue to be free. II
is to the consciousness of this truth thai
we owe that mighty protest against ar
bitrary power, which now comes gushing
from so many million American hearts
and whose magnificent proportions eact
J successive day serves but to increase
I 1t is the CRY Of Liberty wounded in hel
most cherished home; it is the spirit o
the fathers calling upon their sons to de
serve, and deserving, to defend and pro
- a.,