The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-08-19

Iue SHulTIuau Ol In6 DemOcTdJlc SeutTdl
Committee at that place. 1t is one ofthe
finest and best of the many excellent pa
pers that have been given to the public
since the opening of this campaign, and
reflects great credit on its distinguished
author. 1t is the production of scholar
and a statesman, and will be persued with
intense interest throughout the State.
The papers will print it, and the people
will read it. Here it is:
JUDGE THURMAN's LETTER
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 10, 1868.
MY DEAR SIR-Yours of the 18th inst,
has been received. Itwould give me great
pleasure to attend your meeting next Sat
urday, 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 dur
ing the campaign, 1t will give me sincere
pleasure to meet the Democracy Of Mari
on.
have just returned from visit to
Camp Chase, where I witnessed q scene
that should put every traducer of the Dem
ocratic party to the blush of shame.
Thousands upon thousands of Democrats
Governors call, ready to shed their blood
in the Countrys defense. Upon a mo-
ment's notice, at the busiest season of the
year, and at pecuniary loss that can
hardly be overestimated, they rallied un-
der 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.
1t is 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 sym
pathizers with treason, and who, not with
standing this manifestation of patriotism,
will continue to be so denounced. These
are the men who are stigmatized by even
the highest officials in the land, as Cop
perheads; 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 regard as its foes, and
as traitors to the Country. These are the
men whom the Abolition press and po-
liticians, (aiding and abetting the REBEL
ion,) hold up to the Southern people as
their friends and allies. And for what?
Simply because they will not surrender
their freedom, abandon their manhood,
and tamely bow their neeks to the Abo-
lition yoke.
The Democratic party is struggling,
against fearful odds, to maintain and per-
petuate the dearest rights that ever be-
longed to people-the right of self gov
ernment, of Constitutional liberty, Of per-
sonal safety, of inviolate homes and prop
erty, of free thought, free speech, and a
free press. All that the term, ''Constitu-
tional Freedom" imports, is at stake in
the contest. After nearly a century oi
uudisputed sway, Liberty is suddenly call
ed upon to vindicate her claim to the re-
} spect and allegiance of the American peo-
! pie. 1t seems almost too strange to be
true: yet the fact is undcniably so. The
most solmen guarantees of the Constitution
are treated with contempt by the men In
power, and host of their deluded follow
ers, who are, unwittingly, binding upor
their own, as well as our limbs, the fetter'
f of despotisnl. If the doctrines promul
t gated in high places, and not only pro
f mulgated but carried into effect, shall
: receive the sanction of the people, we ma,
n bid long farewell to those free institu
: tions that have hitherto been the chic
: source of our happiness, and which, bu
e lately, were our highest pride and boast
4 do not, however, despair of the result
!, We may have protracted struggle befor
r civil liberty shall be secure from danger
Q but in the end that security will be al
d tanned. Whoever thinks that the Anieri
D can people will long submit to despoti
government, knows bat little Of their char
Il acter or history, or is incapable of prof.
Q ing by what he does know.
e But it will net be without effect tn;
7 n our rights will be preserved. 1t is a la
+ of nature that TIE more valuable thin
Is is, the more toll is requisite to acquil
s and preserve it; and hence, there nev'
le was a truer saying than the trite old ma,
i'm, "Eternal Vigilance is the price
y Liberty" 1t is not vigilance one d.
le and supineness the next; it is not vigilan
ID in time of peace and Indifference in tin
it of war, but it is unceasing vigilance, Wig
st lance at all times and under all circur
It, stances, that is required of freemen wi
lie would continue to be free. It is to Il
consciousness of this truth that we o,
is that mighty protest against arbitrary po'
n err which now comes gushing from so mai
million American hearts and whose ma
nifcent proportions each successive d
mo- serves but to increase. 1t is the cry
e Liberty wounded in her most cherish
h. home; it is the spirit of the fathers CALI
- upon their sons to deserve, and deservir
>, p, to defend and protect, the dearest birt
~ right ever inherited by man. 1t is I
mission of the Democratic party to p,
form this service for mankind, and p
form it, it will.
Yours. truly.
he A. G. THURMAN
T. II. HoDDER, Esq.