The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-10-01

feel it duty which we cannot ignore
nor thrust aside, to address ou,briehyj
but plainly and truthfully, upon the
momentous questions of the day, and,
if possible, to stay the mad and furious
torrent of filnaticism which. seems to
be sweeping, with almost irresistible
force, over the face of cur once happy
country. We have indeed fallen upon
troublous time. Passion and prejudice
seem to rule the hour. Reason and
| Judgment have been dethroned and
fanatcism and ultraism sway the Scep
tor undisturbed, over the public mind.
Our country, our Government, that
blessed inheritance descended to us
from our forefathers, is to all but the
hopeful, in the very last throes of ex-
piring- In whatever direction
the eye is turned the horizon OF our
national existence is overcast with
portertous clouds, which human wis
dom and human sagacity seem totally
inadequate tepenetrate or brush away.
We are not apolegists for mistakes and
errors of the Administration in the
prosecution of the war, nor do we ap,
prove of, or sanction, factious opposi
ton which is being brought to bear
against legitimate us well as doubtful
powers of the Government, to put down
rebellion, suppress insurrection, and
enforce obedience to the constitutional
laws of the land, and when we are
asked to sanction and approve, by the
exercise Of a most solemn and mostim-
portant privilege, the elective franchise,
to approve, to use no harder term, the
course of misguided opposition which,
from the very beginning, has studious-
ly and persistently opposed every ef-
fort put forth to save the life Of the
nation, we do most earnestly, yet most
calmly and dclibcratel y enter our sol
emn protest against it and call upon
and earnestly entreat all candid men
to reflect before voting for the very
embodiment Of this opposition. You,
as well as we, are called upon by an
imperative voice Of convention, to
vote for G. L. Vallandigham for Gov
ernor of the State of Ohio We ad-
nit this call comes to us clothed with
power and prestige Of party lines and
party fealty; it comes to us laden with
associations Of former years, but all
these cannot be made to avail teath-
er'S weight when our country, our kim
dred, and the future of this Republic
are at stake. Believing us we do that
the action Of the convention in nomi-
mating Mr.. V. was great mistake, and
one which, if approved and sanctioned
by the people at the polls, will serious
ly endanger the perpetuity ofour Gov
ernment, we have felt and now feel it
our duty to withhold from him our
support, and thus clear our skirts Ofall
completely with the agency by which
it is brought about.
| And in so doing, we stand by the
doctrines advocated by Douglas, by cv-
cry Democratic member of Congress
from Ohio and by the entire Democ-
racy Of the North, except Mr., Vallan-
digham and a small faction prior to
Mr.. VS. nomination Of Governor. In
no wise do we affiliate or approve OF the
doctrines of abolitionism or fanaticism
of any kind. But self-respect as well
as duty to you requires that we should
), state briefly and candidly the reasons
why we are thus compelled to with
hold our votes from Mr.. Vallandigham,
and which, perhaps, in ordinary times,
we might pass by in silence, even if
unable to approve, for the reason that
such views, although entertained by
candidates, would never find an oppor-
tunity to be made effective, and could
not influence the conduct Of people OF
other States, not then, as now, in rebels
lion. Ist. We cannot support Mr.. V.
because, in his speech in Congress
February 2Gth, 1861, he said: "lt
in vain to tell me that States cannot
secede. States have seeded. In three
months their agents and commission
ors will return from Europe with a
recognition by Great Britain and
France and other powers ofthe Cont
ncnt.' (Rocord, page 76) Again
Secession has been tried and has
proved speedy and terrible success
The practicability of doing it, and the
way to do it, have been established y
. (Record, page S7.) Again: "lf any
, one or more Of the States ofthis Union
should sccede for reason of the sutli.
cheney of which, before God and the
. Great Tribunal Of history they alone
may Judge, much as / should deplorc
it, 1never would, as u Representative
: in Congress of the United States, vote
one dollar of money whereby one dror
of American blood should be shed in
civil Var" Record P, 81, Again
"there is not a man in this house fit tt
be representative here who does no
know that the South cannot be forced
to yield obedience to your laws anG
authority" Again, accordingly
have not voted for any Army or Navy
bill nor any Army Or Navy appropria
ton bill, since The meeting of Congress
on the 4th of March, 1861" Record
| p. At, Again: "stop fighting anc
t make an armistice, no formal treaty
: withdraw your armies from the Sc
coded States recall your fleets, breal
up your Blockades. &c, &C. To thcs
) and kindred sentiments held and ut
tered by Mr.. Valtandigham from tn
! beginning of our troubles, and nov
r prominently thrust forward by him
,, we cannot subscribe, believing then