Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-24

speaker Is Massachusetts democracy And
you can find the same thing, open or covert,
in the platforms of the party in other States.
Franklin Pierce said war was not the way to
put down rebellion, but We must use moral
sa1asion. Iaughter) The same idea was ad-
vanced in Woods letter to the President.
How disloyal were such propositions
(Cheers) Not Southern statesman, or any
prominent exponent of Southern views had
uttered one word in favor of peace or Of yield
ing to the authority of the Union. Then
there is the fact of their immense army in
the feld-that must be put down before there
can be peace. The rebellion can only be put
down by force. (Cheers.) We have the
men, the credit, and the power to do it. Re-
newed cheers. What we want first is to
whip the rebel army. That must be done by
the soldiers IN the field. I trust the time
may come when we may hold out the olive
branch. But that must come only after
Charleston and Mobile have been taken and
their army has been whipped. [Cheers.
These Democrats talk about Southern rights.
Their rights, they tell US, must be respected
What rights have they? 1 don't understand
what this language means. Does it mean
their slave property? If so, [ have given
you my views on that subject Cheers
They have forfeited all their rights Great
Cheering. All the means known to Christian
and civilized warfare may be used against
them. We have the same right to take their
niggers from them as their cotton, their ships,
their men or money.
But say these men, the Administration is
not carrying on the war to put down the re-
bellion, but to free the niggers. Who has the
right to say this? Mr. Lincoln ought to
know as much about this as Mr. Sat- Clark or
any one else. (Cheers.) In his droll way he
has reminded US that it will be time enough
to raise this objection when the rebellion is
suppressed. If the rebels lose their slaves it
will be the consequence Of their own acts.
(Applause.) If they lose every one, if slavery
is utterly extinguished, | shall shed no tears.
Great and enthusiastic cheers.) But say
these carpers, the revolted States will not be
allowed to come back On the same con-
ditions as before. Who has the right to say
that? What state that has seeded has yet
proposed to come back and been refused
Let the Southern States first manifest will
to return, and then will be time to discuss
the question of their status. Why Missouri
is already back, and when Tennessee and
Louisiana and others wish to return to their
allegiance, doubt not but they will find way.
There is no just foundation then for these
charges. They are made to build Up party
at the expense of loyalty, at the expense of
the country. These men have thrown cold
water on volunteering Now they complain
of the CONSUMPTION act !; but if men will not
volunteer, how shall they be had without con-
scription? This hostility to the CONSUMPTION
is something more than partizanship, it shows
IN time OF war, in a cause like this, de-
plorable lack of patriotism, Il want of loyalty
They also exclaim that this Or that act of Con-
gress or the President is unconstitutional
And they say that we had better lose battle
than that the least infraction of the Constitu-
ton should occur. Who is to decide what
laws are constitutional? This man has one
opinion, that man another The only safe
way is to obey the laws until they are pro-
nounced unconstitutional by the courts having
authority to give such judgment
The object of this Convention was to re-
store, if possible, the Democratic party to its
old fealty to the Constitution and the Gov
eminent, and to present an unbroken front
for the crushing of rebellion. We propose
to put ourselves under the old flag, to restore
the Constitution as it is, and preserve that old
Union, the manifest destiny of which is to
extend over this whole continent. (Cheers)
There have been dark days before, there may
be dark days in store for us, but we will never
despair Of the Republic. Great applause
The above is but synopsis of Mr. Arm
oLD's speech, which was most eloquent and
powerful effort. 1t was received with I'M
bounded applause.
Mr.. A. Hyatt Smith reported from the
committee order of business for the meet
ing, which was adopted
THE PLATFORM OF THE LOYAL DEMOCRATS
Judge Hubbell from the committee on reso-
lutions submitted the following. which were
read by Mat. II. Carpenter, ESQ.,
RESOLUTIONS.
ResoLUed, That gratefully recognize the inf
mite goodness, which inspired fathers with pat
rotsm and wisdom, to achieve by their arms, the
blessing of national liberty, and to secure by a
Constitutional Government, the enjoyment of
those blessings Go for themselves and their posteri
ty forever" and, sons of such sires we deem it
our first and hottest duty, to defend that Govern
ment and preserve that liberty, by every means,
which intelligent freemen can may exert.
Resolved, That a Constitutional Republican Gov
eminent, established by free and sovereign peo-
pie, for the safety and welfare of themselves and
their posterity, is work next in sublimity, to the
creations OF the Divinity; and that this offspring
of human wisdom and patriotism, is endowed, like
the creatures of God, with the inherent and naien-
able right of self preservation.
ReSOIrCd, That the Constitution vests in the
President, g the Executive power of the govern
ment, creates him &c Commander-in-C Chief of the
Army and Navy of the United States, and of the
Militia of the several States when called int the
actual service of the United States, and commands
him to take that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted - without defining the manner in which
any of these enacted powers shall be executed, it
becomes his duty under his responsibilities to
Heaven, to the People whom he represents, and to
the laws of civilized nations, to judge, in times
of war and of great national peril " what degree of
force the crisis demands - and to select, from the
known usages of civilized warfare, such measures
as he deems most eficacious to preserve the gov
eminent and it becomes the corresp ding duty of
all such measures. their ready and hearty support
hesOIUed, That the present rebellion was com
~ fha 6lSr,,n ,har,,
of the National Union, and the destruction of the
Constitution and Goyernmen of the United States:
that in view of the vast armies now arrayed by the
rebels for the commission of this national murder,
no individual and no party stand indifferently
by and witness the preparation of the crime, with
out becoming participation in the bloody treason.
ReSOtrcd, That, as the inherent element of De-
mocracy is the rule of the People, its first principle
of action is prompt submission to the lawfully
expressed will of the jority; that the Democratic
party, finding administration of the General
Government, constitutionally placed in power,
bound, upon all questions affecting the national
safety, to yield to it the cordial and uncond
tional support which it would have yielded to an
administration of it's choice
ReSOlred, That recur with undminished pride
to the past history of the Democratic Party-a
history interviewer alike with the triumph of pop
lar liberty and the defense and glory of the gov
eminent that We cannot forget, that the oppo-
nents of this everloyal party, in the of 1872,
refused to support the measures of the national
administration, and burned blue lights along the |
coast as beacons to our enemies and in the Mex-
factously withheld supplies from our brave
troops in the held, CONNIE ending them to the
sSbloody hands and .hospitabe graves of the !
foe ; that we have no wish now, amid the bIoodiest
and most unproyoked war that imp erilled the
government, to initiate these bad examples, and, |
administration, by discouraging enlistments into
the and decrying its victories. spreadinp