Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-08-25
Great Democratic Mass Meeting
In syracuse, New York, speech
of Hon. q. T.. VatlanItghum

mass meetings to-uayi one On rranklln sreet,
the other near thdHSyracuso House; the lar
ham and Fernando Wood being announced
to speak there. In response to loud and
enthusiastic calls, Vallandgham stepped
forward and addressed the multitude for an
hour or more holding their closest atten-
ton, except when interrupted by applause
He said he was not here to parade his pri-
yate griefs, nor to speak Of what he had
done and suffered in the cause. All such
things were, indeed, insignificant in COM
parison to the great national interests that
arc at stake. He would only say that time
already vindicated almost to the utmost cx-
tent his views in regard to the national af-
fairs. They arc no longer peculiar but they
are becoming most general.
1t was not the purpose of this convention
to SOW seeds of discord in the Democratic
ranks such was no part of his mission. a
delegate chosen unanimously to represent
his constituents at Chicago, he would be
false to them and to the interest of his par
ty and his country, were he to lend himself
to such an object. He would go there with
the single purpose aiding in bringing about
the nomination of sound candidate upon
a sound and patriotic platform, and to pro-
mote harmony among the Democrats and
NOIlSCINdtlNcS VI luC COuully.
There is now but one question before the
is the desire of all who love their country
that first her liberties shall be made secure
and then her material prosperity restored.
There were some who believed that these
objects could be best secured by war, while
great mass of the Democracy held that
they could be obtained only through peace.
Amajority determined to try war but were
obliged to submit. Had he possessed the
power not one drop of blood would have
been shed there would have been no mar
shalling hosts, no hostile cannon, no mighty
debt The President has had all the men
he demanded, and never was there such an
example of submission by people. Moth
ing has been wanted that constitutional pow
er conceded, or arbitrary usurpation could
have taken from the people.
And what is the result? With more
battles fought than was fought by three Of
the greatest conquerors of the world in any
five years of their power, is the Union res
tored? No. A single State brought back?
| No. Is the Constitution maintained or OBJ
served? No. Are our liberties respected?
| No. Have we had free press, free assem-
blagcs, the right Of heabeas corpus, or ar
rests by due process of law? No. No.
How is it in material point of view that
debt of nearly 81 ,O00, 900, 900, daily cx-
pcnditure of nearly $4,000, 600, and cur
rcncy worth about SO cents on the dollar
which two months ago was worth one hum
dred per cent. more than it is now, and
which two months hence will be worth one
hundred per cent. less? Ruin is impending
and now in the 4th year of the war what
better is the prospect of the success of the
war?
We failed in 1861 and go, not for want Of
courage, for no braver men over went to
battle. The campaign of 1863 opened un-
der most auspicious circumstances, and We
were told that the rebellion would be speed
| lily crushed out by the force Of arms; but
the end of that year found us but little ad-
vanccd. =
The campaign of 1864 opened with the
largest armies the war had yet seen. These
armies were composed largely of three year
veterans, and concentrated for an attack
upon two or three vital points, and with
what result let the record of carnage and
blood answer. Having tried war so long,
shall We now try some other means?
He was for trying conciliation and com
promise. We submitted to necessity you
have had your trial. you have tried war for
four years now let us try our plan. Our
forefathers made our Constitution in Con-
a., vention with pen ink, and paper after de-
bate, by free speech, coming from hearts of
freemen.
For twenty three years we prospered un-
der it as no other people ever prospcrcd yet
we had our difference during that period
more than once the Union was endangered;
the differences of 1920 were reconcilcd by
compromise, and by the same instrumental
ity calamity was avoided in 1850.
| Clay, Webster, Benton, Cass and Doug
lass were there then, and compromise pre-
vailed through their advice and efforts.
Summer, Chase and Hale, leaders of the
party now in power, and which has brought
the country so near to irretrievable ruin,
were there too; and then, as now, they were
against compromise.
With republican form of Government
it is impossible to keep States together by
force OF arms it is contrary to the spirit OF
: free institutions, but if it were otherwise
the war has been utterly perverted by the
Administration. To-day it is not war fol
the Union or under the Constitution, anC
the eyes of the people are being opened tC
this fact.
Hence it is that through all the States
the call for cessation of hostilities is being
loudly uttered He regarded the call fol
500 900 more men as confession that, wa
is to be prosecuted through 1860. 1t yol
send more men you demand that war shal
be successful and conducted to the end to
which it was inaugurated in June last. II
his Philadelphia speech Mr.. Lincoln sale
| IL IL Il