The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-10-19
SPEECH of fFERNANDOIW
AT PAXTON, OHIO.

DAYTON, o., Aug. 23--8 s. NJ
Fernando Wood had large audience
this evening. He said he was glad to
have an opportunity, after his return
from exile, to enjoy the society Of one so
capable OF advising him as Vallandigham,
or of one whose heart beats so deeply In
union with his own, because he did not
know how soon the hand Of despotism
would be land on his head fCries of '.No,
never" He then proceeded to review
the Shay Rebellion and the Whisky Re-
bellion, as settled by coneiliation, not
force. Speaking of the settlement OF
New England by the .Puritans. he said
the Almighty had sent two curses on
mankind-the fall of Adam, and the
landing of the Mayfower at Plymouth
Rock. The Puritans were characterised
as rebels, guilty of terrible atrocities in
their own land and the new world, evil
dencing the same spirit which is shown
in the present war. Passing on to the
nature of our Government, he regarded
it as confederation which the States
might secede from at will, and possessing
no power of coercion. Shay's rebels,
| the whisky insurrectionists of Pennsylva-
| them coerced so Southern rebels should
not be coerced but conciliated. Lincoln
and Congress had offered no kind words
or even expressed sympathy with the
American people since the war began
only subjugation, coniscation and eman-
cipation. He had scorned Stephens'
terms of peace and the terms he proposed
to the President in December, 1862, by
authority of the rebel Governments; and
now he rejects tie ambassadors of peace
unless they will consent to violation of
| tile Constitution. The Union cannot be
restored under it. Our only hope of re-
lief is a change of The President. Tho
two candidates before the people are for
war and emancipation, saying that the
only way to peace is to crush out this re:
bellion by subjugation. Next Monday
we meet at Chicago to nominate candi-
date. To that Convention you look for
the nomination of man of adverse prin-
ciples. Lincoln is for war, the Democra-
/ cy are for peace. The issue is thus Joined
war or peace. That is the question to
be determined forever next November
There will be no disagreement at Chicago.
The Democracy will postpone a settlement
of their own difficulties until they have
whipped the, Republicans. The Demo-
cratic party will stop the war, and restore
fraternal relations. It is the duty and
policy of the Democratic party to join
issue with Lincoln, and present a peace
candidate pledged to a peace administra-
tion for if the South don't come back
it will imply she never will come back
Her people cannot be conquered no mat
ter how wise your statesmen, how skillful
your generals. The thing Lincoln has
attempted cannot bo done. No change
of policy, no military strategy, nd wise
craftsmanship can give you success. The
issue is joined, and God help the tyrant
when the people are arrayed against himl
He may sieze single individuals here and
there, but when the struggle is with the
lion-hearted Democracysin battle array,
God tyrant then
l council no violence. propose cou
stitutional remedies. But if your right
of voting is questio ned !; if the military
subverts the civil power, when you are 70
be deprived of your liberties, then comes
revolution, with cause for holier than
that of your fathers. Be cool, deliberate,
unexcited but when you do strike, strike
home. -
Turning to Vallandigham as the hero
of the. war, courageous and noble, fight
ing the DAtles of the people-so@ar they
were to look'to him as the deliverer Of
their liberties, and the probable deliverer
rQf the government from despotism, and
ftsfestoration to just principles and rights.
The allusion to Vallandigham, as the
probable Democratic candidate for. Presi-
llent, called out loud cheering to which
Vallandigham briefly responded, pledging
his hearers speech after the Chicago
ConventioQ