Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-15
Henry Clay VS.. Seymour.

In his.speech before the Chicago Conven-
ton, Gov. SEYMOUR, Of New York, charged
the Republican party with the guilt of hay
ing drenched the country with blood and
overwhelmed it with debt.
The charge rests on the assumption that
those who have resisted the blows of trait
ors, aimed at the nations life, are response
BILE for all the cost in blood and treasure of
the war; that they who defend the Union
are guilty of causing the war, because, if re-
bellion and treason had been permitted to
riot in impunity, there would have been no
war. If no resistance had been made to the
operations of the Southern traitors, if Mr..
LINCOLN had adhered to the policy of Mr..
BUCHANAN, the rebel armies would have gone
on seizing forts, arsenals, and other United
States property including the National Cap
ital until their appetite for plumber was sati-
ated and we should have had peace-the
peace of national death
The supporters of Gen. MCCLELLAN want
such a peace. Hence they denounce the
course of Mr.. LINCOLN. JEFF. DAVIS, in be-
half of the rebels, declared that all he want
ed was to be let alone. Mr.. LINCOLN will not
let rebellion alone; and so the Democracy
mount MCCLELLAN on platform pledged to
can immediate cessation of hostllities."-
They want the demand of the rebel leaders
obeved. and that they should be let alone
while they consummate their attempt to de-
stroy the Republic.
We do not regard Gov. SEYMOUR as either
the wisest or most patriotic man that ever
lived On the contrary, he has seemed to US,
from the beginning of the rebellion intent
not upon saving the Union, but in smooth,
Oily Cannon way, seeking to encourage and
comfort the cause of treason. And, as we
heard him charge the guilt of the present
war, and the responsibility for the blood that
has been shed and the mountains of treasure
that have been expended, upon those who
have most strenuously resisted the assaults
of the rebel arms, we were wildly reminded
of the contrast which his language presented
with the sentiments of man who was not a
demagogue and tory, but who was great
statesman and true patriot. Listening to
the frothy venom Of the Copperhead dema-
gogue, we thought of that noble utterance of
HENRY CLAY, replete with the spirit of genu-
inc patriotism {" If any State, or a portion
of the people of any State, choose to place
themselves in military array against the Gov
eminent of the Union, am for trying the
strength Of the Government. l am for aScer-
tanning 0glsetl.er IRE haze a Government or MT
practical, efficient, capable of maintain
ing It's authority, and of unfolding the
powers and interests which belong to
Government. Nor, SIR, AN TO BE ALARM
ED OR DIssUADED FROM ANY SUCH COURSE
BY INVITATIONS OF THE sPILLING OF BLOOD. II
blood IS to be spilled By whose fault IS IT, Upon
the supposition l maintain, IT WILL BE THE
FAULT OF THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO RAISE THE
STANDARD OF DIsUNIoN AND ESDEAFoR TO PROS
TRArE THIS GOVERNMENT, and, sir, when that
is done, so long as it pleases God to give me
a voice to exnress nv sentiments, or an arm,
weak and enfeebled as it may be By age, that
VOICE 5ee and and that arm will be on the side Of my
co conn w, for the support of the general au-
tboritv and for the maintenance of the pow~>
sneb is the difference between the IAN
puage of Copperhead and the language of
nafriot.-State oouTnal