Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-09-30
For the Journal.
LETTER FROM MASSACHUSETTS,.

Ihe campaign is opened in Massachusetts,
and the oontending hosts are marshaling their
forces to the contest. Little need be sail iu
relation to the probable result. so far as II
regards our own commonwealth. No cne
anticipates here a so-called Democratic vic
tory, although the friends Of Mcclellan seem
confident Of the election Of their nominee for
the Presidency.
Itisa little singular tha, many Of the lead
ing friends Of Mr. McClellin in this State,
we're once prominent wings. Poltics GER
tainly make strange bediellows. Henry J.
Gardner, the celebrated temperance man Of
" fourteen years standing" and the we'll
known whig American-Ant-slsyeryG Govern
or Of Massachusetts in former years, nov
figures conspicuously in democratic meetings
On the other hand the Hon. George s. Bout
we'll. we'll known ae the democratic candidate
for Governor, n the days Of " coalition" =" j.
now Republican member Of Congress, and
a prominent advocate fof the reelection of
Lincoln. dea. Butler, too, 3f our own city.
who zeaousy advocated the election Of John
C.. Breckenridge, in 1860, aud who even yo-
ted for Jefferson Davis, in the Charleston
Convention, meets with little sympathy now
from the Democratic organization Theodore
II. Sweeizer, Esq OF this city, nov promi-
nent democratic citizen, was a member OF the
Chicago Convention in 1860, and was then a
prominent advocate Of Mr. lincpln's election.
The Republican electoral ticket in Massachu-
setts thi. year. will be headed by the names
OF the Hon. Messis. Edward Everett, of Bos-
ton, and Whiting Gdswold Of Greenfield
Mr. Everett, IN 1860. vas the " Union ="
nominee tor the Vice Presidency on the So
+ O. HrIN ENavafF ttnksf 81 4st. !. Z
was an uncomprom,ing advocate for the elec-
tion Of S'eplel A. Douglas. This is enough
to show the chaotic condition Of our political
pattle-, aud that times are not now as they
were 10 days gone by.
And yet We have men in our midst who
sttenuously Insist that the country can be
saved from destruction only by the efforts Of
the denioo attic pdrty Win the main portion
Of the Democratic states in open rebellion
against the Government, it sounds little au-
dscious TO hear these men claim for them
selves the character If saviors Of the country,
and restorers Of tue Union. That there are
patriotic and loyal Democrats 10 our midst, it
would be folly to deny, but to claim Tor the
Democratic partys at this time, the attribute
Of exclusive patriotism, TO ASSERT, as unblush-
ingly ls done, that heg only can save the
country, is certainly taking one step beyond
the sublime. That party is too deeply steep
ed IN treason 20 act very efficiently in the
work of reconstruction.
But what is the remedy it proposes in ihiS
emergency In the f;si place, we must
turn out Nr. Lincoln. and put IN Mr.. McClel-
Ian. The simple taking out one man AID
putting another into the Presidential caair, is
OF itself alone a matter Of very little con-e
quence. The country cares but little who
occupies the Presideula chair, provided the
Government Is only administered on consti-
,utional principles. " hat then are the prin-
clples proiessed by ,ha supporters Of General
McCleliao 1t is answefed, we will sustain
the Union. So, too, will MIR, Lincoln. But it
is once mole answered, that MIR. Lincoln is
endeayorlng to sustain the Union by fighting,
very expensive and ruinous mode OF proce-
dure, destroying thousands Of lives, and fear
fully increasing the price OF provisions The
destruction of human life and the prostration
Of business interests of the country, aie great
and admitted evils how are they 10 be REM
edied Why, VT Viii call a convention Of
the States TO seti.v aud adjust the matter Of
difference betW zen the Southern Confsderacy
and the United States. and meanwhile the
armies shall cease hostililies. A very vice
and statesman-llke proposition, certainly
ou Will call convention Of the States, but
will it come p Will the States agree, es-
peciaily the so-caled confederate States
Jefferson Davis says they will not, and why
should they; They have already seeded
fsom the Union, and as they claim, are in
fact and in law, already out of the Union.
Why did they secede Jefferson Davis says
they seeded in order to get rid of the rule Of
the majority. That majority resided in the
free States convention Of all the States
would still give the majority to the free
States, aud who believes that the secession
lists will ever consent to submit TO the deter
mlnation Of such majority Who does
not know that whenever they are ready to
yield to such deter minaton, they will readi-
ly consent to do SO. without the useless for
mslily Of such a convention 70 talk Of
such a convention is simply nonsense; no
rebel will ever listen a moment to such
proposition.
But suppose the convention called and
holden, what will be the probable result
The bare fact that we have consented to go
into convention. will announce to the South
another very important fact-that we are
foolish enough to surrender to our enemies
all the important advantages we have alrea- J
obtained in the contest, and, judging from
the past, they will unhesitatingly demand,
with a reasonable prospect Of success, the
acknowledgment Of their Independence as the
only condition. on which peace can be obtain
ed. This is now, it always has been, and
will continue to be, their ultimatum. But
il the Union cannot be restored the war must
continue" answer the war Democrats. II
this he so, why encourage the farce Of a con-
vention Of the States, 10 find out what can 80
easily be found out without one f,
The Chicago platform is merely a foolish
attempt to conciliate the two wings of the
Democracy, known as the war and the peace
factions. Il processes a friendship for the
Union it does not feel but advocates no at
tempt to sustain or restore the Union, other
than passive obedience and non-resistanoe.
lts advocates never utter a syllable against
rebels in arms, but they denounce, in unmea-
sured terms, every leader and prominent sol
der engaged in defending the Union by force
Of arms. Traitors are gentlemen; their rights
must be respected, but the defenders Of our
country are all OF them knavos, tyrants, and
despots.
Such is what they call Democracy in Mas
sachusetts. | know not now what may be its
character in Vermont. Some twenty years