Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-08-19

ry IN the N0rthern states 30 much laid and
comfort" as an extraordinary document that
has recently appeared, bearing the signatures
Of Senator Wade, Of this State, and Henry
Winter Davis, of Maryland. in the shape of q
protest against the neglect or refusal OF the
President to sign bill for the re ,sdmissior Of
rebel States, which was passed and placed in
hiI hands a few minutes before the adjournment
Of Congress. The document is exceedingly
bitter and malignant. In tone, and every ven
OmOus copperhead paper OF high CT low de-
gree is parading it before its readers with de-
uoniac shouts Of exultation over the fact that
q weapon has been placed in their hands by
two prominent Union men with which to deal
blows at the Union cause through its chosen
representative and standard bearer. 1t is not
surprising that Davis should write and sign a
document of the kind He has been bitter,
factiOus and unrelenting oppoRent of the Ad-
miniStration ever since it cane into power
But that Judge Wade should unite with him
in such an effort, iS a matter Of surprise and
astonishment to the friends of the cause
throughout the country, bur especially in Ohio,
where he has received at the hands of the Un-
ion party the highest houors in it's power to
bestow, and has been looked up to and con-
fded in as one Of the main supports Of the
cause in which the fate of our imperilled coun-
try is involved, We have heard but one ex-
preston by Union men in reference to the mat
ter, and that expression has been unqualified
disaPprObation of the act, and earnest protest
against such bushwhacking and guerrilla as
saults at this stage Of the canvass coming from
behind our own breast works and from professed
friends.
The following remarks from the Cleveland
Herald-a paper that did not favor the re-
nomination OF MIR. Lincoln-expresses, we
doubt not, the sentiments Of the true Union
men not only of Ohio but of every section of
the country:
The THREE DoCUNENTs.-We have given
three importent documents the protest of
Mcssrs Wade aud Davis; the PrOclamatio
Of, Mr. Lincoln, which called out the Protest
and the act Of Congress which called out the
Proclamation. All these refer to the subject
of reconstruction of the Rebel States; a mat
ter Of deep importance to the Union party, As
1t threatens to diSmember it, And If it does
dismember that party the entire question will
be disposed of; as upon the exisIencs OF that
party bangs the main-yea the Only-hOpe OF
any chance for reconstruction.
so far as Reconstruction is concerned, all
schemes thus far proposed are premature, save
that OF amending the Constitution under the
terms prescribed by that instrument. That is
a feasible plan. and open to no objection
But on that point we will not dilale. We
have now TO do with the protest of Messers
Wade ard Davis, which, in so many words,
accuses Dir. Lincoln of prevarication-if if not
Of downright falsehood;- Of personal arro- |
gancei of military usurpation and of treaeh- |
cry 10 the cause of freedom. To use the Ian |
guage of print that hates the administration, |
' nothing that Vallandigham or the most ven |
OmOuS Of the COpperhead tribe of politicians |
have uttered in derogation Of Mr.. Lincoln /
has approached in bitterness the denunciations |
which Messrs Wade and Davis have piled up |
10 their manifesto" Such a document We !
might have expected from Salisbury or Powell,
from Wood or Voorhies, or other Copperhead
Senators ard Representatives, and it might |
have passed in silence; but when Senator and
Representative-who have possessed in an en-
inent degree the confidence OF the Union men
are induced, through pride that has received
= wound by the defeat of favorite Congress.
siOnAl measure, to give utterance towards The
President chosen by that party, and the re-
nominated candidate of that party, of aceusa-
lions the b!sckest 10 the catalouge of offences,
i becomes a matter too serious TO the Union
cause to he overlooked
We know that 10 thus characteriziug the
motives of the protestors we use strong Ian
,uage, but the candid reader can Judge wheth-
.r the bitter spirit of the protest does not,
rom beginning TO end, show that chagrin,
:reated by the defeat of favorite bill, poison
d the pen that wrote it.
Until the military power of this rebellion
s crushed, Union men cannot affJrd to q1ar-
ei over schemes for Reconstruction. and il is
grievous offence in such men as have signed
hat protest. thus TO aim a deadly blow at the
ause all good men have at heart.
The complaint is that MIR. Lincoln did not
ign tfe bill passed by Congress. Yet the
PRESIDENT did just what the Constitution per-
niIs him to do. Congress in its haste to
brow of its labnrs. crowded the passage of
he bill down TO the last hour Of the session,
ime did rot permit formal veto with the
easons therefor, and the President did Just
What lie had perfect right to do-pOcket it.
But this he did not do without giving his rea-
on therefor, and an abundant reason it was
0 wit: that by signing the bill lie would be
to one schtnie OF reconstruction.
We shall not enter upon a review Of the
'ad features of the bill. Ii is enough to know
hat Mr. Lincoln was not willing to bind him
elf to any one scheme, and all reasonable, pat
iotic men will applaud his determination
ct Congress stay aud finish its work, and not
SIX the President 10 make up his mind on a
natter over which Congress has spent as many
7et ks as the President is allowed minutes
The charge that Mr.. LincoIn is not true to
reedom in Louisiana, falls powerless in the
ght of the doings of the State Convention
hat, under Mr. LincOln's "usurpation" has
bolshed slavery. The accusation that the
President is aiming to reconstruct the Union
nth slavery, ia shattered to atoms when it
trikee against Mr.. LincolD's note ITO Whom
. May Concern" in which the abandonment
4 slavery" is made the basis on which to treat
Or peace.
The Protest is a stab at the Union Party,