Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-07-19
Anti War Democrats in Convention.

Anti-War Democrats in Convention.
The anti war Democracy Of Vermont assembled
in council at Montpelier, Tuesday Of last week to
the number of about two hundred and fifty. John
Cain of the Rutland Courier presided over
Their deliberations, and inaugurated himself in
bis office with eulogy Of Gen. Mcclellan The
following ticket was nominated
Goyernor-limothy p. Redfeld, Montpelier.
Lieut.. Goyernor-Chares n. Davenport, VIII
mington. Treasurer-R Mex Ormsby, Brad
ford Electors at Largt-John ]. Deavltt, St
Adams ! Ephraim Chamberlain, St. Johnsbury.
Mr.. Redfeld addressed tie Convention in the
morning, and Amasa j. Parker, of New York,
spoke in the uf,erno on, both Of them able men
who ought to employ their ability to better
purpose than in denouncing the war which is
being waged against treason, and for the main
tenance of the government The speakers dvelt,
seemingly with exultation, rpon the rebel inva-
SIGN of Maryland, and were pleased to say
that Washington was in greater danger that day
tn Richmond II news had c. me that Grant
had taken Richmond, and the raiders in Mary
land had been defeated and destroyed, it would
in the Convention, have fallen upon unwilling
ears. Not word OF cheer was spoken, not a
voice was lifted to urge men togo and fight against
the hateful emblem Of treason Mr.. Lincoln was
called Il rebel aud while the speaker had not
the bodnes, to declare that jeff Davis was the
true President, he could have meant nothing else.
And yet the Convention had the eiffontery to
hang the Stars and Stripes over the Hall as
though they acknowledged their fealty to the
Government whose emblem it is
1t is amazing to see into what depths OF unpat-
rlotic abasement partizan feeling, and love Of
slavery, have plunged those Who now, politically,
represent the Democracy of the country. The
motto OF the party in former years was :" Our
Country RICH! or wrong, certainly patriotic
watchword and one which, in times OF great pub
lie danger, has more significance and value than
at any other moment. But now, when the Re
public is in a struggle for the national integrity,
when treason would snatch from the flag one
third Of its stars, and divide into miserable frsg-
menis the one heritage left us by our fathers, this
Democratic party is satisfied with being critic, and
preserving neutrality between the contendng
parties, very much like that observed by England
and France Its traditions, its historic memories,
the principles upon which ii was founded, are
either forgotten, or derided as the exploded ideas
OF an ignorant generation, its progressive work is
all abandoned, its old war cries have been changed
into the whining elamor Of the eowardly and pet
uian seold, the brave words, the glowing rhetoric,
the exutant pride and hopeiulness with which it
used to stir the pulses Of men, lead for the armies
and court the smoke and glory ofbatte, have turned
into the sourness Of dsloya and snarng cynic-
ism and II the rebellion could cruelty the repub.
lie, this party would stand by offering the dying
republic gall and vinegar to drink. Instead of
being, as they once we're, like the war horse, their
necks clothed with thunder, and paving in the
valleys with their impotence as they smell the
battle aar off, the thunder Of the captains aud the
shouting, they have become but miserable, stub
born, recllcranl mules, without pride or spirit or
metlle, and no more like their ancestry than the
contemplate donkey is like the noble horse.
The movements and conventions Of these dis
conteuted politicians here have little significance.
They are only the driil wood left in an eddy, and
whirliug around in their little circle, while gu, in
the stream the grand and irresistible current of
the patriotic impulses of the people, is sweeping
on to the assured triumph of the national cause.
They cannot dam that stream aud stop or turn
aside its onward march for single moment. And
they will yet, themselves, be caught in the swell
ing volume Of this advancing tide, and will no
doubt, thea deny that they ever loitered a mo-
ment by the way. We advise them, FOR their own
sakes, full as much as for the sake # the country,
10 make all haste to got into the current