Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-29
The Record of Geo. II, Pendleteh,

There is not entire harmony in the Dem
ocratic party respe citing their nominee for the
Presidency. Much dissatisfaction prevails in
Mac record are unfragraut III the nostrils
of his party Even his acceptance of the
platform drawn up by VALLAHDIGHAA at Chi
cago does not reconcile the more radical OF
the Copperheads. They cannot overlook
some of his acts. They cannot forget that he
first proposed the draft as q means of recruit
ing the army that he first set the example
Of arbitrary arrests" that he declared it had
'ecosss necessary to crash popaatio,s (referFiug
to the Southern people,; and that he Ii :
worn and still persists in wearing q the live
~ of the Lincoln despotism."
No doubt these objections are very unreal
sonable. No doubt MCCLELLAN should re-
ceive the full confidence of his party. No
doubt, he would, it elected, prove as plant u
tool i'll the hands of the Copperheads as was
old BUCHANAN himself But they cannot be
oblivious to the inconsistency between his
former and present position.
No such differences prevail respecting their
candidate for Vice President. He has the
undivided and hearty support of his whole
party. His record is straigh forward and con-
sistent. We have not seen a word OF doubt
or dissent respecting GEO. II. PENDLEToN from
any opponent of the Administration. He
stands to-day where he stood at the beginning
of the war. There is no considerable incOn-
sistency between his record as a member Of
Congress during the past four years, and his
position to-day as candidate upon the Chi
cago Platform. From the beginning, he has
been a steady, persistent, and vehement op-
ponent of the war. From the beginning, he
has been unwayering in his hostility to all
measures calculated to thwart the aims of
JEFF. DAVIS and his traitorous associates
Through all the excitements of the time,
GEO. u. PENDLEToN has not substantially di-
verified from the strict line of sympathy with
Tenders Of the nation, upon which he started
in 1860. None of the waves o. popular feel
ing no sudden flashing out If patriotic feel
ing within his own breast, has diverted him
from the even tenor of his way. His conduct
was such during the winter Of lS6O-6l, as to
call out special compliment from the traitor
BENJAMIN, now a member of JEFF. DAVIS
Cabinet, and it has been such since as to Sc
cure the hearty endorsement of JEFF. DAVIS
agent, Gro. n. SANDERS, upon his nomination
at Chicago.
If we would understand the real spirit and
aims of the Copperhead Democracy, then, we
must study the record Of PENDLEToN, who has
the full confidence and undivided support of
his party, and who was nominated for the
sake Of principle, while MCCLELLAN was NOM
mated for the sake Of policy.
The first public expression of his views on
the questions now at issue before the coun-
try, after the secession of South Carolina and
several Of the cotton States, was made by
Mr. PENDLEToN, in a speech in Congress on
the 18th of January, 1861. In that speech
he said:
To-day, sir, four States of the Union have,
as far as their power extends, seeded from
it. Four States, as far as they are able, have
annulled the grants Of power made to the
Federal Government; they have resumed the
powers delegated by the Constitution; they
have cancelled, as far as they could, every
limitation upon the full exercise of all their
sovereign rights; they do not claim our pro-
lection; they ask no benefit from our laws
they seek none of the advantages of the con-
federation. On the other hand, they re-
nounce their allegiance; they repudiate our
authority over them; and they assert that
they have assumed, some of them that they
have resumed, their position among the fami-
" of sovereignties, among the nations.
Sir, deal in no harsh epithetS. | will de-
pause to inquire whether they have done all
this legally or wisely, or upon sufficient cause.
They hare done II, and I recognize tie fact.
= y x y <
Can any number of troops, or the use Of any
armed force on the part of the States, COM
pei the General Government to execute those
powers if the agents appointed for that pur-
pose deliberately, perslstentiy refuse TO exc
cute them? Sir the whole scheme of coercion
is Mepractieobie. It as contrary to the genius
ana spirit Of tie Constitution.
My voice to-day is for Cancellation my
voice is for compromise; and it is but the
echo Of the voice of my constituents. | beg
you, gentlemen, who with me represent the
Northwest; you who with me represent the
State of Ohio; you who with me represent
the city of CINCINNATI beg you, gentlemen,
to hear that voice. If you will not; if you
find Cancellation impossible; if your differen-
ces are so great that you cannot or will not
reconcile them, then, gentlemen, let the seeding
States depart IN peace; let them establish he,
Government and EMPIRE and aUork ont their des-
tiny according to the aciso'ona achich God has
gi0en them.
Starting out with these declarations, he
has adhered to them as strictly as it has been
possible to do, while retaining a seat in Con-
gress, always managing, upon one pretext or
anotherto give his voice and his vote against
the measures designed to put down this re-
bellion and save the Union.
Thus, on the 10th July, 1861, Mr.. PENDLE-
DLEToN, with only ten others, including sucn
patriots as BURNETT, of Kentucky; REID, of
Missouri; VALLANDIGHAM, VOORHEES,, and
WooD, voted against the bill for the collec-
ton of the revenue in seeded States The
bill was passed by a vote of 1876 to IL.
July Is, 1851, he lodged vote upon Mr..
MCCLERNANDs preamble and resolution de-
claring that "a portion of the people of the
United States, in violation of their constitu-
tional obligations, have taken up arms against
the National Government" and pledging the
House to vote "any amount of money" and
s'any number of men which may befnecessa-
~ to insure speedy and effectual suppress
sion of such rebellion" Only five members
4Io