The weekly union record., 1864-11-05
GOOD READING FOR DEMOCRATS.
Long John Wentworth on vallandigham

GOOD READING FOR DEMOCRATS.
Long John Wentworth on Vallandigham
Ga the night preceding the Copperhead
Convention at Chicago. Nallandigham ad
dressed a crowd of some 10000 persons from
the Court House steps in that city After his
two hours harangue against the Government
and administration was concluded, the Copper
heads called on Long OH" Wentworth, who
bad for some time been leaning that way, and
of course they expected to hear modern
Democratic speech. John came forward amid
dcafeuing cheers, and said
/ l am pleased with the opportunity which
your call affords me to lay my own views Of
public policy and public affairs before you :
and in SO doing trust shall not be deemed
an intruder for | would net thrust myself
before you, nor press my views upon unwilling
ears.
1t has long been part Of my political ethics
that he true method of discussing public affairs
was for the pros and cons to 90 together before
the people. In every public address for the
past years of my life. | have enforced The
correctness ul tuiS UNDERSTANDING.
therefore request the attention of all, for
am no party man. / am chained to the parti
zan car Of no class no interest, no organic liiou;
to my country and to my country alone do
owe lealiy and render homage. | love hat
country. 1t nurtured me in my youth, it hon
ored me in nv manhood and now, when have
passed the meridian of life. love to respond
/ to any call to plead in her behalf. Applause.
A ha Ian 4
the tears that everywhere prevail, and the
dangers that now environ the Republic, the
/ heart of the patriot sinks with doubt and dread
War, with all its dread calamitieS following in
its train, is convulsing the nation. The art OF
arms has succeeded the pursuits of peace, aud
nearly q million of men confront each other N
/ battle array Amid the horrors of war, We
naturally look and long for peace. The fathers
/ aud mothers of Chicago, whose sons are braving
the hazards CT battle and the perls of disease
long for peace. The wives OF Illinois, whose
husbands have peFished and are perishing in
the terrible struggle, send up their daily
prayers for the cessation of the strife. NJ
own wish aud hope is for peace. My regret,
when the maddened traitors Of South Carolina
fired upon he National ensign and forced the
Federal authority into conflict, was not more
keen and poignant than my JOY will be deep
and sweet when they lay down their arms and
cease the warfare they then so wickedly, fool
ishly and devilshly inaugurated. This is the
peace for which We hope for which we pray
for which we fight. This struggle is Ike every
conflict that has ever existed since imc began
aud, if we would have 4 termination OF the
struggle, we must conquer. The road to vic
tory is the road to peace 1t Is to this alter
native that we are driveu-a shameful surrender
or q certain, Triumphant. lasting victory, and
consequently peace.
| have listened with great interest 10 the
eloquent and well considered remarks Of that
peculiarly Democratic champion who has just
addressed you from the stand | have heard
him bewail in feeling, touching terms the exist
ence and continuance of this "accursed war ="
In terms Of Indignation he has inveighei
against the Federal Administration for the
part it has had TO act in the bloody drama.
But while be was thus deprecating war aud
violence, listened in vain for one single breath
Of censure, one word Of reproof from bis lips, Of
these who fist fladly unclaimed the ugly
demon, and let loose he storm Of deadly hate.
Why was not the vials Of his wrath poured
upon the head of the Infamous Beauregard, and
the insurgent government at Montgomery. who
basely trained their cannon upon a citadel
floating the national flag and shed the first
blood in this fraternal fight? Not Federal
gun had been fred, not an act of hostility
committed, when the rebellious chief, acting as
Secretary Of War for rebel Government, tel-
egraphed the fatal order, Open fire upon Fort
Sumter" Thus the strife began But this
denunciaior of war, this deprecator Of strife,
this messenger of peace, in his speech tonight.
running through nearly an hour and bali, bad
not one word Of deuuuciation and reproof FOR
those who, before God and man, are guilty Of
lis commencement. Why this omission, why
this studied silence on the part Of Mr.. Nallan
digbam? Why are his invectives directed
solely against The General Government, which.
when assaIed, only then attacked Does Mr.
NallaDdigham wish to be understood that The
act of traitors in opening the strife Is not
worthy Of ceDsure, while the act OF the Gov
ernment in opposing force Is entitled 10 an
hours temperate denunclatIon!
! Al this point of Mr. VS. remarks, The
Copperheads discovered that they bad caught
a Tartar, and set up volley OF cat calls,
groans, Kisses and other marks Of disapproyal-
John stopped for moment, folded his arms
across his breast, and looking down Oh the
noisy crowd for a minute or two from al alti-
tude of eight feet six inches in his stocking
soles roared cot in voice Of thunder: Boys,
you cart cry Tie down. | have stronger lungs
and greater endurance than you have. Ycu
invited ne 10 address you, and l accepted.
You must stand to your bargain, and ani
bouud TO stick 10 my part Of it-your motto Is
free speech. and claim the benefit OF H." The
crowd laughed. gave up beat, ard shouted Co
90 - c1 aud there 7ss 10 other interruption