Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-08-19
The Plain TrutI,.


From the remarks Of Hon Stauly Matthews,
made at the Union Congressional Convention
of the Ist District, and reported in the Cincin-
natl Gazette, we copy the following concluding
paragraphs, as not only significant but impor-
tant:
l am willing TO say that | believe the mas
ses of the American people, without distinction
of party, believe in their country, and desire to
sustain it in this arduous and dreadful struggle;
but that large body of them are misled, blind
ed, deluded, and carried away intO the decep-
tive meshes of treason by the insidiOus words
of demagogues, 1 feel well assured. And make
the charge, for | believe it in the depths my
inmOst soul, that the leaders of that party-I
mean the newspaper editors the representatives
in our Legislature and in Congress mean the
men actually engaged day and night in mana
ging their organizations and directing their
hosts-I believe, before God, every one of them
is double-dyed traitorl- CApPlause and
cheers 1 believe that the men TO whom re-
fer are this day just as anxious, just as earnest,
Just as Jealous, and iustas self-sacrihcing in the
cause fthe Independence of the Southern Con-
federacy as jeff Davis and his Cabinet. That's
so, and cheers. And | believe that this con-
spiracy is organized throughout the entire bor-
ders of the Loyal States The rebel plans and
organization that have just been exposed in
Missouri are not new to me. Amember of that
party once an influential member oft in this
country, in conversation some three months ago,
told me, OF his own motion, that, thought he was
not member OF it, there was such an Organi-
cation arming to resist second arrest of Vail
andigham. l remarked TO him that did not
think they wished to interfere in the election of
Ohio; that thep preferred assisting rebellion un-
der any administration that might be in power,
until it was compelled TO acknowledge the
Southern Confederacy; that then they would en-
deavor to obtain control of the reigns of govern
ment and if they succeeded would unite the
North with the Southern Confederacy, under
the Constitution of the Confederacy; that then
they would be found ready, with arms in their
bands, to coerce the people of this State, and of
all the free States, to a Union with the South.
His answer was not in denial, but that the pres
ent President, ere,t before the approaching Pres
ideatiolelecti would be conlpelled-that was
his wOrd as | understood it-with their assis-
tance, and if necessary, by the force of arms, TO
recognize the Independence ofthe South.
My friends, it is a struggle of this nature that
We are engaged in, and in which all have part
to perform. Our soldiers are in the front, bat
Ting, with arms in their hands, for the mainten-
ance of the Government They need their thin
ned ranks replenished, and we must send them
more men. But they need mOre-they need
sympathy and moral support from their Union
brothers at bomel Great cheers. The success
of the Union cause, the elections TO take place
in the loyal States this fall, will do more in my
judgment, to suppress this infamous rebellion
then the capture of Atlanta or Richmond. l
had as many prejudices TO overcome in cutting
myself loose from those with whom have been
voting heretofore as any person; but duty to my
country requiring the sacrifice, [ made il, as
as every other man can do and should do. l
stand ready now TO do all can do in the cause
for which we are assembled. ICheers.1
When the fact is considered that until the
breaking out of this internal rebellion, Mr.. Mat
thews was not only one of the leading Demo-
Gratis in the State, but that he was among the
most shrewd, talented and well informed of them
all, his language has added significance. He
does not, therefore, speak rashly or inadvisedly
in what he says, but from full information both
of the facts and of the men whom he sterniy and
truthfully afiirms TO be traitors. His declara-
ton is confirmed by ten thousand evidences on
every hand, patent TO every man who opens his
eyes to see or who is not deluded or deceived
by the traitorous leaders TO whose guidance he
has submitted himself.