The Placer herald., 1864-07-02
From the New York Freeman's Journal.


The late Democratic Convention of the
State OF Ohio, was An abortive failure 1t
is the fate of great gathering of several
hundred delegates, meeting for day only,
and strangers to each other, to be msled by
designing and dexterous wire.pullers. The
delegates to the Ohio Democratic Convention
were elected and sent, in great measure
with direct and honest purposes, to do a
Democratic work, But its presiding genius
was Somer.Sault Cox, who left his place in
Washington to attend it, With the indefat-
igabe energy that belongs to him, he set all
the traps, and arranged all the strings, and
sprung them all at the right time, no organi
cation existing to defeat his craft. The result
was, that the Ohio Convention, though of
right intentions, failed to encourage them.
In its list of candidates for Presidential
Electors, was William Marshall Anderson,
of Pickaway county, appointed for the Ohio
18th Congressional District. That grand
old pillar and beacon of the Ohio Democracy,
Ex-Governor Medary, in the last number of
his Crisis, says of Mr.. Anderson, that he sis
no ordinary man, either in intellect, society,
or connections" This praise from one whose
praise is an honor. Mr. Anderson is
brother Of Major (now GeneraD Anderson,
of Fort Sumter fame. He is by birth
Kentuckian. He writes to Gov. Medary the
following letter, explaining his declination:
FAIR OAKS, April "a, 1864.
"Dear Colonel-I ask permission, through
your columns, to withdraw my name as a
candidate for Presidential Elector for the
18th Congressional District of Ohio. There
may be seeming unfitness in selecting your
paper as the medium of publication, but
hope by few words to explain and Justify
my course. My Acknowledgements are due,
and they are hereby rendered to the Circlevie
Democrat for the very complimentary, for
the very t1attering notice it made of my
nomination at the State Convention in
Columbus. The announcement that nv
selection 'meets the hearty appreciation of
every Dem ocrat in the district" and that
"a more worthy gentleman or better Demo-
crat could have not been chosen" is more
than agreeable; and is highly gratifying
But sir, though no man feels more sensibly
the appreciation of his fellow men--though
no one can prize more highly that harmoni-
GUS combination of gentleman and Democrat,
prefer the sanction of my own conscience
to the approval of men or multitudes, and
my test of ''the gentleman and Democrat"
shall be the truth, sincerely felt and fearlessly
spoken. do not accept the nomination for
one of two reasons-either did not under
staDl the opinions and convictions of my
nominators, or they did not understand mine
1t is not my wish or intention to deceive or
ho lac;r. l,,,Ar
that | am Numerically opposed to the con-
tinuance of this war. | will not and cannot
consent to advocate and sustain any man, be
he soldier or civilian, who is in favor of its
further prosecution. | now fully realize and
comprehend the meaning of the term "hor
rida BELLA" Now that rampant war has
yoked her red dragons to her iron carr
now that all humanity, all magnanimity are
tramped under foot, feel its full force
Our generals blush behind the huckler of
Mars while that she devil, BelIona, with
blazing torch, lights on our arms to an in
glorious, to an ignominious victory over
women and children.
"Hannibal crossed the Alps and remained
for 80 years in the heart of the Roman
Empire, defeating her armies, defying their
power. Does the example of that heather
leader teach US nothngs He passed through
an enemys country and left friends behind
Carthagenans and Romans met in battle,
but neither waged war of desoation on
women and children. Kindness, consdera
tion and manly forbearance marked his
course. Our warriors silence the cries Of
hunger with stones, enlighten the darkness
of distress with fiery fagots. In very truth,
this war is carried on in such brutal and
barbarons manner-it is so disgracefu to the
Government, so degrading to the soldiery,
that it is surprising no new vocabulary has
been invented to explain the terms of our
advanced, much improved civilization. II
is much easier to declare what we should do,
than to lay down an Interchangeable law for
our future conduct To me it is very clear
that Democrats should never sacrifice prnci
piles to opularity-better suffer defeat, con-
tending for the right and principles of free
men, than to obtain success by fraud and
fasehood. In one case, sustained by
vigorous vitality, we should rise again fresh
and strong; in the other, after tottering along
with uncertain step, we would faint and fall
from our own weakness and corruption. |
am not for an available candidate am for
candidate who will lead US on under the
banner of the Constitution-our motto,
Union and Liberty or no Union at all. My
hope and prayer is, that when monarchical
power sis concentrated and centralized in
Washington" that one thousand daggers
may pierce the heart of the first coward
villain! We should remember that "eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty" bid you,
beg you watch Seize your trumpet, and
at the first alarming moment, send forth the
words Of warning. What sir, is the condi-
ton Of our country9 Over, above, and pres
sing down on our national burdens, we poor
western serfs are crushed to the earth by
our factory masters, by Lowell lords and
shoddy ladies. Peasants and heroes OF the
West, you are but tenants and vassaIs OF
| ~ e l.. ENck nd "a