Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-09-22

then, and noetill then, will 1t be proper for
them to take into consideration the question
OF the right and propriety Of coercion
! evidence of the completely of the Democ-
I raGy of Ohio with the Rebellion. It is true
that the Democratic party did not want
war; they believed that it could and should
have been avoided. They desired that
every measure Of pacifcation should be ex-
hausted before recourse was had to. "coer-
cion.n And this feeling-so just and hui
mane-is now held up to have been crimi-
nal. Not only did the Democratic party
believe that War between the North and
the South would infllct upon the country,
incaleulable, woe and misery; but that
there was danger that IT would produce
dissolution of the ,Union-a final,
eternal separation. Thisjowas Senator
DOUGLAS opinion, whom Mr.. BINGHAM
has now seen proper to eulogize, after hay
ing reyiled him infamously while in life, ~,
IG however, the speech of Hon. @. Il.
VALLANDIGHkM at the Cooper Institute on
the I'd Of November, 1860, and If the reso-
luton reported to Democratic State Con-
vention by Judge THURMAN on the 23d of
january, 1867, were incentives to Rebellion,
what was the following, from the Neg
York Tribune Of November, 1860? gi 5l
"If the Cotton States unitedly and earn
estly wishto withdraw peacefully from the
Union, zoe think they should, and would be,
dIlotoed to doso. Any dttenlptto compel then,
By force to remain Douid be contrary TO the
principles Of the Declaration Of Independence
contrary to The ideas on tctich human hbertyts
based" rt i..H fHiE 1Hu.yT s.tfJr
And thenceforth the Tribune maintained
and elaborated this position with that abil-
ity and force for which it is so eminently.
distinguished. 1t was deservedly recog-7
nized as the great leader in the Republican
party-it gave to that party law and doc
trine-and did more than any one journal
In the country toward the election Of Pres
ident LINCOLN, 1t was, therefore, nat
ural to suppose that it spoke as by
authority from the newly elected President
that it sounded the keynote or the sue
cessful party as to the manner they would
deal with the "Cotton States" if they "uni-
tedly and earnestly" sought TO withdraw
from the Union. 1t expressed the opinion
that under those circumstances, they would
be allowed to withdraw from the Union.
What was that but a proclamation to the
Southern States, Inviting them to withdraw
from the Union? Whatever Democratic
leaders might say and Democratic conven-
tions resolve, would amount to nothing.
They were powerless. They had no guar
antees to give; but they did beseech the
then Successful party to agree to some COM
promise whereby War would be ,averted
and the Union be saved. Senator DOUGLAS,
in his place in the United States Senate,
said that by agreeing to the adoption of the
Crittenden Compromise War could have
been ayerted and the Union saved, Senator
PUeH testified to the same fact, and so did
Senator CRIrTENDEN. THURIow WEED,
through the Albany Etening Journal, bore
this testimony, ..r
''And finally Congress adjourned, having
done and said nothing to, strengthen or en-
courage the Union, men of the Border
States, Virginia, q long time poised, final
iy took the plunge. North Carolina and
Tennessee followed. 1hesegredt and po,cer-
ful, States uere lost TO he Union because he
Repubhcon !, press and Me Republican
Rewesentdtipes ipere beglited aoith The idea
that hey discharged their first and highest
daty f stqrafng BY and % ss fG1Nicsg0 P't-
Col. FoRNEY, in writing to- his Press In
relation to the Virginia election, held on the
4th of February, 1851, said: :pl91 Ha .,a2
"The election of yesterday fciN sape the
linton, prorided the Republic meet the South
ern Conservatives in a friendly and cOnciliatory
spirit. The issue yesterday was between |
the friends of the Crittenden amendment |
and the Disunionists per &c.; and the hope |
must not be indulged- in that Virginia will |
adhere to the Union undera all circumstan-
ces. Had there been no prospect of final
and honorable adjustment Of existing diff |
culties, the result might have been quite a
different one'oy ol .setaoogbA o2ioL sml
We might 60 on and add to these quota
tions OF a like character. These, we imag
Inc, are sufficient to prove the fact that the
Republican party had it in their power to |
prevent War and save the. Union; but de- |
clined to do SO lest the principles Of the
"Chicago Platform might be compromised.
In the face Of this damaging record of
theirs, is 1t not satanic assurance for the
leaders of shat party to charge that the
Democratic party Of Ohio and Of the other
adhering States, melted and encouraged
the Southern States to make the effort to Sc.
cede from the Union? Than even this rec
ord, there is fact that more powerfully |
proves that they could not have been guilty
Of such political foolhardiness. This man
in the, same speech that |
be % endeayors to throw odium on
the Democratic party as having in
cited and promoted the Rebellion, op-
poses all idea of giving to the Southern
people representation in. Congress, orof
them to exercise any political
power whatever, because If this were allow
cd 10 them they would join hands, with the
Democrats, and soon the present ruling
party would be consigned to oblivion. 1T
the political ascendency OF the Repub- !
Iican party can alone be maintained by de-
nyihg 70 the South the exercise Of any poe
! eelo7 9aao sG J .aimalAd dom 9Ysi