The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-09-15

JiOl, anu WlJnOuJ SnauOW Oh law, |
to "raise and support arinies," and
to "provide and maintain n navy"
tor three or five years, by mere exec.
utive proclamation, will not vote TO
sustain or ratify-( never. Millions
for defense--not n dollar or man
for aggressive or civil war"
AT tho extra session of Congress,
called to meet July 4th, 1861, on ac-
count of the Rebellion, Vallandigham
put himself consistently against the
war, and against all measures to pros
ecute it; or TO support the men who
enlisted in it, rs none of his Demo
cratic friends and associates dare de
ny because, in q speech at Dayton
Aug. I'd, 1891, giving an account of
his stewardship in Congress, Vallan.
digham said
II have not voted for any army
bill, or any navy bill, or army or ma
Wy appropriation bill, since the meet.
ing of Congress, on the 4th of July,
1861" .....
Soon after this declaration, at q
Democratic Convention IN Butler
county, the following was unanimous
| ly adopted:
"Resolved, That our patriotic and
talented Representative in Congress,
the Hon. G. L. Vallandigham, for the
honest, bold and faithful manner in
which he has fulfilled his trust, mer.
its and receives our warmest COM
mendation and approval"
This was in accordance with the
teachings of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
which said, Jan. 16, 1868:
1.-The real genuine Democracy OF
the country were never at heart for
the war, and never believed it would
lead to good result"
Arrested for utterances in public
speeches, which were intended to pre-
vent the enlisting of troops, and cal
culated to incitc resistance to the
Government in the execution of the
laws, Vsllandigham had opposed in
Congress-convicted of reasonable
rposes-banished beyond the reb.
ell lines-received with enthusiasm
by the rebel leaders--assisted by
them to run the blockade to Canada
nominated by the Democrats of
Ohio as their candidate tor Govern
or, he accepted "the honor conferred
upon him" and the defiance of the
Government involved in it, and from
Niagara Falls, Canada West, July
18th, 1868, issued an address to the
Democracy of Ohio, in which he
said:
And, now, finally, let me ask, what
is the pretext for all the monstrous
acts and claims of arbitrary power,
which you have so nobly denounced2
Military necessity But if, indeed
all these be demanded by military
necessity, then, believe me, your lib
critics are gone and tyranny is per-
petual. For, if this civil war is to
terminate only by the subjugation or
submission of the South to force and
arms, the infant Of to- day will not live
to see the end of it. No, in another
way only can it be brought to close
Travelling thousand miles and more,
through nearly half of the Confeder-
ate States, and sojourning for time
at widely different points, l met not
one man, woman or child, who was
not resolved TO perish rather than
yield to the pressure of arms, even
in the most desperate extremity
And whatever may and must be the
varying fortune Of war, IN all which
[ recognize the hand Of Providence
pointing visibly to the ultimate issue
of this great trial of the States and
people Of America, they are better
prepared now every way to make
good their incxorable purpose, than
at any period since the beginning of
the struggle. These may be unwel-
come truths, but they are addressed
only to candid and honest men,
Neither, however, let me add, did /
meet any one, whatever his opinions,
or his position, political or private,
who did not declare his readiness,
wien the war shall have ceased, and
invading armies been withdrawn, to
lconsider and discuss the question of
reunion. And who shall doubt the
issue Of the argument l return
therefore, with my opinions and con-
victions as to war or peace; and my
faith as to final results from sound
policy and wise sta.asmenship, not
only unchanged, but confirmed and
strengthened
In the the canvas of 1868, the lead.
ing Democratic orators, and the lead
ing journals OF that party, shrank
from no denunciation, and misreprc-
sentatiou necessary TO keep them up
to the standard of disloyalty which
their candidate for Chief Magistrate
represented.
Unabashed by n majority of over
one hundred thousand votes against
their candidate, so decided was the
Democratic sympathy with rebellion,
and so earnest its opposition to the
triumph Of the national arms, that
it prepared for the National canvass
and the Presidential election Of 1864
without abatement of the spirit,
which the record we have traced from
1861 exposes.
EIGHTEEN HUNDRED sIXrY.FoUR.
The Dem cratic State Convention
Of 1864 met mt Columbus or the 23d
of March. Its platform was report
rs ~ L u