Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-10-06
ONO DEaIo0a1oT- -AsD IIFss .sTAk5ARD
FffFf ~ BEARERs -

AlhoA1tOulst5 " 81 huo OOuhus sf1a fltE Et1-4rr
Ohio Democracy sent greetings of sym
pathy and encouragement to the insur-
gents of the rebel States IN 1851.
In 1862 Ohio Democracy opposed en-
listment-resisted the conscription act
decried Government it-nisrepresent-
ed Union victories and exaggerated rebel
powers and rebel movements. lasF aoass
In 1863 Ohio Democracy clamored for
"peace on any terms, and selected as It's
exponent and chief man who refused, in
private or official character, to contribute
men, money, sympathy d. encouragement
to the Union army or the Union cause.
In 1854, Ohio Democracy supported
national platform which declared the war
failure and demandedra cessation Of hos
tilities. ---..,
| In 1855, Ohio Democracy, failing to re-
joice over the suppression Of rebellion
ignoring the demolition of the institution
Of slavery-silent upon the proposed con-
stitutional amendment forever abolishing
human slavery in the United States-re-
iterates the secession resolutions of 1898,
reaffrming consequently, the rebellious
heresy of State Rights, and. proposes to
welcome into national councils the unre-
pentant traitors who compelled the sacri-
fee of the best blood of the country, and
the expenditure of millions Of dollars, in
order that the Union might Be protected
from dismemberment. ae
Now, mark if, the Democracy in which
the Southern conspiracy was conceived and
matured-the Democracy under which re-
bellion was declared-the Democracy by
which insurrection was directed the
Democracy which excused and defended
| rebellion--the Democracy which declared
it triumphant = the Democracy which
i ;ustifes the doctrines and theories in which
secession and rebellion find origin-that
Democracy conquered by force Of arms,
but not subjugated in sentiment, is the
Democracy with which the Ohio State
Convention of August oath marshaled it
sell, with George W. Morgan as its stand
ard-bearer. -
If we closely inquire why George w.
Morgan was chosen as the standard-bearer
for Ohio, of the Confederate Democracy,
we shall learn that the eternal fitness of
things was not disregarded. Upon
casual inquiry It might appear that Brig
adler General, who served in the Union
army against rebellion, could not be the
consistent exponent of a s'peace- party" /"
but familiar acquaintance with his militia
ry career develops the fact that, ike George
B. Mcclellan, he is emenently FIT for the
service to which rebellion-tainted Democ-
raey calls him. This we shall substantiste
not from the manner in which General
Morgan led the Union forces against the
rebels, or from the rebels but by his eio1
services with rebels and in the interest of
rebellion. ii 800 IL i9ssl - t=7a 81 n.s
| In a letter to the Secretary of Wa, dated
| Cumberland Gap, June 9th 1852, Gen.
Morgan said:
| 81 have adopted conciliatory policy,
and it has inspired confidence in the peo-
pie generally. = / -
am BY nature unfit for a policy of veng-
ance."
i In pursuance with this policy General
Morgan held frequent social interviews
under flags of truce, with rebel officers
who commanded Confederate troops in
Kentucky, and to rebel officers taken pris-
oners extended courtesies which were not
only unusual, but which, if they might
not be construed into violation of the
articles of war were not only contrary to
''a policy of vengeance" /" but in disregard. Of
policy of ordinary prudence.
gLoono,I.aforxy -
Gen. Morgan was compelled to evacuate
Cumberland Gap, and when he did SO, ac-
cording to astatement published with his
rejoinder to structures upon his military
conduct by Gen. Halleck, left with Capt.
De sylvia, an officer in his command, who
was in Hospital, letter which caused said
Captain to be invited to dine with Colonels
Rains and Vance, commanding brigades in
the Confederate army. That Captain
certi6es that it was the opinion Of the reb-
ell commanders who succeeded Gen. Nor
gan, at Cumberland Gap, that his evacaa-
ton was a military necessity; and so
strongly was the said Captain impressed
with his social privileges among the rebels
that shortly after his restoration to the
Union army he was dismissed from the
service of the United States for trsasoRG5ls
conduct. se .a rso ,,s sib,
Not satisfied with De Sylya's certificate
to the opinion of rebel generals in his be-
hall, Gen. Morgan procured from the
aforementioned Vance, Robert b, J letter
dated Camp Chase, March %, 1854, (said
Brigadier Vance being then and there a
prisoner of war, J in which the following
significant paragraphs appear: '''' loil D
81 am confident, General, that you will
appreciate my feelings of embarrassment
in fully complying with your request
While, therefore, am anxious to crafty
the desire of so gallant and fair a foemen
| as you proved yourself to be, must bean
in mind that my brethren in arms are now
in front of Cumberland Cap =
at was the opinion of every officer Of
rank in the command that you moved ex-
actly at the proper time, aud with great
skill and judgement asg-7I, a-l.
- =
81 remember with pleasure the chiyal-
rous bearing of the troops on both sides in
the frequent skirmishes between them, as
well as the courtesy aokicb prevailed IN times
oflsss excitement and activity" yg 1T b.,
Ending his military service against the
rebellion with the retreat, to justify which,
among his own political friends, rebel GER
tifcates were deemed essential, General
Morgan resigned his commission, retired
to private life and illustrated his concep-
| tions of conciliatory policy" by publicly
advocating the elevation Of Clement L.
| Vallsndigham to the Chief Magistracy Of
| the State of Ohio.
Does not this record justify the selection
of George w. Morgan as the Standard
Bearer of Ohio Democracy?-a record
known to the Democracy record sp-