Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-09-29
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION TO THE
WAR

Every measure adopted By the Admins
tration to suppress the rebellion was honored
by the hearty opposition of the Democracy,
which spared no effort to influence the peo-
pie against those to whom was entrusted
safety of the nation during its hour of trial.
The war itself received their heartiest con-
demnation.
1t is true there was a wing of the party,
known as "War Democrats" but they were
powerless, and such as attempted indepen-
dence Of action were promptly read out OF
the party. The peace men controlled the
organization and policy of the party, and the
war men never failed to support them at the
polls. Practically, the party was unit in
fayeF of peace; and In this it was consistent
from first to last.
At the great Democratic meeting of
January l6, 1861, at Philadelphia, the ninth
resolution adopted declared
ave are therefofe utterly opposed to any
such coInpulsion as is demanded BY portion
of the Republican Party; and the Democratic
Party of the North will, by the use of all
constitutional means, and with its moral and
political influence, oppose any such extreme
pFatsd. P1eSl Sr frafrl'dai war thus to be inaug
And month later, at the Democratic State
OOAfCAblOit AClu dl I1dIl1cUuIR3
% 1861, the following resolution was re-
celved with the most, rapturous applause,
nearly all the members of the Convention
rising, cheering, and waving their hats
"ReS0tred, That we will, by all proper and
legitimate means, oppose, dlscountenance
and prevent any attempt on the part of the
Republicans In power to make any armed
aggression upon the Southern States, espe-
cially so long as laws contravening their right
shall remain unrepealed on the statute books
of Northern States, and so long as the lust
demands of the South shall continue to be
unrecognixed by the republican maiorities
In these States, and unsecured by proper
amendatory explanations Of the Constftu-
ton
1t was in precisely the same spirit that
Benjamin q. Harris, Democratic member
of Congress from Maryland, on April 9,
1861, had the effrontery to declare in the
House of Representatives
The South asked you to let them go in
peace. But no; you said you would bring
them into subsection. That is not done yet,
and God Almighty grant that it never may
be. | hope that you will never subjugate
the South. -
This being good Democratic doctrine, it
is not surprising that, with one exception,
the Democratic members voted in solid
body against Mr.. Harris expulsion, nor
that, when he was sent as delegate to the
Chicago Convention, he was received there
as member of the party, in full communion
and good standing.
AT Chicago, indeed, Mr.. Harris found
himself among congenial spirits.
There the Rev. G. Chauncey Burr, of
New Jersey, publicly declared,
You cannot have the face to ask the
South to come back into the Union until you
Withdraw your marauding army Is there
a man in this audience that wants to have
one half of the States conquered and subjee-
ted? No When this is done you have
ended the Government After three years
ofwar, who are conquered, you or the South?
| say you are conquered You cannot con-
quer the South and pray God you never
may.
James S. Rollins, of Missouri:
Il love our Southern friends; they are
noble, brave, and a chivalrous people
tcheersl, although they are trying to break
up the Government; and however much we
may hate them, we must remember that
they are our countrymen, and cannot be sub
dued so long as we insist upon depriving
them of their rights.
John j. Van Allen, of New York:
"War is disunion. War could never pro-
duce peace. 1t was impossible TO subiugate
eight millions of people, and it ought not to
be done, If it could be done "