The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-02-28
R E NJ AR X S
Hon, c, l. VALLANDIGHAM,
In Response TO the Third Regular
Toast, at the Columbus Demo-
cratic Festival, January s, 1865.

Without it, liberty cannot exist; with it,
tyranny cannot endure.
The Hon. c. L. Vallandigham was re-
ceived with noisy welcome and respon-
ded as follows:
"Hear me for my cause, and be silent
that you may hear" Five years ago, Mr..
President, the sentiment tc which am
invited to respond was not only the ac-
cepted, doctrine, but the established usage
throughput the United States-the theme
alike of the collegiate sophomore, and
the popular orator celebrating with eva
nescent patriotism the Fourth of July
Crushed to earth afterward for time, to-
day it is scarce recovered even in the
States always true to the Union, and is
denied still to the States and people of
more than one third of the whole country.
To do, to suffer, to die in vindication Of
freedom of speech and of the press, has
been the fortune of thousands in this
once boasted land of liberty. But thanks
to the firm purpose and courageous hearts
of the Democracy of Ohio-the men, the
women, the CHILDREN of the State-we al
ways, even in the worst of times, had a
measure of that freedom mere. No
thanks to the tyrant: we took it. And
neither arrest, nor the prison exile or the
scaffold, could then, or can now, terrify
us into silence or submission. If num-
bers, courage, daring and pertinacity in
the Generals and soldiers of our armies,
enabled the late Administration, in spite
of its blunders and crimes, to conquer
''rebellion," we, the Democratic people of
Ohio, with higher, rarer, nobler courage
the manhood of people who will be
free-conquered tyranny and saved liber-
ty. TCheers. And now how shall we
use it? For, Peace Democracy" though
we may be, we are nevertheless the De-
mocrscy militant still; numbering nearly
two thirds of the FIVE and thirty States of
the Union; and yet without control of
single State Government and almost with
out representation in the Federal Govern
ment itself. How shall we become the
Democracy triumphant? 1t has been said
by newspaper representing that radical,
but powerful faction of the Republican
party-powarful because progressive and
aggressive and in earnest-which might
ftly be known henceforthin our political
nomenclature as The Mfernals, that the
purpose of this festival is to set the bat
tie in array for the coming campaign.-
II - ~ atbo.o T looro fbo d;coucSinn of
platforms and principles, and, availing
myself of the privileges of the loyal
clergy-that pure and holy priesthood
whose ministrations are to him whose
kingdom IS of this world. and whose gos-
pei savors, not of the Evangely of Beth
lehem, but rather of the smoke of the
valley of the son of Hinnom-rropose to
digress little from my text, and to speak
to subject, not indeed the same. and yet
not wholly foreign to the sentiment to
which respond. How shall we use our
liberty of the press and Of speech so as
to secure power; not for the paltry spoils
of Office; not for the ignoble lust TO. do
minion not for demoniac thirst for re-
yenge, but to vindicate and perpetuate
truth and right and liberty, and to serve
and save our native land? Loud cheers,
When in moment of patriotic enthusi-
asm and confidence sincere but most
displaced, the people in the beginning Of
the late civil war, rallied to the support
Of the Administration Of Abraham Lin
coin, pledged them by his lips to the
Union and the flag, they surrendered up
the precious jewel of their liberty to his
false keeping; and when a little later they
would have had it back, reign of terror
scourged the land, and mems hands trem-
bled and their knees smote together. And
then it was that whatsoever remained OF
freedom of speech and of the press, was
held at the risk, day and night, of death
and destruction by, the mob, or arrest, I'M
prisonment and suppression by the strong
arm of military power. And even when
used at all it was too often with bated
breath and honeyed phrase of whispered
1protestation refer not to Ohio speak
ers, nor TO the Ohio press, and least Of all
to our country press; for here, thank God,
even in the hour of most imminent dan
ger, when the storm howled loudest and
the waves ragged 6ercest, men spoke and
acted and wrote and voted with a courage
and spirit worthy of Tell. of Hampdeu
and Henry. That day has passed, but
the evil influences in part yet remain
With the liberty Of urfathers once again
in our hands, let US return to the style Of
our fathers. Let us cast off fear and even
|theIsemblance of the nice phrase and meas
ured accent of fear. 1t is the liberty in,
deed, of speech and of the press, which
mean, not license. Let not one false OF
foul word be written or spoken; yet let u:
use our liberty in a way worthy of us, O
our fathers, of our children; and not as i
1.-THE tyrant's frown still rested upon The
Hand; SO use it that our enemies shall trem
BILE and our friends take fresh courage a
Ievery step. To-day the Democratic par
]ty languishes by reason of false polite
ness and circumlocution. We must chang
all that. Let us learn from the fashion
of our enemies how to defend and ad
vance truth. as they uphold and propagate
the most pernicious errers. In the grea
conflict of ages between truth aud error
truth cannet win the fight with the shield
she must strike with the sword. Action
boldEess, yehemence, audaeity, will al
ways carry the day for error against