Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-26
THE LEADER LEADS.
Herald and Plain pssIsHO s soSn5fnsd,SUs3 I,s
The Democratic state Convention.

Dated Cleveland, April q, sc. .. s. Assessor.
The Democratic state Convention.
The Democratic State Convention which
met in Columbus yesterday, was presided
over by Judge A. G. Thurman, and was
quite harmonious, the prospects of success
in the election not being brilliant enough
TO cause any very great scramble for the
offices. The usual throng of old and de-
voted adhereRts TO the Calhoun-Davis
doctrines, led by Vallandigham, Edison
B. olds, c. ". Flood, ct id onsse genus,
were present, as bitter though not as bois-
ferrous as when, in 1863, they placed their
idol in nomination for the Governorship.
Il is refreshing and somewhat instructive
TO note that this set of peace Democrats,
draft s~kedaddlers, Canadian exiles and
graduates of Fort Lafayette have as in
tense admiration of our present worship
full Chief Magistrate as do the Southern
rebels. In proof, we cite their resolutions.
Here they are:
ResoiUed, That the Democracy Of Ohio
will adhere in the present and the future,
as in the past, with unfAltering fidelity and
frmness to the organization OF the Demo
cratic party, and 10 its ancient and well set
tied principles as enunciated by Thomas
jefferson, the great apostle Of American
Democracy, and accepted by the party from
the foundation of the Government; and es-
pecially Of equal taxation and Of represen-
tation Of sill States subject TO taxation.
Resolued, That the one great question of
the day is the immediate and unconditional
restoration of all the States TO the exercise
Of their rights within the Federal Union
under the Constitution, n that We will
cordially and actively support Andrew
johnson as President Of the United States
in all necessary and proper means to carry
out his policy as directed to that end, and
especially in securing immediate represen-
tation in the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives TO theeleven States from which it is
now uncon~stitutionslly and arbitrarily
withheld. unless on the degrading condition
of the inferiority in the Union, and Of ne
gro political and civil equality enforced by
the Federal Government.
RESOLVED, That for the purposes above set
forth we will cordially cooperate in public
meetings, conventions, and at the polls with
all men without reference to past party or
position, who honestly and by their acts and
votes, as well as by all their profession,
support the President in his policy of res
toration as now declared.
It will be seen that the Democracy of
Ohio, under the leadership of Clement L.
Vallandigham, resolve that "the one
great question of the day is the immedi-
ate restoration of the Southern STATES to
the Union-precisely Andrew Johnson's
-position-and that they will therefore give
10 Mr.. johnson their cordial and active
support in carrying out his policy. They
further resolve that they will cooperate
heartily with all former Union men who
also support johnson. In other words
this throng of Copperheads, whose support
Of Vallandigham, whose cries against
" Lincoln's hirelings," and whose declarA-
tions that "the war is a failure" are still
fresh in our ears tender. to the johnson
party their hearty cooperation and cor
dial support in whipping the Radicals.
We hope, if there are any really loyal and
Union-loving men who have hitherto been
upholding Mr.. johnson, that these in
famous advances viii open their eyes TO
the dangerous and destructive character
of any scheme which can command the
active cooperation of the Vallandigham
Democracy.
The nominations of the Convention
should not be too closely criticized, as the
material to select from was neither extern
sive in quantity nor excellent in quality,
owing to the brilliant prospect for getting
beaten which lies before the Democracy.
For Secretary of State Charles B, Flood,
formerly an editorin this city, and more
lately connected with the New York
Meas, the rebel organ in New York city;
Brevet Colonel Ben. +. Lefever, formerly
of the nth o. V. L, and now member of
the Legislature from Shelby county and
Ames Lsyman, the editor of the Columbus
Statesman we're the candidates for Sec
rotary of State. Colonel W. W. Arm
strong ofthe PAN Dealer would have been
nominated by reclamation had he con-
sented to allow his shame 10 be used. After
two ballots Colonel Lefever was nominst-
ed. For Supreme Judge Colonel Thomas
NJ. Key, not Of the Union army, was
nominated by reclamation. For Member
of the Board of Public Works there were
several candidates, among than Arthur
Hughes of this city, but William LarwiH
Of Ashland county was nominated on the
first ballot by a large majority. Mr.. Lar
will was on the Democratic ticket for the
same position last year, and having been
beaten by only 10000 majority last year,
he is naturally anxious to try his luck
again.
The spirit of the convention, except
that it has been modified by its sympathy
with the Administration, is as Indignantly
disloyal as it ever was. Judge Thurman,
of Columbus who has been esteemed one
of the most moderate, as he is certainly
one of the most polite and able, of the
Democratic leaders, boldly declared that
the very existence of the present Congress
was an unconstitutional usurpation, to
which, however, he oounseled submission
for the present. This declaration was the
key note Of the convention.
The prominent feature Of the conven-
ton was that though disloyal as ever, it
is thoroughly in sympathy with, and
strongly supporting, President Johnson
The alliance which thsy offer him the
President has already accepted, and the
signs of the times confirm our prediction,
made three months ago, that those who,
like the Cleveland Herald, support the
Presidents policy, would fight this cam
paign on the same platform and in
support of the same ticket as Val
1t behooves every con-
.sesvatlve but loyal nan to choose this day
whom he will serve. VIII his political
allies in the future be Va.landigham, ;
Semmes, Seymour, johnson, i
Wade Hampton, Odds DsnnisOn and Gar :