The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-06-06
s p Il b 9 Fl
OF
HON. c.L. VALLANDfGHAM
OF OHIO,

Mr.. President AND -CtrrzFNs:
i thank you for this kindly reception,
though you seem to be of opinion quite the
opposite. A newspaper in Cincinnati, in
the interest of our COMMON enemies il
greatly yexed that Vallindigham will presist
IN attending Democratic Conventions, and
that Democrats will presist in recognizing
him as good Democrat in good standing.
don't know that it is matter of any pos.
lble concern to me. So long as certificates
from the Secretary of Democratic Conven-
tions will cary men home on the Railroads,
and so long as Democratic Conventions con-
tinue to be held, will probaly presist in
attending them, until, perhaps, am as old
in the ranks as our friend LarwiI, who at
tended the first Democratic State Convep-
ton held in Ohio. We have done glori-
Gus work to-day. The platform indorses
the time honored principles of the party,
and declares the determined purpose to adj
| here to them in the present as in the past.
| The ticket is composed of men who are up
| to the Jehersonian standsred and attached
to the Constitution, and if we do not sue
ceed in the coming election in making that
ticket triumphant, we at least will SO far
gain, as to success in 1867. We said to
those who were confident of success in 1865.
| because it is for the Democratic party to
deal candidly and fairly with the people,)
we cannot perhaps overcome the 10000
majority in 1864, but we can at least reduce
it to one half. We went to work with all
energy; commenced determination of those
who believed they were right. The result
was commensurate with our anticipations.
We reduced the majority of our opponents
from $4,000 to 10000. Some think we
ought to- hold out theidea of absolute sue.
cess. l only promise that we may stcCeed.
But at any rate we propose to reduce that
majority down to 10000 at the very least.
proclaim that to restore those States,
which are excluded from participation in
the Union, notwithstanding the heavy ma
jorlty that has been against us in this State,
which some here seem to think, and others
elsewhere are led to believe, cannot be over
come, that we will send from seven TO eight
and perhaps twelve Representatives instead
of two next fall. promise that believe,
no more. | truly believe it will be done.
1t is important to carry our State ticket for
the sake Of the principals. But Just now
the essential thing most needful is majority
in the 10th Congress, that the excluded
States may be brought back again, and
reinstated in all their rights under the Con
stitution; that those States may shine
again in the glorious galaxry extending
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. We have
| proved the experiment of free government:
or rather we are now battling for the estab-
lishment Of free government, which will
staud out in history all the more grand for
the ordeal through which it is passing It
is possible that the North American conti-
nent will in future embrace one hundred
States, instead Of the thirteen original Colo
nies which founded this Government. The
Democratic party did this, and believe the
mission OF that barty is to go on to increase
the number Of those States.
Ausions is made in the platform to-day
to the determination of the party to adhere
to the organization. Why? Because there
are those who proclaim that this party is to
pass away. beg their pardon. 1t is not
going to do anything of the kind. The par.
ty that has gone through the ordeal that the
Democratic party has.in the past FIVE years
unbroken in its ranks ranks, as will endure,
and is bound to triumph again. He speaks
as fool speaks who talks OF disbanding this
party and substituting asbther name, or
yielding solitary principle that our fathers
our fathers have recognized MS fundamental
in our Government. 1t cannot be DONE
Need point to any better evidence than
day? But little while ago, it was at the
peril of the lives of the most of us to 20 to
Convention. In railroad cars, at hotels,
in the streets, we held our lives in Our hands,
Heavily armed, representatives of the De-
mocracy were obliged to come here. They
had right to come, and they vindicated
that right. We are subjected to no con-
tumely now. 1t is no longer necessary for
Democratic representatives to come here
prepared to viDdicate their right to meet
There is now no Administration to author
ize and permit any such proceedings. Pro-
vjdence has intertered to protect this coun-
try from the mad schemes of those who
thought they had the power in their own
hands. The loyal press had said Providence
removed Abraham Lincoln that he might
be replaced by man made of sterner stuff.
| cannot say to what extent we propose to
endorse the President, who is NOT of our
making. We agree with him on the great
question in regard to the bringing back of
those excluded States. The Democratic
party, with an unsel6shness which does it
honor and will make it stand forever, re-
in his policy in this regard. 1t is our duty
to give him, not a mere passive, but de-
termned and aggressive support. The
Democratic party is prepared to stand or
fall upon that issue. know it has been
said by some the Democratic party is in too
great haste; it is to credulous; it is over
confident. appeal to the facts of the last
year. | appeal to the acts of the President;
not merely to what he has said, but to what
he has done. The Democratic party under.
stand itself; the President comprehends his
principles 1t is said by the Republican
party that the President is going over to the
Copperheads. Who are the Copperheads?
They are the men who, admit contumely,
amid reproaches showered upon them,
stood fast by the principles Of the Constitu-
ton and to liberty.
The men who in Rome remained true to
the grand old Republic when tyranny was
usurping the power, were copperheads -
The men who loved liberty in Europe-Tell
in Switzerland, Bruce in Scotland, and
Hampton in England, were copperheads.
Adams and Jefferson and the men who bore
the American flag in the face of the tyrants
of George LII, were copperheads And we
spect for the men who shrink from being si
called copperhoads. For myself am
copperhead, and glory in it, Itis ideoti.
fed with the contest of the last five years
for the rights of the white people of Ameri-
ca. 1t is an honorable ephithet. This is
fight between Republicans and the Demo
cratic party. The Union party has past out
of existence. Republicans will be proeur-
ing certificates in less than ten years that
they we're the original copperheads
We don't propose to be swallowed UP by
the President, nor the Presidents by the
copperheads. He has not came over to the
Copperheads. It would be very gratifying
TO The Republicans to see tho Copperheads
united, bntswe don't intend to take Office
from the Presidents. We intend to- have al