Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-26

to the overwhelming logic of repeated de-
| feats. and so far accept the situation as 10
| ioin with the more polite leaders in plat
| form of policy. Taught by bitter lessons
| of adversity that the people will not sane
| ton the extreme views enunciated in the
| platform last year, they have resolved on
| an expression less unpopular, and VIII
T work with entire unanimity. The delloer-
ations to-day will be conducted oy the
| ablest body of men which has assembled in
this capital for many years in the capacity
of a Democratic Convention.
The correspondent of the Cincinnati Ga
zette wrote:
COLUMBUS, o., May 24.-The morning
has been spent by the Delegates to the Con-
yention In District and County caucuses,
previous to the assembling Of the Conven-
tion. in nominating committees and har-
monizing views of policy. There is every
indication of q complete submergement ot
principles for policy and official patronage
or plunder. The oracle Vallandigham
has been subsided, and we shall hear moth
ing of State Rights, or the resolutions OF
1889. The platform is short and sweet,
and will be no harder to take than the in
finitesimal sugar-coated pellets OF the
Homeopathic School, by which they hope
to gull the people, and especially the
soldiers.
Evidently, the action of the Convention
don't suit the Gazette, for it said editorially:
THE CONFEDERATE DEMOCRATIC Con-
yENTIoN.-The Democratic party of Ohio
repeated yesterday their annual perform
ance of holding a Convention, bringing
forth with ponderous labor slippery
dodge in the shape of a platform. and NOM
mating a ticket to be beaten. This perse-
yerance under such discouraging circum-
stances is most remarkable. There are other
motions which regularly follow, and which,
we presume, will be repeated this time. We
suppose we shall see in Democratic jour
nails the same formal assurances that the
ticket will be elected by an overwhelming
majority, that we have seen for the last SIX
years.
AS the circumstances OF the party grow
more desperate, its platforms are circum-
scribed. This one aims to say nothing in
as few words as possible. 1t consists of,
nominally, three resolutions. The first de-
clares present and eternal adherence to the
Democratic party. And for principles 1t
dates back to Its ancient and well settled
principles, as enunciated by Thomas Jeffer-
son, the great Apostle of American De-
mocracy."
This is well. The modern history and
apostles of the Democratic party are rather
too savory in the public nostrils to be mem
toned. For the last six years it has had a
strong odor of treason. 1t Is well to date
back beyond the memory of the present
generation. But this does not re-resolve
the resolutions of '9S, as the Democratic
custom was. The emergency requires the
game to be drawn finer than that. 1t COW
ers the meaning by the glittering general
ity of its ancient and well settle princi-
pies as enunciated by Jefferson; and as
jefferson disseminated secession resolutions
when he was in the opposition, and declar-
ed secession treason when he came to be
President, this will leave sufficient latitude
for private Interpretation and mental res
ervation.
Yet we must look upon it as lodging the
resolution of '9S. But in place thereof it
T, turned the Jeffersonian principles into the
sole specially of equal taxation and of the
representation of all States subject to tax
alton. This means, we suppose, to remit
all taxes on the insurgent States while they
were at war. Each State Is to be held eX-
empt from the burdens Of Government
from the moment when its representatives
withdrew from Congress.
The Democratic party of Ohio ought to
feel particularly solicitous that the States
which have brought all these burdens on
the country should be exempt from them.
1t is a policy that will doubtless touch
the popular heart in Ohio. But Jeffer-
sons Interpretation of the principle of
taxation and representation was not limit
ed to States; it applied to persons. The
true Interpretation is, that every man who
is taxed is entitled to voice in the Gov
ernment. This pretense of Jeffersonian
doctrine is a forgery, contrived to exempt
the insurgent States from bearing the bur-
dens of the war they made.
The second resolution is a quasi indorse-
ment of President johnson. 1t declares
the Immediate and unconditional restOra-
ton of all the States to all their former
rights, the one great question of the day,
and it promises the support of the Ohio
Democracy to Andrew johnson 'in all
necessary and proper means to carry out
his policy as directed to that end"
This is fishy, and yet it is not fish nor
flesh. Do they indorse what he has done,
in overturning these State Governments,
and reconstructing new under prescribed
conditions of suffrage and constitutional
reformation and legislation? Do they ap-
prove his declaration that secession Is trea-
son, and that treason must be made infa-
nous?
Do they support his holding penalties for
treason suspended over the 81, 900 property
class? DO they approve of any punish
ment of traitors? Do they indorse his for
bidding Captain Semmes discharging the
office of Probate Judge, to which he was
elected in Mobile?
It seems to us that this pretended indOrse-
ment is all in the future, and Is upon c0ndi-
tions. 1t has the hairy appearace of Esau,
but the soft and deceitful nature of Jacob.
The third resolution Is with multiplied
qualifications and conditions. "For the
purpose above set FORTH" they will co-op-
crate with all men, without reference to
mast marty positions, "whO honestly, and by
their acts and votes, as we'll as by their pro-
fessions, support the President In his policy
of restoration as now declared"
And so the Convention was delivered OF
its platform lab0r. Can any man tell what
1t means? 1t is like a camel; it Is backed
like weasel; it is very like whale; In
short, it is like Democratic platform.
After five years war of rebellion, during
which the Democratic party of Ohio did all
in its power, modified by its courage, to
weaken the Government and give triumph
to the rebellion, it tcomes into State ConVen-
tion with no principle to offer to the c0un-
try it has betrayed and covered with blood
shed and loaded with debt and taxes, save
A resolution to restore its confederates i'm
mediately and Internationally to political
power, and another against making them
bear their share of the taxes. And to this
end It offers to take all to its embrace VINO
will Join it. 1t has learned nothing OF
patriotism, and forgotten nothingOf Its de-
II III L. frs. ~.