Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-07-13


emnly against government bonds, as a
wicked device to rob them Of their money.
They are the men who refused to con-
tribute to the Sanitary Commission for
the relief of sick and the wounded SOL
diers, upon lying and hypocritical pre-
tence that the contributions were consum-
ed by the officers in the army.
They are the men who excused them
selves from contributing for the relief of
soldiers families at home by the infamous
slander that they were living better than
they had ever done, and by foul imputa-
tions on the chastity of soldiers wives.
They are the men who declared in
speeches, resolutions, and by their votes
in Congress, that not another man nor an
other dollar should be voted to carry on
a cruel war against their southern breth-
ren.
They are the men who, in the midst of
the last great campaign of 1864, at the
time when Sherman was fighting his way
step by step from Chattanooga to Atlanta
and Grant was forcing Lee back into the
defenses of Richmond in desperate and
bloody battles from day to day, when the
fate of the nation hung in the balance,
and the world watched with breathless in
terest the gigantic struggle which was 10
settle the question of republican govern
ment, assembled in convention at Chicago
and resolved that the war was failure !;
that our cause was unjust, and that we
ought to lay down our arms and sue for
peace.
1t was throwing mountain into the
confederate scale to make the union kick
the beam. 1t was bold and desperate
interference in behalf of the rebellion at
the very crisis of the fight. 1t was ar in
suit to the loyal armies of the nation, SC
vast, malignant and deadly that language
can convey no adequate idea of its wick,
edness. And in future times the historian
will record the fact with astonishment tha
the government, at the most critical mo
ment of its life, when few hours, O
/ days at the most, must determine whethe
! it should live or die, could permit larg
! body of its enemies to meet upon its sol
in peace and security, and publish a fla
I grant manifesto in behalf of the rebellion
| Now | do not mean to say that all th
democratic leaders have done all thes
things, but what do say is this, that tn
men who have done these things are com
| bined together, and constitute the rea
| leaders of the democratic party. The few
moderate men of the party have beer
stripped of all the power and influence
and are carried along with it merely for
numbers and policy, while the living and
aggressive element which controls it are
the g Sons of Liberty" and those who
acted in sympathy and concert with
them.
They are the men who have perverted
the word democracy from its once honora-
bic meaning, to be shield and cover fol
rebellion, and for every crime that attach
.es to a causeless and civil war.
And now let US enquire what measure:
the democratic party are for aflirmatively
| 1t is and has been opposed to whateve
the Union party is in favor of, but has al
so a positive aud affirmative policy whicl
it is important that the people should un
derstand. The great and leading meas
ure of its policy is the immediate and un
conditional admission of full representa-
ton in both Houses of Congress from thu
rebel states that the test oath shall b,
repealed; that there shall be no punish
ments that there shall be no political OF
civil disabilities imposed upon any mar
who has been engaged in the rebellion
| that there shall be no amendment to the
Constitution to make it conform to the
changed circumstances of the nation tha
there be no legislation to prevent the re
.currence of future rebellions but tina
Union men and rebels, Union soldiers anC
rebel soldiers, shall be put upon perfec
equality before the law, and that no hon
ors or rewards shall be extended to the one
which are not equally bestowed upon th'
other.
In proof of this last position, let me re
fer you to the notorious fact that, in theil
speeches and newspapers they bestov
brilliant and glowing panegyricS upon thu
genius and virtues OF Gen. Lee, but arr
significantly silent abont Grant, Sherman
and Sheridan. They weep copiously owe
the memory of Stonewoll Jackson, bu
have not tear to shed for the untimel,
!, deaths of Lyon, Kearney, Mcpherson un'
Hackleman. They mourn from day Il
day over the fictitious suffering of Jei
| Davis, but have never yet expressed
regret for the murdered thousands at An
dersonyille and Salisbury.
These things point to their feelings an