The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-09-05
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SENATOR MORTON, OF INDIANA,
COLUMBUS, OHIO, AUGUST 81.
FELLow CITIZENS OF OHro.--The party
cslliGg itself Democratic is agaiE ask
ing for the confidence and support OF
the people of Ohio, and it is not only
proper, but important to investigate the
title upon which they put forth their
claims.
As q public political organization, it
10 the right of the people to examine
their history. to look into the career and
principles of their candidates, and to
understand the spirit aud purpose of tae
politicians and leaders who will control
them il elected.
1t is a proposition which can not be
denied by any intelligent observer OF
eveats for the last ten years, that the So
called Democratic party was thoroughly
and completely identified with the orr
gin ard progress Of the rebellion; that
as q political organization. it was part
of the rebellion, acting as counselor,
sympathizer, furnisher of supplies, and
doing everything in aid Of its prosecu
ton that could be done in the loyal
States.
When 1 speak thus do not mean to
say that all it's members, all who vote
with il, are equally guilty; nor do re-
fer to that patriotic host. who, when the
rebellion broke out. left the Democratic
party, and went over to the side OF the
country. The masses of the people Of
all parties intend to do right, and would
if they we're left alone: but mean its
politicians, its leaders, those who form
its opinions, and give shape to its ac
ton.
While they have been the open and
avowed enemies to the people of the
North, they have in the guise of friends,
been the most deadly foes Of the South,
and have by their treacherous and per
nicious counsels led them, by criminal
and reasonable paths to dishonor and
destruction.
pgMoCRArIC PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOB THE
To go no further back than the cam
paign of 1860, We find them assuring
the people of the South, by speeches,
newspapers, and resolutions Of Conven-
tions, that Mr. Lincoln WAS q sectional
candidate. and that his election as Pres.
ident would be in violation of the Con-
stitution of the United States; that the
Republican party Of the North, If they
succeeded to power, would, without
provocation or excuse, overturn the in
stitutions of the South, and that the
South would be justified by every prin-
ciple Of honor and self in
even by force OF arms, their
accession to power
These wicked and monstrous false
hoods were reasserted in every possible
form; enforced by all the vehemence of
passion and the graces Of rhetoric, aud
the question may well be asked how the
people of the South could refuse alto
ge,her to believe the persistent declara-
tions of large body of professed
friends in the North, who claimed to
speak from superior knowledge of what
was going on in their midst.
Immediately after the election of Mr.
Lincoln, the slaveholding rebels Of the
South, processing to be animated by
profound belief in the truth of the
declarations and prophcsies OF the Dem
ocratic leaders of the North, went for
u ard in the work of the rebellion. and
proceeded to declare the secession of
State after State. In this they were en-
Enthusiastically cheered and earnestly en-
couraged by the Democratic leaders Of
the North.
They were assured that the right of
secession existed under the Constitution.
and that they were in the exercise of lie
gitimate powers when they assumed to
marshal their several States out of the
Union; and President Buchanan. in his
annual message in December, 1860, sol
Al 81 .af
the United States had no power 30 co..
cree State to remain in the Union
This reasonable and bloody utterance
was indorsed by every Democratic Sen
ator and Representative in Congress,
save two; by every Democratic orator
and newspaper throughout the North;
by every Democratic member of State
Legislature. with few exceptions, by
every Democratic convention held
throughout the North during the winter
knowledge.
The people of the South were urged
forward in the work of secession and
rebellion by the assertions of thousands
Of political leaders that the Government
should be held still and powerless until
it was consummated; and that the pres
ence of 3 powerful body of friends in
the North would prevent the passage of
an army. or Of q single regiment TO the
South, to engage in the wicked and un
constitutional business of coercing q
sovei eign State to remain in the Union
In January. 1861, at the very time the
Confederate Government was being
formed, the Democratic State Conven-
ton of Ohio passed resolution pledg-
ing two hundred thousand Democrats, 5,
that not until the North had done Justice
to the South would the Government he
allowed to coerce the South. This gave
notice to the rebels that if the Govern
ment attempted 10 suppress the rebell-
ion, two hundred thousand men in Ohio
would be found fighting on their side.
The people Of the South. like the an