The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-09-19
SMITH:
HARRISON, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
Monday Evening, Sept. 8, 1867
PARTIES IN THE WAR.

rit PARTIES IN THE WAR.
The late war separated the peo.
pleot this country, virtually, into
two parties-patriots and traitors.
Those who supported the Govern
ment were called patriots those
who opposed it were called trai-
tors. In these remarks, you will
observe, | have used the words Of
Douglas. The classification un.
doubtedly does injustice to many
people who co.operated with the
Democratic party, partly through
ignorance Of the real principles
and objects of that organization,
and partly from the force Of parti-
san associations. How strong
these latter are the most of us
know. But this was the misfor.
fortune of the class to which | re-
fer. 1t was plain that there could
be but two parties in the war-one
for the country. and tho other
against 1T. Neutral ground there
was none-could be none; and the
man who professed TO be neutral in
the fierce and bloody contest for
the life of the nation, must have
been a knave or q fool. Those,
therefore, who maintained their
connection with the Democratic
party, and voted with it, to that
extent, whatever may have been
their motives, gave aid and com.
fort to the enemy.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REBELLION,
The rebellion was actually re.
belIion of the Democratic party,
which, when it lost the power to
rule, sought an opportunity to
ruin. The Southern branch of the
organization took the lead when
hostiitles were determined upon,
and the leaders of the Northern
branch gave the rebels the full
benefit of their syrlpathies. On
the 23d of January, 1861, the Dem.
ocrats of Ohio assembled in con-
vention at Columbus, not to nomi-
nate a ticket, but to speak rs
party on the state Of the country.
At that time the work Of secession
was in progress, and the Southern
leaders we're rapidly preparing to
break up the Government. In that
critical hour the Ohio Democracy
met and passed the following les
olution
"ReSolued, That tho two hun
dred thousand Democrats of Ohio
send to the people of the United
States, both North and South
greeting and when the people o.
the North shall have fulfilled Their
duties to the Constitution and the
South, then, and not Till then, will
it be proper for them to fake into
consideration the right and pro
priety Of coercion"
This resolution was drawn by
Judge Thurman, who is now thC
Democratic candidate for Governor
of Ohio, who supported it in
speech, in which, among othel
things he said; "Who is author
lied to say that the eighteen mil
lion people in the free States vii
combine TO conquer the South
Who can say, il the whole Soutl
secedes, the free States will remain
together? But suppose they do
and suppose they join in crusade
against the South, can they subiu
gate and hold her? Never, sir
never The teachings of all his
tory say, No. You may invade
her, gain battles and infict injur
los you may harmhor more thar
she can harm you7-all this is pos
sible but conquer, subjugato ant
hold her by forcc Of arms, you ney
er can"
The Cincinnati Enquirer, one o
the ablest organs of tho party II
the country said of this resolu
I ton {: orta5 .l,dy ...,r, .oy
"The, above has the ring of tn
true metal, and should bc heartily
indorsed by every Democrat an,
national man of Ohio. 2 1t is mani
testify right, just and proper, an,
commends itself to the judgmen
and discretion of every reasonin!
and rejecting man. All honor I
the Democracytof Ohio, for tn
, manly and honest declaration"
, Vallandigham,' Pendleton. an
/, other leaders of the Domocrati
: party in Ohio, took the sam
: ground. The first-named persor
:. on the 18th of April, 1861, define,
8 his position in q card publishe
2 over his own signature, lie sale
|, should Ohio, to which no owed hi
!. allegiance, be invaded, he woul
r fight to defend her, but otherwis
s he would give neither aid nc
!, comfort to the supporters of th
d Government. Thus, if the poop
/. of the free States had followed th
d example Of Vallandigham, therel
d els, united as they were, migl
Q have broken up the Government
IS and taken possession of the frC
y States, one by one for as tn
Z peace man would not cross tt
!, bordevs of Ohio to defend his CO.
y ernment or help his neighbors, !
nj could not expect his neighbors
d cross their borders to help hir
Il and there would, Of course, hay
been no government to help an
Y body, ~, ..rr.l..
u Then, again, in a Middleton