The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-11-26
vallandigham's Reception by the
People.

The Wheeling Register gives a long
account of meeting of fifteen thousand
persons at Woodsfeld, Ohio, during the
late canvass in this State. After listen
ing to the speeches of Judge Thurman
Hon. G.. Fl, Pendleton and others, it adds
as to Mr.. Vallandigham:
1t was now after two o'clock. For
more th an two hours the people remain
ed almost mOtionless beneath the rays Of
scorching sun, and listened with almost
Sreathless attention to the splendid ad-
dresses with which they had been enter
tainsd. But still greater and deeper
interest seemed now to pervade the entire
audience. hyen those who were within
the inner circle o. listeners drew nearer
the stand; those who were at distance
pressed eagerly and even rcughly toward
the center of the throng, while strag.
glers and listiess idlers from all parts OF
the ground advanced and joined the as i.
sembly. Soon Merris appeared at the
front of the stage; behi2d him stood a
man upon whose face the people had not
yet looked. He was man whose nam
had long been familiar and famous, not
only to them, but wherever boldness and
trankness and unfinching fidelity to a
purpose are appreciated and esteemed
His career had been known and talked
of in every American household. 1t had
even passed the limits of his country,
and become the subject of foreign dis
cussion and criticism. A strange and
eventful past had been his. He had ever
illustrated the grand ideas of free speech
and press. Private malice had pursued
him therefor, but he needed it not. The
hate of greet party had hunted him,
but he feared it not. Authority had
sought to everawe him, he had brayed it;
power had tried to crush him, he had
defed it. To silence him, laws had. been
set aside, courts trampled upon, State
insulted, and nation disgraced. The
despotism of the bsyonet had been over
him; the sword had forced upon him a
trial without offense, and penalty with
cut conviction. Sentenced, banished,
persec1te6, dogged by night and day and
hunted for his very life, he had yet over
passed his perils and outlived his perse-
cutors, and after seeing the first tribunal
of the land declare the injustice that had
! been done him, and decree the lasting
disgrace Of his enemies, he had come
among the very people who Of all others
thought most as he thought, to proclaim
his unwayering adherence to his early
fait b, and to prefgure the final triumph
of the principles of which the suffrage
of this people had made him the first
and gratest representative. With such
reeollections clustering around him hs
stood forth, and the great masses of hu-
manity ,agitated beyond all control, l,swayed
4 and shcok from center to circumference
and from side to side, in the wild excite
ment with which they we're aroused By
!; the presence of Clement L. Vallandigham
They shouted, they screamed, they leap
led in the air; men cried like children
women wept like babes, and the heart
of all were stirred to their deepest re
cesses. No mans presence could hay'
moved tfrn as his did; no mans word
could have calmed them as did his.
The above is taken from the Cincinnati
Il Enquirer and is correct to the letter. Th
Democracy Of Monroe County will no
soon forget the 18th day Of Septembe
1867. After Vallandigham had 6nishe'
the thousands of assembled Democrat
insisted on shaking his hand; a man pos
sessed of ordinary courage would hav
shrank from it, but Val. was pleased, h
. dofcd his coat, spraug down from th
platform and was Immediately surrounded
the pressure was too much; the thousand
were formed in line and marched past th
!, champion of genuine Democratic princi
pies, giving him a hearty hand-shakin
and "God bless you'll" as they passed
r. ED. SPIRIT. ~
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