The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-05-08
Letter from G. L. Vallandigham,
HIS OPINIONS OF THE srTUAr1oN-THE con-
NEcT1cUT ELECTION
scHEME--THE LOUISVILLE
CONVENTION, &c.
DAYTON, ONO, April 3, 1867.

Q Vallandigham speak," was duly received
E Having twice failed, because of accident q
sickness, to fill my appointment in you
: county, I am fairly under obligation
e accept, and ! do it most cheerfully. Bu
! it cannot be at an early day, as you request
nor, indeed, earlier than September, mas
much as my professional engagements, I
which now devote all my time and after
ton, will not permit.
But any appointment which you ma
! make for me at that period I will hold my
selfin readiness to gil, since it will be bu
payment in part of the annual interes
which owe to the Democracy of Ohio, a
we'll for political favors and supportas upo1
that 'lleavy pecuniary advancement" so
J called by some, and by shallow fellow
referred to very wittilY ever and anon a
the "ten cent fund.- but which l regard OF
! the most honorable testimonial eve
bestowed upon any public man in an.
: country.
Meantime allow me passing word OF
the situation.
| Dark as the days have been, and certain
as the total overthrow was, Of our origina
form Of constitutional government, already
badly wrecked and shattered, had oul
enemies but possessed the revolutionary
audacity to drive on. see nop distinc1
glimnae,'ings Of the hdren, which, I trust
will, sooner or later, ripen into the perfect
day.
/ Frst-We Connecticut election is moi
only full Of encouragement, but most graft.
flying. It was fit that the home of Thomas
II. Seymour, and the State, Of all others in
the East, most firm and Radical in its
Democracy, and where true "Copperheads'
did and do still most abound, should first
Of all give signs Of this coming reaction in
the North. Two years ago the majority
for Buckingham Republican, for Governor
was IL ,034 over O. S. Seymour, democrat
Now English, (Democrat,) Invested Of the
dead weight of last Spring and Fall, beats
Hawley (Republican) 700, and we elect
three out Of four representatives in Con-
grass. Verify, there has been q resurrec-
ton and that "dead Democratic party" in
grave-clothes, it may be, and bound about
with q napkin, has come forth, but re-
freshed and strengthened by its slumbers.
have long had the pleasure Of a personal
acquaintance with Governor English. Dur
ing the three sessions of the Thirty-seventh
Congress, and throughout the first two
years Of the war, years of especially frenzy,
he sat by my side, when at any moment a
stray bullet, aimed at another, might have
struck him to the floor. always found
him friend and now, with peculiar
pleasure, hail him as first Of Democratic
Governors in the new era. Let Ohio now,
first Of all States in the Northwest, follow
Connecticut on the roll of Democratic
States and she will.
Nert-TRe failure Of Congress to de-
pose the President is the most hopeful
omen of the times. In the first place,
melancholy as have been and still are the
weakness and incapacity of Andrew John
son-I do not question his sincerity -he is
still a most impeding object in the nay Of
The revolutionary chariot But far more
than this-deeper, more enduring, more
significant the failure clearly indicates
that the fury and audacity Of the reyolu-
tionary party, to which, more than to all
Others causes, they owed their success, are
on the wane. Ia revolutions step back
ward is death, and pause midway the
beginning Of dissolution. Now is the
suspicious moment for as. Providence
has once more given to us a chance to
rescue from the destroyers the site and
foundations, at least, of the now fallen and
dishonored temple Of free federal republican
government, and to reconstruct it very
nearly after the model of the old. Shall
the chance be again cast away? No let
US shun the errors, the hesitancies, the
entanglements and the timidities of the
past, and let the people speak to their
leaders that the work shall go forward.
1.-THE men Of the South aoiA bat consent
to be patient, learning to remain passire
and TO endure, all may get be yell. Sub
mission to tyrannic force, to military coer-
cion, is one thing voluntary servitude quite
another. In any event, we have our rights,
duties and obligations to free constitutional
government, from which no act of any other
State, section or people, can desolye us.
AS to the Louisville Convention, q word.
The Democratic party Of Ohio, by formal
resolution of the recent State Convention,
has committed itself to q General Delegate
Convention, suggesting Louisville as the
place for it. The State Central Committee
has, therefore, no discretion in the matter.
Indeed, the movement originated in Ohio,
by the action of our committee in July
last. | have myself in no way been con-
cerned in 1t but am not able to perceive
any good reason why it should not be held.
1t is designed only, as l understand, for
consultation and expression ofopinion, and
with no view to candidates for the Presi-
dental campaign Of 1868. Neither can it
bind any one by platform"
But why not meet and consult? What
better means of promoting concert and Or
ganization than general convention !?
"Warn the committees" were the dying
words Of Jefferson. Let us first have COM
mittees and organizations everywhere. Sug-
costing respectfully that the convention be
postponed till the 4th Of July, trust that
whether National" committees or State
committees concur or not, the distric. or
local committees and the Democratic masses
will see to it that delegates are appointed,
and that the gallant and lately oppressed
Democracy Of Kentucky, under whose i'm
mediate auspices the convention is to be
held--the who, last Summer taught that
Hannible might be conquered .not
coldly and ungenerously rebuked and re-
pudiated by their brethren in other States.
Very truly, &C.,
G. L. VALLANDIGHAM.
THE New "SPREAD" FOR THE EAalE.-
We fancy that Fourth Of July orators in
the North would almost be Hing to pay
out Of their own pockets the seven millions
that Russian America costs for the new
and SPLENDID opportunity it gives them
for rhetorical emblazonment. With what
new energy they can dilate upon the vast
ness Of our country! How they can start
the "bitd Of freedom" from the Gulf Of
Mexico and send it flying and screaming
clear up to the North Pole! How they
can descend upon the tropical groves Of
Florida, and the ice fields OF the Arctic,
and show that the universal Yankee lords
IL over all Tho ulorv NJ s,oh a ,,roo,,oo+