Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-24

even W WhiIe lohhSooeSoho ""O
are blessed in having Pompey and his
kindred relieve them from the annoyance
of voting and legislation.
In 1854 Ohio went over to Abolition
ism on the Kansas.Nebraska question,
and has been in the Slough Of Despond
ever since. About the time the tide
commenced turning the war began, and
under the invigorating influence of bay
onets and Burnside, radicalism increased
and Democracy was covered with huge
mountains of majorities, To be an ad-
vocate of free speech was to court perse'
cution and death. Yallandigham, for
daring to uphold the Constitution and
laws, was dragged from his bed at mid
night by military mob, carried to Gin
cinnati; and after being subjected TO the
ghastly mockery of a military commits
sion organized to convict, exiled. lie
had offended the stupendous Burnside,
who. unable to whip rebels, was sent to
tyrannize over unarmed men and women
in loyal State which had a hundred
thousand soldiers in the field.
Yet in defiance of military orders and
swarms of spies, the Ohio Democracy
preserved their organization. In the
teeth of general order No. 80" they
flung the exiled Vallaudigham as their
candidate for Governor. What is more,
they advocated him in every county
every Demo crat going armed to the
meetings, determined to act as free
man or die in the attempt Scores were
shot down in communities overwhelm-
ingly Radical; women were grossly in
suited by things calling themselves men,
whose infamy was applauded By the
Radical press. To some places soldiers
were sent to disperse meetings. The
Democratic orators told the people that
the Constitution and laws were above
the edicts of military jackboots This
was the head and front of their offending.
Nothing mere than this had Vallandlg'
ham said, who was punished for no crime
known to any law. Nor did Pugh,
Pendleton, Thurman, Ranney and others
20 further-these peerless champions oi
liberty who would have been shot or ex-
lied but for the shock produced through
out the country by the infamy practiced
on Vallandigham.
Vallandigham received the largest vote
ever before given in Ohio for candidate
for Governor Yet he was beaten by an
overwhelming majority. Radical coun-
ties presented double and treble their
former vote, and as it was for Brough II
could not be questioned. The dead
lists of the army we're voted en- masse for
Brough. The dead heroes whose bones
we're whitening the valleys and hillsides
of the South were used to assist in this
ghastly election mockery.
The same glorious old Democracy
whom tyranny failed to crush out-who,
in those dark and bloody days, stood up
at the peril of their lives, Haunted the
constitution and laws in the face OF
despotism and defed it-are neither
dead nor sleeping. Vallandigham, Thur
man, Pugh, Ranney, Pendleton, and
hosts of others, whom exile, threats and
insult could not move from their prin'
ciples, are there loved and honored by
freemen and hated by fanatics as of old.
To-day, as then, they are fighting the
battle of freedom, and will continue
until the hideous monster Despotism
again rolls in the dust. Judge Thurman,
a man of unsulied reputation as .
citizen a distinguished jurist, who for
many years shed luster on the Supreme
Bench; a man of unbounded personal
popularity; an orator who boldly pro-
claimed Democratic principles when
hundreds Of pistols we're Aourished in
the air to intimidate him, and abolition
mobs ieered and taunted, and sought to
drown his voice; is the Conservative
standard bearer. The Democracy are
rallying around him as of old; and
before election day his powerful blows
will have been struck in every county in
the State. Scarcely a Democratic orator
of note is silent Democratic mass
meetings, Democratic professions, and
Democratic free speech are once more
assuming sway. 1t may be that corrup'
ton and party machinery will prevent
complete triumph this fall, although
many of our best informed eanvassers
have strong hopes of carrying the day.
Long suffering has given Ohio Demo
Gratis patience; and while we would
rejoice TO redeem our State in a single
campaign, the certainty Of reducing the
majorities Of the past few years to small
figures is glory enough for one day.
At the last election IN Hamilton
county the Radical majority was reduced
to a small figure. Wherever there have
been contests Ike result is shown.
The Ohio Democracy are fighting The
battle Of national Conservatism. Their
triumph will roll back the car Of des-
potism in every State. They are fighting
the battles Of the downtroddep whites OF
the South, and a victory viii DO more to
paralyze the contemplate satraps set
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