The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-01-17
For the Journal.
THE POLITICAL CALM.

of the War so still and free from political
excitement and partisan animosity % the
present, and consequently none that affords
SO good an opportunity TO calmly consider
and investigate the issues growing out Of
the War, which must inevitably engage the
attention and labors of our Legislatures and
Congress for sometime TO come And since
the genius of our Government is such that
our greatest statesmen cannot evolve and
carry out any great and uptried principle,
without referring it TO the people for their
approval, it becomes of the greatest peces-
sity for the people to study and investigate
in order to ascertain the true principles
which uBderlie democratic government.
IL is marked trait In human nature for
meu Ito love Office, which is only another
name for power. In our country it seems they
love it most who are least honest and have
the least essential qualifications to render
their country service for we know plenty
of men who will advocate and vote for any
principles that will elect them to, and keep
them in Office. This, then, is another very
strong reason why the people should know
what laws and what policy, when carried
out would bring the best results. 1t needs
but a glance TO see that the people are re-
sponsible for our laws, whether they be
good or bad. We elect men to Congress to
act as our agents, and none will be recreant
10 their trust, except now and then Moses
who chooses to swing around circle. 1t
is clear, then, that good man will vote the
instructions Of his constituents, and a bad
one will do the same rather than lose his
head. Let the people, then, instruct and
if they fail to do SO, do not blame Congress
men for the consequences.
Since we can learn nothing but by con-
trast or comparison, necessity brings us TO
place side by side the present principles of
the Democratic and Republican parties, and
we take them as promulgated by their re-
spective speakers during the last campaign.
In a speech delivered at Maysville, KY,
Sept. =, 1867, Mr.. Vallandigham is repre-
sented to have said
p" am Buckeye. Was born Buckeye.
but, thank God, my parents were born in
the grand old commonwealth Of Virginia.
the mother of Washington, of Jefferson, of
Madison, of Monroe, of Robert E. Lee and
jackson. The two last are great
and glorious men, the patrimony of our
country, and no loyal wretch shall throttle
me to keep me from proclaiming their glory
and greatness. Speaking of loyalty, / re-
member when boy how / listened to the
old Revolutionary patriots talking about
10y alists; how their eyes would flash an
ger. The other name for Loyalist was Tory
and the Loyalists of this day are no bet
ter"
also read in Mr.. Vsllandigham's speech
at Dayton, little prior to this, that "This
government is white mans government"
Now, reader, compare the above sample
of Democratic doctrine, with the Republi-
lican doctrine contained in the following
extract from VIM. H. Gibson's speech, de-
livered at Titfin, o., of the same date
Sept 2, 1851:
Fellow Citizens There are some things
that are momentous and sll.pervading.
Justice and Righteousness are destined to
survive Empires, States and Kingdoms.
They will live after the ancient pyrmaids
of Egypt have crumbled and gone back TO
their native dust-sfter earthly things most
enduring have been stricken from the roll
of existence and passed away. In all that
We undertake in this life, whether as indi-
vlduals, As communities, or as States, we
must anchor all upon the great ideas of Jus
tice and Righteousness and that individu-
al or that State that boldly avows the broth
erhoOd of man and the Fatherhood of God,
is certain TO accomplish most for the good
of the human race Keeping this thing in
view, we come to-day TO discuss the politi-
cal issues now presented to the people of
Ohio. | come not as a partisan I come
not rs teacher but L come as Que of that
grand host of my fellow citizens TO review
the issues which we are to contemplate and
consider to-day. ! propose To consider
them as citizen. ! come with no i'll feel
ing toward any party or man. | can say To-
day before my God, that whatever of person
al wrongs, either | or my country have suf-
fersd, there is not upon the face of this
broad earth q single one of Gods creatures
whom | am not perfectly willing to take
hold Of elevate, and lift him up
These are no gsrbled extracts, nor taken
from the utterances of unknown meu but
may be taken as fair sample of the two
parties. ! have no desire TO misrepresent
any one or any party. So far as know,
Mr.. Vallaudigham holds in common with
the rebels and Democrats throughout the
that the War was unconstitutional
and carried on in an unconstitutional man
the Emancipation Proclamation
was unconstitutional, and that il can lever
be made valid without compensation to the
flor every slave it liberated-that
Congress itself is not Constitutional Con-
gress, and consequently all laws passed
since the War closed, if not since il broke
put, are void-that the Constitution gives
Congress 10 power TO say who shall or who
hall not vote in the rebel States--that the
rebels themselves are only competent 10 de
line the limits of citizenship, suffrage, etc.,
etc. If l misrepresent, beg any one to set
me right. But il | do not, then what a
gulf between Republicans and Democrats
These things are vital for every voter to
consider, for in less than twelve months a
President is TO he elected, and should a
bc chosen he would of course
swear TO support the Constitution and see
Lhe laws faithfully executed. But all acts
growing out of the War he says are not val
id, including those relating 10 currently,
bonds, emancipation, reconstruction, and
even the treaty with Russia, for Alaska was
ratified by an unconstitutional Senate and
f he is honest he must set the whole CON
D7rn aside or perjure himself; for the same
path that binds him to see the laws faithfully
executed also binds him in the same manner
% see that the acts which are not. laws are
not executed. But how are the laws To be
enforced by the Executive By calling
,ut the army and navy, if necessary. Now
ask in all cander any Democrat what there
will be, in case a Democratic President is
elected, between the people who have put
lown this rebellion and war ?-between |
hem and another rebellion. which must |