Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-02-06


nor even to partake of the funeral-bak-
ed meats. One of them, now also a
delegate at large, acted, no doubt, upon
his declaration, made on the 7th of
August, 1861, during the war, that ait
was no time to be holding Democratic
Conventions. But there were many
who thought that the party was not
dead, but only slept; that cowardice
and want of energy in the ''leaders, "
SO called, had affected it with polite
syncope of the heart; and that all it
needed for vitality and victory was the
energizing influence of the honesty and
courage Of the Democratic masses, and
accordingly upon principle, to larger
extent than ever before, if indeed, not
fully, the Democratic party went into
the campaign. The organization and
committees were in the hands of those
who then made boast that they we're
among the 'tsound men" of the party,
and efficient work was done according
ly. The Democratic masses were stir
red up; and the 'odious' Vallandigham
went every where, with immense audi
ences, largely Republican, to gfeet.him
and ''injured the party" by contribut-
ing his full share to the large Demo
cratic gains wherever he went, and well
understood by all to be candidate for
the United States Senate. After a
most enthusiastic, straight-haired,
straightforward, honest, square-toed
fight, the Republican majority in the
! sspolicy" year 1866, of AZ, 900, was re-
duced to 1900 on Governor, and
Democratic Legislature elected.
1t was emphatically victory of the
! Democratic masses, because the hearts
of the people were in it. But no sooner
was the election over, than for par
tieular purpose, the cry went forth
from a certain class of men all over the
State, eve must now look to policy;
we must be careful to consult the pre-
iudices of the Republicans and Conser-
yatives; we must not drive off the new
converts; we need more Republican
votes; the election of Vallandigham as
Senator will injure the party; we must
take some less obnoxious man. =
Through the machinery of the State
Central and Executive Committees the
work was accordingly done. The
Democratic members ofthe Legislature
were industriously stuffed with the
idea of ''policy," and that the entire
success of the Democracy in Ohio and
elsewhere, in 1868, depended on the
defeat of that "pestiferous" fellow Val
landigham. The Convention of the 9th
of January, 1868, was attended by men
some of whom never before met i'll
Democratic Convention, and by others
who had been absent during the twelve
years of Democratic defeat, but who
now turned up like vultures and cormo-
rants lowering over the spoils. At this
Convention, through the basest of
treachery, the entire control of the
Democratic organization was handed
over bodily, upon certain conditions,
relating to certain nominations for high
places, to the men who in 1868, in the
great battle for free speech, free press
and a free ballot, refused to support
the Democratic nomination for Cover
nor that year. From President of the
Convention down to minor officers and
chairmen of committees, nearly every
man who figured conspicuously in that
body, was apparently selected, because
he had either refused to support the
Democratic ticket in 1868, or had been
an avowed member of the Republican
party during the war. The Democratic
party of Ohio was thus, for certain.
considerations, and ON condition of
amnesty" to certain high-contraeting
"peace men, delivered over to the con-
troll of those who had forsaken or be-
trayed us during the ordeal of the war.
A platform, too, emasculated of every
distinctive old fashioned Democratic
principle, as distinguished from mere
line of policy, and, for the first time,
containing quasi Endorsement of the
late civil war as one waged Sin defense
of the Union," IA well known ''public
falsehood," was reported by one of
the resuscants of 1868, and adopted
And two days after the Convention, Col
Barnabas Burns was nominated for
Representative in Congress for the
Eighth District He, too, had refused
to support the nominee for Governor in
1868, and more than that, he attempt,
ed to organize "bolting" State Con-
vention at Columbus on the 4th of Sep
tember of that year, to nominate
Democratic candidate in opposition to
Mr.. Vallandigham for Governor. He
was the very ''man for the times
On the 18th of Jan. 1868, Mr.. Val
landigham was defeated in the Demo
cratic caucus for Senator, by means
alluded to above, but not necessary
further just now to expose.
Immediately afterward Mr.. Jewett,
Col. McCook, Mr.. Rex and others who
like Col. Burns, had refused to support
the Democratic nominee for Governor
in 1868, along with Senator Thurman,
were posted to stump the District;
and they did it, the Senator elect doing
active service. Money, too, was sent
by aspirants to high places and their
friends, to aid and comfort one of the
"parties of the second part" The re-
suit of all this was the usual fruit of
"policy" at the sacrifice of principle
and the men who sustain principle
great Republican victory, and Republi-
can gain of 582 over an honest anti
'policy" peoples campaign in October
last.
And now question or two. How
many votes would Vallandigham's cleo
ton to the Senate have ''driven off
from the Democratic party in the
Eighth District? How many Repub-
lican votes did Thurman's election
3'drive on" to the Democratic party?
What has ''policy" done for us again? [
And is the Presidential election to be