The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-09-10

House of Representatives he was extending
to the rebels the very encouragement they
needed, and the very encouragement calcu-
lated to prolong the war, and to secure to the
rebels the recognition they asked of the ma
tions of Europe. 1t would be well if such a
record could be forgotten, were it not for the
fact that this man is now the candidate for
Governor of a great State that sent nearly
two hundred thousand men into the field to
maintain the integrity of the Union, this
candidate was willing, nay anxious, to have
destroyed. That ary soldier could vote for
such man is incredible, and no soldier who
reads his record as we are now giving it can
vote for him and retain his honor as a de-
fender of his country. We shall, in our next
issue, give another chapter of this mans re-
cord.
For three years past the Democratic party
has persisted in demanding of the Republi-
cans that in the discussion of political ques-
tions, no reference should be made TO the
past history of the Democratic party. Un-
fortunately for the Democracy, no right un-
derstanding of any political question could
be obtained without reference to the past ac-
ton of the two parties now in the field. We
can only judge of men and of measures in
their relations 10 present and future actions
by ascertaining how men have acted IN the
past, and what the effect of certain measures
have been upon the government of the coun-
try. The history OF parties and of public
men is also the property Of the public, and
as such, the proper subject of criticism by
the press and by the people. Particularly
is this true of man who has taken so prom
inent part in the politics of the country as
Geo. H. PendletOn; the Democratic candi-
date for Governor of Ohio. We shall, there
fore, from time to time refer to the record of
this man, not with the expectation of stating
facts unknown to our readers, but for the
purpose of refreshing the memory of those
who are called upon to chose between him
and Gov. Hayes, the Republican candidate
We shall so refer as though our readers were
unfamiliar with the course pursued by Mr..
PendletOn for the past ten years. 1t has
been stated and his record proves the state
ment to be true, that he was throughout the
war the active and efficient friend of the en-
emies of the Union. He used all his in.
fuence and all his energy to encourage the
rebels in their efforts to destroy the Govern
ment and dissolve the Union. In his efforts
in their behalf he faithfully represented the
Democratic party, which, throughout that
long and fearful struggle, gave its moral sup.
port to the rebels and against the Union. If
we can judge of what he will do by what he
has done, and there is no other touchstone to
apply to the case, we shall find that he is
wholly and entirely unfit to be trusted for
the future, no matter what his professions,
SO long as he maintains the Justice of his
past actions. Were he to express repentance
for his errors of the past we could found some
hope for his future good behavior; but the
fact is, he glOries in his record, much as he
desires to have that record for the time be-
ing forgotten or brought not up against him
As the first chapter in the history of this
man, we give the following resolution offer
ed by him in the House of Representatives
on the 3lst of July, 1861.
Resolved That under the Constitution tho
rights, powers and duties of all the States Of
the Union are equal; that the Union Is
founded in this equality; that in order fo
maintain the Constitution and the Union
this equality must be preserved; that everv
honest effort to perpetuate the Union. mnsf
be made IN accordance with ihe Copsiitntio,
and with purpose to maintain this eouaIitv
that an attempt on the part of the Federal
Government Il SU6jugdte any of the States
and to hold them as territories or proviDess
or in any position inferior=to7 that. If any
other State, or to interfere with their Stgts
Governments, or with their domestic institr1-
tions, or to abolish or interfere ,rith s1Gysyv
within their limits, would be an attemnt ~
destroy this equality, and would, if success.
ful, subvert the Union and the Constitution.
ResOlUed, therefore by the Senate and
House Of Representatives, That Congress
does hereby solemnly declare that hostiiities
against the so called Confederate States shall
be so prosecuted as to enforce obedience to
the obligations of the Contributions, and the
laws passed IN accordance herewith; and
that they shall not be so prosecuted az to re-
duce TO position of iUferiority any of the
States, or TO interfere NTH their iStats Gouerr,
nle'.ts, or to abolish Slayery Witkin their
limits. ''.- t
- sF.- s ..-5
The cornerstone OF the cOnfedeIacy to be
built up by the rebels, in case they succeed
ed in dissolving that Union, was to be
slavery. Mr.. Stephens, the leading mind
Of the rebel leaders had expressly so de-
clared, and no man knew better than Mr..
PendietOn that the strong pillar of the rebel
lion was slavery. For slavery the South had
rebelled, and but for slavery it never would
have rebelled. By pleading for slavery as
Mr.. Pendleton does in the above resolution
he cast his influence on the side of the South
and against the lawful Government of the
nation. The moral support of such action
was more beneficial to the South than 8
soldiers, and Mr.. Pendleton knew
it. His talk about subjugation and consti-
tutiOnal rights was the merest play of words
to hide from the people of the North the
real animus of the resolution. He talked
about State rights and the rights |
Of the South, when he knew, no man better
that as rebels they had forfeited every right
that law-abiding citizens possess. He
knew that he would aid them, however, by
distracting the councils of the nation, and ex- |
citing in behalf of his Southern clients the
sympathies of that class of Northern people
who did not disaPproye of slavery as an in
stitution, and believed in the doctrine of |
State rights to the extent it had been carried
in theory in many of the States. By intro
luciDg that resolution, he announced to the
people of the United States that he had be-
,ome the attorney of the rebels, and as such
lad made plea in their behalf No man
North or,,SOuth, rebel or loyal, now doubts
hat by the introduction of that resolution /
Ir. PendIeton was striking a blow not for
he mere system of slavery as it existed in
he South, but for the rebellion; and no man
Who understands the talent and ability pos
essed by the author of that resolution can
loubt but that he fully understood the eff
iciency of the aid he was giving to the
southern rebels. Thus in the first days of
he struggle we find this Northern man with !
southern principle taking ground in behalf
f a rebellion more terrible than any recorded
d the history of the world. In theory and
d practice he at once stamped himself
raitor to lis country, and from that day to
his he has been so regarded by the loyal
nen of his country, and from that day to