Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-23
u GU 8 TIA.
vALLANDIGRAEs SURRENDER.

VALLANDIGHANS SURRENDER.
The most notorious of northern seces-
sionists, 9. L. vallandigham, has be-
come again topic Of remark in connec-
ton with political matters. At the demo-
cratic county convention held in Mont
gomery county, Ohio, last week. a plat
form was adopted of which he is the
reputed author. This platform it is said is
designed to mark new departure of the
democratic party. In one of the resolu-
tons it is declared that "waiving all diff
ference of opinion as to the extraordinary
means by which they were brought about,
we accept the national and legitimate re-
suits of the war, so far as waged for its
ostensible purpose to maintain the Union
and the constitutional rights and powers
of the federal government, including the
three several amendments to the constitu-
ton, recently declared adopted, as a
settlement in fact of all the issues of the
war, and acquiesce in the same as no
longer issues before the country"
Thus it is declared that they bury out of
sight 1.-THE right of secession, slavery. in
equality before the law and political
inequality" This seems to be pretty
thorough surrender of everything of a
national character that democracy has held
to-. 1t carries down to the grave the
principle which the rebellion rested upon,
and the doctrine of white mans govern
ment, which have been the vital forces of
the party in every State of the Union. To
acknowledge these things must have cost
Vallandigham great deal of anguish Of
spirit. The groans of the democracy
over the surrender must be loud and
general. Fancy their feelings to know
they are obliged to acknowledge in their
platforms that their southern brethren"
who fought the government were wrong
Imagine their dismay to find that they
must cease to cry ''down with the niger,
this government was made for white men,"
the polls! The democracy of Ohio must
be in desperate condition when they
consent to abandon on this ground their
cherished principles, for which they fought
the draft and ran away to Canada. This
Is the most humiliating of all their humili-
atoms. If they are to keep step with Val
landigham in his new departure and en-
dorsement of republicanism when will
they see democratic principles triumph ?
1t is said the convention at Dayton swal-
lowed the whole bitter dose at one gulp,
without wry face or single objection,
and sent the platform abroad for other
democratic conventions to take if they
like it.
There is little probability however that
the democratic party will follow the lead
of Vallandighsm in this matter. From
the most extreme pro-slavery rebel he has
suddenly pitched his tent on republican
ground. No one man did so much to
make the democracy odious and dsloyal
through the war as he. We doubt his hav
ing the power now to make them see the
policy of his new course. The better por-
ton of the party long since lost confidence
in him, and this sudden freak will not re-
new their trust. 1t is evident from the |
course of the party in Congress and else
where, that they do not propose to surren-
der and accept in good faith the amend
ments to the Constitution. They had an
in Congress to cooperate in
the passage of measures to protect life
and property against the Ku-Klux, and to
secure the legitimate operation of the
amendments in the South, but they refused.
This action is better proof of their in
tention than any resolution passed in con-
vention. 1t would be well for the country
if the democratic party would accept sin
cerely the amendments, and aid in secur-
ing the rights of all persons under them,
but there is no prospect of such a result
The true feeling of the party is seen in
the way Ku-Kluxism is treated by its rep
resentatives in Congress and newspaper
organs, which gives no ground to hope
for a surrender to the principles of justice
and right in the new amendmen
GENERAL NEWS.
The democrats will make lively canvass
in X opsuckv