Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-22

Mr.. Yallandigham has not attracted much at
tention of late years. His last appearance in
any capacity of particular interest was when he
was sent into the rebel lines by Gen. Burnside.
He was then one ofthe most notorious aud ma
hgnant copperheads in the country, and the
propriety OF sending him among his friends was
obvious. He now turns up, however, in the novel
and surprising attitude of a reformer and
champion of progress. 1t has been remarked
not unfrequently that the most bitter and ire
eoncilable enemies Of the constitution as it is,
are not those who bore arms in the rebellion;
that the ex-confederate soldierslare less venom
Gus and vindictive than many who aided the
rebels by their tongues or pens, but kept them
selves carefully out Of the reach Of bullets and
bayonets. Mr. Vallandigham has been antici-
pated in his submission to the legitimate results
of the war by many rebel officers Of distinction,
but he, as having been more nearly an actual
rebel than most of his northern democratic
friends, precedeS many Of them in declaring his
acquiesence in the fact that the issues contested
by the war are no longer open.
Mr.. Yallandigham's former notoriety has
given an interest to his latest declaration of
principles which it would not otherwise have
had. This declaration appears in the resolutions
adopted by the democratic convention of Mont
gomery county, Ohio, drawn by Vallandgham,
and in his speech made on the same occasion.
The platform is introduced by preamble de-
claring that the democratic party is composed
of men who before and during the war differed
altogether as to measures then pending and Of
vital moment, and who in like circumstances
would probably again differ as widely, but whose
present union does not require the surrender of
former opinions. The resolutions then declare
that the three several amendments of
the constitution are accepted as among
the legitimate results Of the war, and
are acquiesced in as no longer issues
before the country; that the right OF Sc
cession slavery, aud civil and political Unequal
ity before the law having been buried out of
sight, the democratic party pledges itself to the
full, faithful and absolute enforcement of the
constitution as it now is, so as to secure equal
rights to all persons under it without distinction
Of race, color or condition The other resolu-
tons declare the equality Of the states and their
right 10 full representation in congress and the
electoral college, delounce Capitalization and
she encroaehment Of one department of the gov
ernment upon another, call Of universal amnes-
ty, the payment Of the debt as soon as possible
consistently with moderate taxation, revenue
and civil service reform, strictly revenue tariff,
taxation based on wealth instead of population,
return to specie payments, oppose land grants
10 railroads and the annexation Of San Domin-
60, vehemently denounce the kuklux and cleo
ton bills, and finally declare thar the present
radical party is not the republican party of the
period previous TO the war, nor the union party
of the war time; bat with unparalleled impu-
dence, invites the implication that this Vallan-
digham party better represents, and has more
in common with, that organization, than has
what the resolutions call the administration
or Grant party"
Vallandigham's speech in support Of the reso-
lutions adds nothing to them except the assur-
nnee, which may be believed or not. that the
movement has nothing Of a personal character
and has no design to either hinder or advance
any member OF the democratic party There is
nothing very new In all this; it is nothing more
than has been advocated by several influential
democratic newspapers. Its only interest is in
the fact that q prominent aud ambitious polti-
cal leader has ventured 10 assume this position
and risk his fortunes upon it. No other poll
tioian Of equal prominence we believe has yet
dared TO go 50 far, although no doubt many Of
them would be very well satisfied to stand on
such platform If il were built for them by ma.
tional convention. A national democratic con
yention, however, could notyet construct such a
platform. Perhaps it will be able to do so by
next year, when the necessity will arise Of de-
siding between the advice Of men with brains to
remember and profit by the lessons Of the past,
like Yallandighan, and that Of men like Frank
Blair, whose brains are never used for any such
purpose. If the democrats should get so far as
TO profess these principles they will still have
some difficulty in convincing people of their sin.
cerity, and more in making it appear why their
party, which has grudgngly and Of necessit,
adopted the doctrine Of liberty and equal rights
should contend successfully for the public con