The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-08-25
THE NEW DEPARTURE.
Editor State Rights Democrat:

4 =
ence to certain resolutions introduced
by the late Mr.. Valiandigham in the
Montgomery county, Ohio, Conven-
ton, and which resolutions have sub
sequently received the sanction of
Democratic conventions in other quar-
ters.
The exact meaning and intent of
the resolutions are perhaps left little
obscure by reason of the sudden and
untimely death of their distinguished
author. He probably foresaw that
the passions and prejudiees engender-
ed by the war, had about run their
course, and could not much longer be
made available by demagogues of the
Union and Loyal League order to
foist themselves into positions where
they could oppress the citizens and
plumber the Treasury. The falsehoods
which had so many thousand times
been adroitly reiterated about the se-
cession, revolutionary and reputation
proclivities of the Democratic par
ty, had about exhausted them
selves. / suppose that Mr.. Vallandig-
ham desired in his resolutions to
pledge the faith of the party to a
peaceful acquiescence in the Constitu-
tional Amendments, and ether out
RACES perpetrated by the party in
power until such times as they could
be modified or repealed, in the mode
known to the Constitution and the
laws. The tendency of such decla-
ration would be to satisfy such homes,
and conservative Republicans as de
sired to act with the Democratic
party, and cannot be tortured into an
endorsement, or an adoption, by the
party of the principles and measures
against which they have so long and
strenuously contended. / suppose
that there is no intelligent man in all
this country, who does not know that
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Constitution were forced
upon the States under duress, by fraud
and usurpation OF Federal power; yet
they are deJatcto portions of the Con
stitution of the United States and
bound to be recognized and obeyed.
If any man entertaIns q contrary opin-
ion, let him violate one of them and
receive a gentle reminder from
servile court, backed by the brutal
force of a hireling soldiery. The
warning stares us in the face, and the
fact of its existence and necessity of
our yielding obedience to it is neither
changed or modified by Mr.. Vallan-
digham's resolutions. 1t is no new
departure" but simply the reiteration
of lime honored Democratic doc
trine for Democrats to assert that they
acquiesce in and obey the laws, while
in force however odious they may be,
or without reference to their fraudu-
lent enactment. Ifthese amendments
had been fairly and honestly adopted,
for one, should be opposed to their
principles, and feel it my daty to do
all that law abiding citizen could do
to have them rescinded. / "acquiesce"
in the crucifixion of the Savior of
mankind, yet if Judas Iscariot, Esq,
or the Hon. Pontious Plate were now
alive, and candidates for Office, should
not support them upon the merit they
might claim for their share in that
transaction. If a robber met me upon
the highway and demanded my purse, |
should yield obedience to his de facto
power, and it is hardly necessary to
speculate upon what l might do in the
event / got possession of the pistol
/ take it that Mr.. 'ValIandigham's res
olutions mean simply pledge upon
the part of those adopting them that
that they will peacefully acquiesce in
continuation of things which they
cannot remedy until such time as they
can be legally changed, or modified.
Ii the broad and absurd construction
which some Radicals place upon the
resolutions is to prevail and the Dem
ocratic party is to be called upon to
endorse, adopt, accept and embrace
II or any of the infamous outrages
perpetrated by the Radical party since
their advent to power, then l would
suggest that we furl our banners, burn
the Constitution, blot out the mem
ories of the patriot fathers, and march
over the enemies camp in body
where few traitors have preceded us
The Radical party have reyeled in
power and plumber for nearly dozen
years. Their success has been based
upon promises and platforms which
they have persistently disregarded
and broken. The Chicago conven-
ton which nominated Mr.. Lincoln de-
clared that the party had no purpose
to interfere with slavery where it then
existed, and the Convention which
nominated Grant declared that the
question of suffrage belonged to the