Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-11
Judge Orion and the War.

The Democrat of last week contain
ed the following:
There was not a more consistent, earnest
supporter of the government during the
struggle with the rebellious hosts than
Judge Orion, and it should be gratifying to
his political friends that the convention
gave them the opportunity of voting for a
man so pure in all the relations of life.
We have heretofore published por-
tions of speech made by Judge Or
ton in Chicago in 1864. after the ad.
journment of the convection which
nominated Gen. Mcclellan for the
Presidency, showing what his position
was then as to the war. We did not
intend to have anything further to say
on the subject. but we cannot allow
such bare faced assertions as we have
quoted to pass unnoticed.
If it is unpleasant for Judge
Orion to have his war record over
hauled, he has no one to blame but his
party organs--such as the WATERFOWL
Democrat and Jefferson Banner, which
persist in maligning Mr.. Caswell not
only, but in claiming for Judge Orton
virtues which he does not possess.
Neither they nor Judge Orton can
expect to enjoy a monopoly of the
kind of warfare which is being in
dulged in at the expense of Mr.. Cas-
we'll. In justice to Judge Orton,
however, we will say that We believe he
is in no wise responsible for the course
which is pursued by the papers We have
. named. But his hcnchmen are con-
Quoting his canvass with such reck-
lessness as to leave no alternative to
Republican papers but to strike back
and defend themselves and Mr.. Gas
we'll against the unjust attacks which
the supporters of Judge Orion are
continuously making.
We have alluded to certain extracts
heretofore presented, from speech
made by their candidate in 1864 in
Chicago, in which he took the most
ultra ground, denouncing Lincoln as
tyrant, the war as failure, and the
country ruined. We published these
for the purpose of refreshing the rec
objection of our readers as to the rebel
lious spirit which animated Judge O.
in the trying ordeal through which the
country was then passing. In the
face and eyes Of all this, the democrat
claims that there was "no more con-
sistent, earnest supporter of the gov
eminent during the struggle with the
rebellious hosts than Judge Orion, y
betraying its ignorance to an extent
which is really inexcusable, or an
amount of impudence which is truly
wonderful. We cannot understand
what the Democrat would call oppo-
sition to the Government, if the con-
duct of Judge Orton at the time may
be properly claimed as support. For
the purpose of clearing up its compre-
hension on the subject, We now propose
to quote further from Judge Orton's
utterances which We think will settle
the question as to which side that gen.
tleman was on during tie war.
On the 5th of August, 1858. At q
Democratic State Convention held in
Madison, Judge Orton presided, and on
taking the chair, made speech, from
report of which as published u sha
time, we clip the following;
He (Mr. Orton) charged thst THE W.
was brought upon the country by the pres
emit Administration, in accordance VITA -
tnfamous ptot--s 6sssracefuJ HoiitSsst AssSf
That the sending of vessel to II. sampler
with the avowsd object Of sending pr0sis-
ions to the men in the Fort VS. eAly .
preiense gotten up to provoke sossh Caso-
lima to make the attack to form ~ excuse