Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-10-06

II must have been a matter of wonder 10
every rejecting person that public man
of Samuel ]. Tildon's prominence, ambi-
ton and mental activity should have pass.
ed through the most eventrul epoch in the
history Of the nation in such obscurily.
What was he doing throughout those four
momentous years, when brave men were
giving up their lives, and the whole loyal
community was making unprecedented
exerlions and sacrifices, for the sake Of the
Union2 What were bis sentiments, his
sympathies, in that supreme crisisH Some
how the record has been very brief 1t
was known that he declined TO sign the
call for the great Union meeting in New
York In respond to the firing upon Fort
Sumter-"he refused to attend it, though
urgently solicited to by one Of his own po-
litical friends" says John a. Dix-and
that he was in general sympathy with
those Democrats who did so much to en-
barass the administration of Abraham Lin
coin; but beyond that little was known,
by tho great body of the people at the time
OF Tilden's nomination for the Presidency,
respecting his real position during the war.
Gradually, however, the truth has been
coming TO light, until now there is quito a
little record of Tilden's expressions show
ing just what kind and how much OF pat
riot he was. 1t Is worth while to put some
of these things together, for their bearing
on his fitness 10 be advanced to the head
of this saved Government of the United
States is obvious enough without argu-
ment. We pass over material facts, such
as the temperance of Tilden's nlme in
any of those noble lists of contributors in
aid Of Union soldiers which will forever
illumine the patriotism of the North, which
poured out its millions of dollars as it did
its troops; and we contine our attention to
Tilden's own words direct or reported.
In speech at Albany, February l, 1861,
Samuel ]. Tildeu said:
~ for one will resist under any circum-
stances the use OF force to coerce the South
into the Union. First, because it would
be Ineffective, aud next, because it would
lead to a war of determination among those
who are brethren-not by the lies of coun-
try alone, but Of blood"
In letter TO William Kent he had pre-
viously declared:
1.-THE trainers of our Government left
revolution organized left it with power
TO snap the tie OF confederation as nation
might break treaty aud to repel coercion
as nation might repel invasion"
He said to young volunteer:
"This war is a perfect outrage, and l
will lend no assistance TO its prosecution"
Ex-Gov. Underwood Of Vermont recent
ly declared in a speech that be had known
Mr.. Tilden for twenty years, and was fully
aware that he regarded the war as uncon-
stitutional, adding:
"I heard him declare, in conversation
with myself near the close of the war, that
every man OF the United States army that
marched across Southern soil was Tres
passer, and liable to suit for damages in an
action for trespass I asked him if he I'M
dertook TO talk such treason as that, and IL
1t was his opinion, as lawyer, that this
Government could enlist men, put arms in
their hands, and send them TO the protec-
ton of the Government against rebels, and
then furnish tribunals to try its own sol
diers as trespassers-and he said that ii
was.'
a Democratic organ, the Index Appeal
of Petersburg, Va, in the course Of an ed
itorial highly Mandatory of Mr.. Tilden,
says:
"In 1864, just AFTER the battle of the Will
derness, party Of gentlemen were assem-
bled in room at Wizards, and in the
course ofan animated conversation, one of
them used the following language: Gen
tlemen, the mistake we made was that we
did not turn Mcclellan with his fine army
on Washington aud clean out the whole
thing meaning the ministration of Mr..
Lincoln. lie who gave utterance 10 this
patriot remark was Samuel J. Tilden."
Mr.. Daniel P. Jones, an authorized agent
of the United States Christian Commission
during the war, states and makes oath be-
fore magistrate TO the following:
During the time when the United States
Christian Commission was in existence,
and about September of 1868, whose miss
ion it was to furnish supplies of provisions
and medicine to the sick and wounded sol
diers, q then holding an appointment I'M
der said commission), Mr.. Samuel j. Til
den was waited upon by me and solicited
TO aid, when the said S. ]. Tilden made in
su distance the following reply: Il would
rather see all the soldiers starve TO death
tn an give them one cent, and the said 5. j.
Tilden did not contribute"
These items are not many, but surely
they could not he much worse. They
seem to rest on good evidence, and have
not thus far been denied. If they shall be
disproved in any way we shall promptly
publish the correction. As they stand,
however, what a portrayal they give of a
man who, within SO brief period after a
war he condemned, is brought forward 10
ad minister the Government rescued by
that war and on the principles he still de-
nounces We believe that all that is ne
cessary TO insure his overwhelming reiec-
ton is the thorough understanding OF his
record and character.