Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-23
MAN & STATE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST o. 1876

ate result Of the teaching and practices Of the
democratic party. When war became inevitable
and an armed foe had expelled tho civil and mill
tary power Of the general government from the
Southern states and threatened the capital Of the
nation, many true men who had hitherto acted
with the democratic party oheyed the behcsts Of
patriotism and stood loyalty by the government
in the hour Of danger But such action on the
part Of individuals in spite Of, and not in con
sequence Of the teachings Of their party.
A. party organization, the democratic party
not only laid the
FOUNDATION FOR rHF REHrLLioN,
by H. false doctrines and teachings, but Its record
through the war does not show single act Of
hearty or cheerful support Of the government in
H. struggle for self-preseryation. While the war
was fragrant, the democratic party assembled in
convention at Chicago, to nominate candidate
Tor the Presidency, and there deliberately de-
olared the war Tor the Union a failure By this
act 1t gave encouragement and fresh hope To the
rebels In arms, and far as it, power and in
fuencc extended, discouraged the patriotic pur-
pose Of the people to suppress the rebellion at all
hazards and at whatever cost. The fact that in
di,duais performed their duty Loyalty and we'll,
notwithstanding lieir connection with the party
which gave expression to such nnpatriotic views,
greatly to the credit Of themselves a. citizens,
but does not relieve the party, as such, from the
charge Of disloyaty and false teaching The
leaders Of the party-men who actually did or by
reason of their position in the party had the power
~ shape it, policy and control It's action, re-
spon.ible before the country for the inception Of
a.. f.e pI fDg
SAMUEL ). ritprN,
the present democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency, was a member Of the Chicago convention
and Of the committee which reported the resolu-
ton to which have referred. It is now claimed
by his friends that he did not originate the reso-
luton, aud 1t is even denied that he favored 1t,
but there is no public record Of his dissent. On
the contrary tho resolution went out TO the public
rs the opinion and utterance OF Mr.. Tilden rs
well a. Of his colleagues and Of the PARTY Of which
they we're leaders Its effect upon the public
mind aud it, influence upon the struggle then
pending was precisely the same as If he had origi-
mated il in the committee ruom. lie ought not,
and cannot, escape his just share Of responsi-
bility for this unpatriotic declaration. II it be
true a. is now asserted 10y his friends, that Mr..
Tden did not oppose the resolution. but nc
uuiesccd in II by his silence far AS the public
knew, for the sake Of harmony in his party, this
only serves 10 show that in the hour Of his coun-
try's danger he acknowledged allegiance to his
party paramount To his duty as n patriotic citizen
to his country. The occasion was no ordinary
one. nor was the principle involved or the ten
dency Of such sentiments NJ that time Of little
consequence that one could afford to yield bis in
di,doal opinion for party purposes, There are
occasions IN the history Of nations aud in the
lives OF men when the duty Of hearty and active
support nj government rises above all other con-
sideniou> OF public nature.
POLITICAL cRDE.
When hundreds Of thousands of our fellow citi-
zens are suffering the vcissitudes and confronting
dangers Of open, fragrant war and all are bearing
heavy burdens Of taxation and earnestly praying
for the success Of the cause which involves the
very existence Of the government, party which
meets in convention and proclaims that the effort
is idle and that the whole government is failure,
Is guilty OF a great political crime, and shows it.
self unworthy to be trusted with power The lead
ers OF the party who promote or permit such dec
laratious, are not tie men of whom Presidents
should be made. This revolution Of the demo-
cratic party was not exceptional or inconsistent
with It's known wishes and purposes throughout
the war Since it proclaimed through It's admin.
stntion that there no constitutional right
or power to prevent dissolution Of the Union by
coercye measures, it has continued to be party
Of obstruction and negations 1t not only failed
a. party organization to give hearty and ierveni
support to the war for the preservation Of tn,
Union, but Mt every step it threw obstacles in the
way of its successful prosecution. Who that oh
served the progress Of the war can doubt for
moment that the conduct Of that party gave en-
enlargement TO the rebels in arms--or that it pro
longed the war and added millions to it, cost, he
sides increasing largely the number OF those wh'
nobly died in the cause OF their country?
When the Republican party, rising to the i'm
portance Of the occasion and recognizing the ne
cessity Of the hour, determined to remove abso
lutely the cause OF the rebellion by engaftinl
upon our written Constitution IN amendmen
abolishne slavery, the democratic party CAV,
neither aid nor countenance to the effort, but oh
stinately resisted its adoption 1t now asks thu
people 10 elevate 10 the second Office in their xii
a man who, ~ a Senator in Congress from lndi
ana, by his voice and vote, opposed the submis
sion Of the amendment to the people.
THE rinHrEKSrH AMESDNrKNr
is now the browning glory Of our Constitution
Not only did it have the effect 10 abolish SLAYER,
of the blacks, hut it makes it impossible to en-
slave any race or class so long as the Constitution
shall stand The democratic party had no shar
in this grand achievement 1t asks you to put II
office men who by their speeches and votes
openly and persistently opposed it. Win suc
men be more likely to give their influence an
power in upholding and enforcing this amend
ment in the spirit OF its adoption, than those VIII
advocated and supported it because they believe,
in it? And 81 OF the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments, which embody principles Of grea
yaue and Importance, the maintenance an
proper enforcement OF which is essential To- tn
peace Of the country and the perpetuaton Of tn
liberty OF the citizen. The adoption of these wa
opposed and resisted by the democratic PARTY, an
even after their ratification by the requisite nun
Der Of states, it was openly asserted by its part
leaders that these amendments were fraudulent
adopted, and therefore were not valid As parts q
the Constitution. Every measure Of the Republ
can party for the enforcement Of their amend
ments, and for the reconstruction and pacifcatio
Of the Southern states, has met fierce and III
compromising opposition and resistance from I'll
democratic party. Can it be trusted now to mail
tain and preserve what has been gained in spit
Of its opposition Is it not both wise and safe
select as guardians Of the new order of thing
men who took pait in the work because they b,
lieved it TO be right?
GrieyOus as were the waste and damage Of wa
and burdensome rs were the taxes imposed upo
the people TO raise and support our splendid arm,
and to maintain and preserve the national fait
and credit, we have gained much of value to us
nation We have secured an indssolubl
Union We have implanted in our Consttutio
guarantees Of civil liberty and personal right
which should endure while free government last,
All that has been added is in the interest Of fire.,
dom and equality OF right and privilege Sha
these be endangered by being turned over to III
guardianship of party fresh from the conflict /
which it resisted them at every step2 Have tn
people become so Indifferent to the work Of thei
own hands, as TO be willing to place it in til
keeping of party which has all along denounce
ii as subyersve of the democratic theory Of 90,
ernment, and at war with the traditions of tina
party9 win the future prosperity and eeyatio
of the four million Of freedmen he more secur
with the national government in the control d
the party which resisted their emancipation tina
under the guidance and direction of the grea
party which gave them freedom, and is therefor
more directly responsible before the cvze
world for their advancement in all that make