Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-23
Mr.. TildenS Record in Time of
NARA COpperhead Democrat.

MI. i uuCU ICCOiu iSiatiOh W thS
war is that of an ally of the Secessionists.
Before the war he had declared himself
in favor OF the principles on which seces,
sion was founded. His letter to Mr.. Kent
in 1860 is conclusive on that point. BY
his own pen he is written down a Seces-
sionist in principle.
After the war began there were thous-
, ands of democrats who wheeled into line
with the republicans in support of the
Union and government. Whatever their
feelings may have been politically, they
recognized the supreme necessity and
duty of supporting the government in its
peril, and patliotically d SO. But MIR.
| Tiden was moi one of those democrats.
| When invited to attend IA mass meeting call
ed by the patriotic citizens of New York,
after the attack upon fort Sumter, to give
encouragement to the administration in
defending the government and express
Indignation at the attempt to destroy it by
armed rebellion, Mr. Tilden refused
though strongly urged, to attend or give
any countenancc whatever to the meeting
His heart was with the Secessionists.
His absence from this great Union meet
ing told the rebels as plainly as words
could speak it that he was with them in
sympathy, and it gave them confidence to
90 forward with the bloody programme
they had arranged.
In 1854 the democrats met in conven-
ton at Chicago to nominate candidates
for President and Vice President and make
a platform declaring and establishing the
principles of the democratic party. 1t
was dark time in the war The clouds
hung black over the Union cause. Patri-
otto men were giving and bleeding and
facing death for the sake of the Union.
In that democratic convention Mr.. Tiden
was delegate and member of the Com
mittee on Resolutions. And what did
that Committee do in regard to the great
question which was absorbing the thoughts
of the whole country? What did Samuel
j. Tilden DO in that hour when the life OF
the nation seemed suspended in balance
That Committee reported the following
resolution which was received with cheers
in the camps OF the rebels and with JOY in
the Cabinet of jefferson Davis at Rich
mond
Resolved, That this Convention does explicitly
declare, as the sense Of the American people, that
after four years of failure to restore the Union by
; the experiment of war-during which, under the
pretense of a military necessity or war power
higher than the Constitution the Constitution it.
self has been dsregarded in every part and pub.
lie liberty and private right alike trodden down.
and the material prosperity OF the country essen.
TALLY mpaired-justice, humanity, liberty and
the public welfare demand that immediate efforts
be made for a cessation of hostities, with view
to an ultimate convention of the States, or other
peaceable means, to the end that at the earliest
practicable moment peace may be restored on the
basis of the Federal States
1t is denied now by Mr.. Tilden's sup
porters that he favored this infamous res
olution, which encouraged the rebels tc
continue the war and increased the flow
of blood and the expenditure of money
But the record of the convention proves
that Mr.. Tilden did not oppose the resolve
but approved of it. 1t was charged upon
him by Mr.. Kasson of Iowa in debate
in the House in the last days of the SEES
sion, that he favored the resolve, but Mr.
| Hewitt of New York denied the charge
and this has led to an examination OF the
record which proves that Mr.. Kasson was
correct The New York World of Au
gust 81, 1864, reports the following pre-
liminary discussion in the convention or
the day the resolutions were adopted
which shows that the Committee on Res
olutions, including Mr.. Tilden. were al
agreed in sentiment as to the resolutions
to be reported, OF which the above was
one:
Mr.. Cass moved to adjourn until tomorrow
morning.
Mr., Brown, of Delaware "a member Of the com
mittee), said THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMIT
TEE; nothing but disposition, perhaps. on the
part Of few to procrastnate; and there was nc
good reason why they should not be ready to re
port this afternoon.
Mr.. McKeon said he would be in favor of in
structiug the committee to report this afternoon
There was no need OF further delay. me Seyfl
mens of the members a0ere alike; and, if there aod
any question at all, IL aoas one of phraseologs
rather than Of princples
| Mr.. Vallandigham thought it best to give the
committee further time being satisfied that by TO-
morrow morning they will be able to bring in 9
report upon which all democrats and conservatives
in the country cordially unite.
Secerai other members ot the convention said, ha
achatsuer difference Of opinion may erist among il
MEMBERS they are as to the phraseology Of the reso
lutions rather than to the sentiment; and, if tht
convention would Immediately take a recess, the
committee would be able to conclude their labor:
| by four o'clock p. NJ.
A motion for recess was put and carried.
| Upon the reassembing of the convention, at
o'clock, Mr.. Guthrie stated that the committee OF
resolutions had agreed, and were now ready to re
port.
Some discussion followed, but
| Mr. Cox insisted upon his molten for the previ
Gus question, and the resolutions were adopted
with but four dissenting votes.
In the face of record like that, found in
the columns of the leading democratic
paper of the country then and now, it il
useless for Mr.. Tilden OF his friends te
deny his active completely in the passage
of the peace resolution of 1864. Mr.. Man
ton Marble, the late editor of the World
comes to the relief of Mr.. Tilden with ar