The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-26
Exploded.
THE REPUBLICAN LIE THAT GOV.
TILDEN FAVORED vALLAN-
DrGHAMs PEACE REso-
LUTON.
From the 50. Louis Republican, Esd.
HON. THOMAS KINsELLA, OF N. Y.


Hon. Thomas Kinsella, formerly a
member of congress, and one of the
delegates from the state of New York,
arrived at the Southern hotel last night.
One Of his old colaborers on the Brooklyn
Eagle, Of which he is the editor, called
upon him, and found him resting from
the fatigues Of his journey and reading the
evening edition of the Republican,. The
conversation, OF course, very soon drifted
TO the topic uppermost in st. Louis and
in political circles throughout the country
at this time, and Mr.. Kinsella was not
unwilling to talk freely about it.
Referring to the. Republican, which he
had in his hand he went on to say This
is a very novel and very ridiculous story
you have started out west, with the purpose,
/ suppose, of injuring Gov. Tilden, The
ammunition against him must be pretty
we'll exhausted when they have got down
to finging the peace platform" of 1864
at him.
Reporter l suppose you know some
thing Of the inside history of the platform,
from your remark.
Mr.. X. do; it is somewhat curious
history, and it would not be a bad time
to write it, since public attention has been
directed TO that unfortunate piece of po-
litical cabinet work.
Reporter: l will publish what you care
to tell me about it.
Mr.. X. am not in the humor for it,
for have travelled 500 miles to-day. I'm
I'll this story of Tilden's connection with
the platform Of 1864, | had forgotten that
he had anything more to do with it than l
had. | was a delegate to the convention
as was Mr. Tilden, He offered, under the
programme always laid down by the IA
tional committee, the usual pro foTD,G res
olution providing for committee on reso-
lutions. So far as the convention knew,
there his connection with it ended. He
was q member Of the committee of course.
The man who accepted the responsibility
for the platform, beyond all others, was
the venerable james Guthrie, of Ken
lucky, secretary OF the treasury under
Pierce's administration, He was known
then to be an ardent unionist, and as the
phrase went was war Democrat" 1t
is known now, through facts which came
to light since Mr.. Guthrie's death. that it
was largely through his efforts
that Kentucky was held firm to the side of
the government When the old man
walked down the aisle of the hall in which
the convention met, and offered the plat.
form, as acceptable to him, the war men in
the convention felt that they had nothing
to fear-the apprehension was that the
peace element would bolt on platform sat
isfactory to Guthrie. There was an inter-
val of anxiety after the reading Of the res.
olutions. Nallandigham very soon rose in
his place, and all eyes were turned upon
him. His assent, as the representative
of the peace element, was regarded as
doubtful. He made short and snappy
speech in which he was understood to give
q reluctant assent to the platform. He
declared himself to be peace man; and
Il am" he added, for peace in the
Democratic party, to the end that there
may be peace in the land" The wal
Democrats" did not feel that they haC
surrendered anything; they felt at tn,
time that ithe concession came from tn,
other side.
Reporter: Well, but the platform saiC
the war was failure.
Mr.. K. That was what the Republican
papers said it meant, but if you read it yo'
will find it says nothing Of the SORT. Tn
fourth resolution-the one under consider
ation-declared what was the simple fac
at the time, that after four years we hat
failed to restore the Union by the exper
lmGuJ VI WdI, auu blCu IL
what? That all possible efforts should b
made to restore peace, but on what basis
the Federal Union of the States Thi
platform differed only in this from tn
position taken by Mr.. Lincoln; he was 70
peace on the basis of the Federal constitu
ton, only he wanted effect given to hi
anti-slavery proclamation in addition
The Democracy, whether right or wrong
did MT 4bnp baliaua in onptinuinn uo
simply for the purpose of aboishing sla
very. They were in 1864 where Mr.. Lin
coin was in 1862, and this is all there
Of it.
Rep: Do you know If Vallandighan
drafted this resolution.
Mr.. X. 1t was known after the con
vention adjourned that he did-throug
himself 1t was acquiesced in by the con
vention because it was supposed to meet
pending emergency. Colorado Jewett,
as he was called, had arranged what h
called peace conference" which was
have been held at the Clifton House, N
agara falls, Canada. He induced the we
meaning Horace Greeley to take stock in il
and he in turn induced Lincoln to Civ
him the requisite authorization. Lincol
did so in an informal note, addressed o
you may remember ITO all whom it ma
concern" In that note the presiden
(Lincoln) stated that ''the people had onl
to obey the laws and respect the constitu
ton to secure peace''-but he added, ian
TO enforce the proclamation abolishinI
slavery" Except in the las. clause Their
was little difference between the positio
taken by Mr. Lincoln and that taken by
man who loved his country just as we'll
James Guthrie, of Kentucky. Nj
Tilden, in the committee,as is well know
opposed this resolution as impolihc III
whole thing has gone into history lon
ago,and patriot might well have believe
that the measure of Cancellation held OF
at Chicago was as well intended to bel
the Federal government by dividing III
south, any course that could be pursued
The Republican papers caught at ii
phrase the war failure" and their SUI
cess in getting the people to accept th
as its meaning gives the resolution an
claim it has for any particular considers
ton as political remini scence.