The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-22
voice from the Nortfa---vintifcatior
,af the Norshern Democrats.
PHILADELPHIA, December le,

.e,f the Norsflern Democrats.
pHnhpELpHrA, December IL, 1876.
Editors Dispatch: i notice your ringing
edItorinI 81 The 10Th instant on Ben. Hill.
rThc Democracy OF the North should give
Won thanks, De facto Hill Is right; Dut
circumstances should be considered. Ine
Democracy OF the North never had a Jar
chance TO take action, form opinion, OF eye
nress oDinion. The anti-slayery excitement,
however misguided, was founded upon the
best In stincts and impulses OF the human
heort and lead many Democrats TO support
Lincoln in the election OF 1860. But thls
sunDort by the northern masses hao
in the minds OF many but little connec.
tion J, with State sovereignty; did NOT
anticipate civil war, and was founded pureiy
upon desire to limit the euats o.. StaceIy,
as represented TO them by the aDoll1loh
stump, pulpit, and press OF that day. Inc
contingency OF secession had not !orclDty
suggested itself to them, and hence had NOT
lead to elaborate examination OF tue SUI
iect. The manner in which the RepuDiican
Administration conducted the opening Oh
thr war OF coercion should OF itself be
strong yindication of the northern masses.
THE South, az YOU and all of us well know,
was placed in an offensive attitude before
the North. "The flag had,'' they asserted,
been wantenly assailed." Lincoln wished
s75. 900 men to defend the capital, threat
ened by the rebels.' Alexander II. stephens
and JEFF. Davis were represented as heading
the southern cry of "On to Washington
The A administration merely wished "to hold
United States property and all idea OF
mention OF armed invasion, or coercion was
studiously disclaimed and avoided.
Thus having drawn around it GORDON
Of bayonets evoked by appeals to the pa
frioasm of the people, having virtually oc-
cupied the border States and rendered them
incapable of action, having, OF course, alb
solute control of the soldiery under arms
the Administration began to show its hand.
raised the war-cry Of "Down with the re,
bellion !" "The Union forever!" and
began its war Of offence aud coercion.
Here and there the nucleus OF opposition
BEGAN to protrude itself. Voices from the
lovers Of the old "Confederate Republic"
of our fathers began to be heard in press
and pulpit, and some few bold leaders or
the people dared to brave the anger
of the dominant party by condemning
its acts as arbitrary and unjust.
The election of 1862 indicated gather
ing storm. Districts supposed to be
Republican in many instances eVlnced
their condemnation by going Democratic.
This would not do. A Government "of
the peorle and by the people" evidently
looked dangerous for the Washington die
tators. Ergo, the writ OF habeaS corpus
was suspended, the sheriff was opposed by
the bayonet, lar abdicated in disgust, spies
invaded: households; press, pulpit, and
statesmen were silenced, and an imperial
government, acting in the name OF the Re
public Of Washington, began reign which
has not yet closed, and which effectually en-
chained the popular conscience and will.
Valandigham was arrested, imprisoned. and
banished; McPheeters's church was closed !;
the New York World was suppressed, and
thousands of despotic deeds were commit
ted "to preserve" republican. Union.
Constitutional" Oh, no! NecesSary!"
The opinions Of the masses as to the issues
OF the hour were uniformed. Pulpit, press,
and statesmen dared not instruct or
advise. The Mortons and Blaines captured
the popular ear, and the popular heart
"was fired" by tales OF "rebel barbara
ties" and eXhortations to "save the Union"
Terrified by wholesale, arbitrary arrests
and imprisonment, discouraged and din
tmidated" from free thought and speech
by appellations OF "traitor" and Gre
creant," without guiding or instructing
voice, and untitled both by education and
occupation for close examination OF the
right or wrong in the question presented,
the northern masses, without shepherd,
were driven to war like "sheep to Che
slaughter" and sacrificed hundreds Of
thousands of valuable lives to overthrow
the constitutional liberty so jealousy
guarded and bequeathed by our fathers.
The prestige Of success now surrounds
the cause for which they were forced to
fight, and in the majority OF instances they
defend the policy which, il allowed, they
would probably have repudiated when face
to face with the misery and horror Of war
Still, they bear the olive branch, and what
ever OF regard for constitutional right re-
mains among the people of this section the
Democratic party represents. Therefore
they deserve, and WILL RECEIVE, the hearty
and unhinching support Of our people OF
the South.