The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-06-09
Hon. C. H.. vaI,andigham.

The Dayton EmpiTe has tho follow
ing tcrse review of The recent contest
between Messrs. VALLANDIGHAM and
CAMpBELL: From the beginning of, the
contest, Mr.. YALLANDIGHLAM preferred
that the question at issue be settled by
a reference to the people-but to this
proposition, Mr.. CAMPBELL would not
listen. In the next contest before the
people, Mr.. VALLANDIGuAM will be so
triumphantly sustained by his constitu-
ents, that even his motley. opponents will
not be disposed to question the legality
of the decision
Some of the Republicans claim that
Mr.. Vallandigham should not have con.
tested the seat of MI. Campbell.
We claim that, under the circum
stances, it was not a question for him to
decide, but for those who supported him.
Let US now examine how the matter
stands:
Immediately on the announcement of
the result, that Mr.. Campbell had niue
teen majority, it was claimed by the
friends of Mr.. Vallandigham in Butler,
and in other parts of the district, that
moro negro votes were cast for Mr..
Campbell thar constituted his majority
and Insisted that Mr.. Fallandigham
should contest the seat that they had
selected him as their standard bearer,
and expected him, if elected, to repre-.
sent their principles aud views in Con.
gress, and as they honestly believed be
had received a majority of the legal
votes of the district, which, upon proper
investigations, could be shown, it was no
for him to decline such contest, and thus
suffer them (.is constituency to b.
cheated out Of a representative. Thoy
suited that however unpleasant sucl
contest might be, yet he owed it to Iii
constituents, to his county, aud particu
larly to the purity of the ballot box
"For," said they, IF negro votes are tt
send men to Congress, political dema
gogues will soon have the negroes il GU
State more numerous than the locust
in Egypt"
Mr.. Vallandigham did not wish t.
contest the scat if he could avoid i
without doing injustice to his constitu
ents, or discredit to himself; and he haC
not fully made up his miud, until Mr.
Campbell delivered that famous .'Phil
lips House Speech, then he threw him
self at an angle of forty-fve degree.
backwards, and in al immensely pomp
Gus and sneeripg manner, dared Mr.. Val
l~audigham to contest his seat-said tina
there was no man in tie district Snzar,
enough for such stupendous undertaking
Thus urged on by the claims of hi
political friends, and invited and dared
to it by Mr.. Campbell himself, wha
else could Mr.. Vallandigham do Blu
put the Poaey through ?p
But further When the testimon;
was closed, and Mr.. Vallandigham hat
decidedly the advantage of the evidence
as acknowledged by Mr.. Campbell him
self, he proposed to waive this advan
tage, and refer the matter again to til,
people for a final decision; but Mr.
Campbell refused, prefcriug to have Con
gress decide it, rather than trust tn
people again for a decision. @ r.
Well, he has got a decision, and it i
to be hoped that he is satisfied.
From the above it is clear that Mr.
Vallandigham went into the contest un
der a combination of circumstance
over which he conld have no control
and which he could, not disregard with
out dishonor to himself and Injustice t
his friends; md IN proposing % refer i
to the people again, showed that he de
sired nothing but what was ~strictl
right and honorable in the matter. e