Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-07-29
non Q / yAttANpranAm
Ne Accepts The Nomination fot Governor,
and Defines his Position.

IN tho Oniiod States, q prisoner Of Staio
bnuished thence 60 the Confederate States,
and there held as M alien enemy and
prisoner Of war, though on parole fairly
and honorably dealt with aud given leave
to depart, an act possible only by running
the blockade at the hazard of being fired
upon by ships flying tho llag Of my own
country, found myself first freeman
whom on British soil. And to- day under
protection Of the British flag, am here
to enjoy and in part to exercise tho priyi~
leges and rights which usurpers insolently
deny me at home The shallow contri>
vanco of the weak despots at Washington,
and their advisers, has been defeated -
! Nay, it has been turned against them;
and !, who for two years was maligned as
in secret league with the Coniederaies,
having refused when in their midst, under
circumstances the most favorable, either
! 10 identify myself with their cause or
| even 80 mach as to remain, prelerrlng
rather exile in u foreign land, return nov
| with allegiance TO my own State and Gov
ierrment, unbroken IN word thought or
deed, and with every declaration and
pledge to you while at home, and before
| was stolen away, made good in spirit and
TO the very letter.
Six weeks ago, when just going into
banishment because an audaCious but most
cowardy despotism caused it, addressed
YOU rs a fellow citizen To-day, and from
the very place then selected 10y me, but
after wearisome aud most perllous jour-
ncyings for mole than four thousand miles
by land and upon the sea, still in exile,
though almost in sight Of my native State,
greet you AS your representative, Crate
iul certainly am for the confidence in my
integrity and patriotism implied by the
unanimous nomination as candidate for
Governor of Ohio, which you gave me
while ! was yet in the Confederate States.
Ii was not misplaced it shall never he
abused. But tLis is the least of all consid.
eratons in times like these. ! ask no
personal sympathy for the personal wrong.
No; II is the cause OF constitutional lib !
erty and private light, cruelty outraged
beyond example in free country, by the !
President and his servants, which gives
public signiiicancy 10 the action OF your
convention. Yours was, indeed, an act
OF Justice to citizen who, for his devotion !
TO the rights of the States and the liber- /
ties Of the people had been marked for
destruction by the hand Of arhitray power.
But it was much more. II was an exam, /,
plc of courage worthy Of the heroic ages
of the world and it was spectacle and
a rebuke to the usurping tyrants who, !
having broken up the Union, would now /,
strike down the Constitution, subvert your |
present Government, aud establish a for
81 IL il, ct
You are the restorers and defenders OF
constitutional liberty, and by that proud
title history will salute you.
congi atulate you upon your nomni>
tons. They whom you have placed upon
the ticket with me arc gentlemen of char.
acter, ability, integrity, and tried fidelity !
TO the Constitution, the Union, and TO |
Liberty. Their moral and political courN
age--a quality always rare, aud now the
most valuable of public virl ues-is beyond
question Every way all these were nom
nations I'll to be made. And even jeal>
ousy, am sure, will now be hushed, il
especially rejoice with you in tho nomiN
nation of Mr.. Pugh, rs your candidate for
Lieutenant Governor and President Of the
Senate. A scholar and gentleman, a
soldier in foreign war; and always al
patriot eminent as a lawyer, and distin
guishcd as an orator and u statesman,
hail with acceptance as an omen of tho
return of the better ana more yirtuous
days Of the Republic.
endor.e your noble platform elegant
in style, admirable in sentiment. You
present the true issue, and commit your
self to the great mission just now OF the
Democratic party-to restore and make
sure FIRST the rights and liberties declared
yours by your constitutions. 1t was vain
10 invite the States and people of the
South to return to g Union without al
Constitution, and dishonored and polluted |
by repeated and most aggravated exact> !
ions of tyrannio power, 1t is base in your.
folves, and REASONABLE to your posterity,
to surrender these liberties and rights TO
the creatures whom your own breath Gre
ated and can destroy. Shall there be free
speech, free press, peaceful asSemblage
of the people, and free ballot any longer
in Ohio? Shall the people hereafter, as
hitherto, have the right to discuss and
condemn the principles and policy of the
party-the ministry the men who, for
the time, conduct the Government to
demand of their public servants a reckon
ing OF their stewardship, and to place 9th
or men and another party in power at
their supreme will ard pleasure? Shall
Order Thirty ight or the Constitution be
tho spreme law of the land2 And shall
the citizen any more be arrested by an
armed soldiery at midnight, dragged from
wife and children and home to a military
prison: thence to a mock military trial Il
thence condemned, and then 5anished as
a felou for the exercise Of his rights 81
This is the issue, and nobly have you met
it. 1t is the very question of free, popu
lar government itself 1t Is the whole
question; upon The one side liberty, on
the other despotism. The Presidenr, as
the recognized head OF his party, accepts
the issue. Whatever he wills, that is
law. Constitutions, State and Federal, are
nothing acts of legislation nothing; the
judiciary less than nothing. In time of
war, there is but one will supreme his
will, but one military necessity, and
he the sole Judge. Military orders super
cede the Constitution, and military CONS
missions usurp the place Of the ordinary
courts of Justice in the land. Nor are these