Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-09-21
Letter OF Hon. a.. \. Vallandig-
ham to Democratic MASS
MeetIng nI Cnrthnge. OHIO.

Meeting at Carthage, Ohio
Since writing 70 the mass convention at
4 Dayton today, the monstrous proclamation
Of The President has appeared, suspeuding
the privilege OF the writ Of hdbe0s corpus,
and thus declaring martial law throughout
the United States, in every one aud every
part OF every one OF them, and in all their
territories. II comes without previous warn
ing. lt IA announced at a time when the sue
cesses Of he Federal armies and the rsverses
/ OF de C0idedefates are greater than at any
period since the beginning Of the war at a
time when the lines Of the former are more
extended and of the latter more contracted
and further removed from the original from
tier than ever before and at n time when ao-
cordng TO the Secretary of State, the rebel
lion is at lnst almost crushed out. 1t appears
in the midst Of no riot, tumult or other popu-
lar CONFUSION anywhere in the States always
true TO the Union, and no preparation for any
and when even the odous ''conscrpSion,' is
being executed quietly and without resistance
wherever announced 1t is to continue
l''durng the rebelion"-the President being
the sole Judge ard arbiter Of how long the
rebellion shall be deemed to last AT such
time aud under such circumstances it can
have but one object-the pending elections
his MI, but especially the Presidential
EuHtASSUI loOA lhlh, luutNu thG tuAi hNNtiNl
ment OF that of which have so often warned
the people of Ohio and of the United States
the great conspiracy against constitutional
liberty and free popular government--the
establishment of a formal and proclaimed
despotism" in your midst Oh, that the
warning voice, feeble though it was, which
two years ago in the beginning OF this great
struggle, in accents EARNEST as ever issued
from human lips, cried aloud to the people
that, one by one, their liberties were about
to perish, aud that anarchy first and strong
Government afterwards-nO more State lines,
no more State governments, but consohdat-
ed monarchy, or vast centralized military
: despotism, must all follow in the history OF
the future, as in the history Of the past they
had centuries before been written. But that
voice found no echo then, save in the columns
and corridors of the Capitol To-day 1t is
= lifted up again And hereafter lett man
T. tell you--least of all the sentinels upon your
watchtowers-tha there is no danger, no
ground for alarm or apprehension To-day
your President is in form, as for two years and
more he has been in fact q MILITARY DIc-
= TAToR. The most incredulous may see at last
- that the issue is, indeed, whether there shall
, any longer be cons tuition and law in the
u United States other than the will, unknown
r or expressed, of the President; whether free
n dom of person, Of the press, of speech, tree
il political assembages and free ballot, shal
~ any more exist among us, and whether the
people shall hereafter as heretofore choose
y the Legislatures and Chief Executives of the
% State and Federal Governments. Shall there
d be free State elections any longer or another
D. Presidential election OF any sort? halpopu
y lar government or a despotism, Unlimited b.
e law and uncontrolledby judicial coarts, hence
y forth prevail in the United States2 This now
u. men OF Ohio, more than ever, is the issue be
% fore you. The revolutionary purpose Of thu
Y : Administration to perpetuate by intimidation
! or force, its power in the States and in tn
lu general government, stands now fully reveal
% ed Next after this declaration Of martha
II law, viii follow the armed seizure and occupa
ie ton Of your State by Federal troops, TO in
y timidate or overpower you at the polls Bu
'u this monsrous purpose will not and canno
VI be executed, except the people cringe o
'u cover before the threat or the attempted exc
cution The time, therefore, has now arrive
for the renewed, solemn, ineXorabe declare
u, tion and pledge by the people TO each Other
through the press and in public assemblage'
ah that they mean to maintain their liberties O
y, every hazard, and to have and to hold lre
l. elections, PEACEABLY ~ THEY GAM FoRcIBL
"a, IF THEY MUST BY the constitution Of Obi
- no soldier or marine Of the United State
eu can gain q residence or become citizen an
al eiector Of the State by being stationed With
hg her limits BY the law Of England, and by
ng proydent statute of Pennsylvania, all trool
are required to be removed n prescribed di
tance-not less than one mie--irom Il
place Of holding an election and this to-
wv is the spirit at least OF our own laws. Ever
nus qualified elector OF Ohio has the right freel
pe and without moestation o any kind to vo
the ticket of his choice, and if Federal
State troops be present to moest or lntimida
mo matter under what preteXt--it is Il
right of the citizens and the duty of the civ
Der officers and the militia to dispense or ARE
the the offenders and to use whatever force mi
50 be necessary for that purpose. | counsel "
zen one and all to stand by the Union, mNinta
III the constitution, support the government Al
oc- obey the laws; but in the name and by {
cas- memory Of Your fathers and as you wou
zen secure the blessings of liberty to yourselv
llie and your children, | invoke you TO defe
l as the right of election and the ballot-boX,
12i all the means which the eXigencies OF tie ca
all NAV demand. The hour Of your trial has
Jon last come Be firm and be ready And G
grant that the spirit OF the patriots aud ir
hey men of other ages and countries, Of
ig- heroes Of Greece and Rome, the spirit
'uts Bruce and Tell, Of Hampden and Sydney,
Henry aud Washington, and jackson, N
bear be found to survive yet in the men of
present generation in America and thus q
e in both the form and the substance of const
st i'll tionai liberty and free popular governme
be still preserved and made secure among
1t of Ia G, L. YALLANDIGHAM
It in ------''.----
ser All Laws in strict AccOrdan