The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-07-01
From the New York World.
President Lincoln ON the Defen-
SiVR.


examination as an argument, principally
strikes attention by the singular attitude in
which it places the President, and BY the
implied confessions in which it abounds.-l
Mr.. Lincoln Is sensible that he needs de-
fender to counteract the damaging effects Of
his action in the case Of Mr.. Vallandigbam
but finding no champion, nor scarcely an
apologist in the press OF his party, he is
compelled, at some sacrifice Of official digni-
ty,S toNdescend into the lists himself ! The
case was too urgent to await such general
exposition as be might introduce into his
next message to Congress. 1t would, indeed,
have been IN keeping with onr political usa-
ges if some member Of his cabinet had ad
dressed political meeting, (for which an
occasion could easily have been found, or at
least made,) but this is labor for which
none OF his secretaries has any taste. Mr..
Seward and Mr.. Chase are the only cabinet
officers who can sufficiently command public
attention to render their championship Of
any service but Mr.. Chase, who is presi'
dental aspirant has, with excellent judg-
ment, carefully avoided any act which should
connect his name with the arbitrary arrests,
while Mr.. Seward, who initiated the odious
system, is too observant nd crafty TO have
ally further ostensible connection with it,
since he sees how unmaangeably restive it
renders the public mind. Nothing was
therefore left fol Mr.. Lincoln in this great
dearth of defenders but 10 step forth as his
own champion, and buffet the adverse cur-
rent single handed with such argumentative
resources as he is master OF l.
1t is obvious, on the lace Of the Presidents
letter, that 1t is designed to cover retreat
from what he feels to be an indeieDsible po
sition. lie circutously and nmbiguously
announces that he is desirous Of some color
able reason which will enable him, without
down, TO revoke Mr.. pallandigham's sem
tence, and be giyes-a significant intimation
that the days Of these arbitrary arrests are
about over. "And yet, let me say" Mr..
Lincoln remarks, "that in my own discretion.
I do not knoto ,ohether ! ,couM haze ordered
the arrest Of Mr.. Vallandigham." Tn this
STATE Of mind it was clearly his duty 10 give
Mr.. Vallandigham the berefit of the doubt,
especially in matter which so nearly touch
ed the sacred privileges, Of the haJeas corpus,
trial by jury, and freedom Of speech. To
the sentence just quoted MIR. Lincoln adds.
"While cannot shift the responsibility from
myself which he would apparently be glad
to dol hold that as general rule the com
mander in the field is the better judge in any
j.. particular case;" which is, in substance, a
confession that the President acted in this
case against his own judgment, out Of defer.
pain," says the President, "when learned
that Mr.. Vallandigham had been arrested,
and it will afford me great pleasure to dis
charge him SO soon as can, by any means,
believe that the public safety will not suffer
by it," We are satisfied from this and sew
ersi other expressions in the letter that Mr..
Vallandgbam win at an early day be per-
mitted to return to Ohio, if he can get clear
OF the rebel territories.
We congratulate our Democratic fellow
citizens on the manifest good effects OF the
sririt, yigor, aud resolution with which they
have asserted the rights Of Ireemen. They
have compelled Mr.. Lincoln to come before
the aroused and indignant country with a
defensive apology; they have caused him to
halt and waver in his high handed proceed
ings, and to make a virtual promise that
these proceedings shall not be continued
'I further say" he tells us, "that as the wal
progresses, itappears to me opinion and ac
tion, which were IN great confusion at first
takes shape and fall into more regular chan
nels, so that The necessity for strong dealing
Nth them gradually ceases. I haze every req.
son to desire it should cease altogether"
We are too we'll satisfied with th direc,
ton in which President Lincoln's mind is
obviously tending to subject the logic Of his
letter to very critical dissection. If its OBJ
ject were the defense Of position which he
meant to maintain, it would be incumbent
on US to undertake the not difficult task o
exposing the teebleness ofits sophistry. But
1t is SO obviously put forward to save hi.
pride in compulsory retreat, that it nigh
seem harsh and ungenerous to lay naked its
weakness. The best thing Mr.. Lincoln car
do to disarm the opposition is to carry oul
the intention which. he has intimated in bis
letter. Hundreds Of thousands of intelligent
citizens will approve Of this intimation, who
will regard his asonipg with contempt.
i The general interest of the country is SO par
amount to every other consideration, thai
Democrats will gladly see themselves de
prived OF the great party advantage which
would result TO them from Mr.. Lincoln's
perseverance in his impolitic and illegal
course.
The President admits that his arrests have
been made for offences which the law does
not recognize, and which it cannot interpose
to punish. While we have always contend
ed that it is true, we certainly did not ex
pect him to avow that /" arrests have been
made not SO much for what has been done
as for what probably would be DONE" The
President not only admits that citizens have
been deprived Of their liberty on mere parti
san conjectures of their possible intentions
but be confesses that these conjectures have
had nothing to rest upon. |" The man sobt
stands By and says nothing when the peril o.
his government is discussed, cannot be mis-.
understood" Was anything so extraordi
nary ever before uttered by the chief magis
trate Of a free country? Men are torn from
their homes and immured in bastiles for the
shocking crime Of sileaGel Citizens of the
model republic OF the world are rot only
punished for speaking their opinions, but are
plunged into dungeons for holding their
tongues! When before, in the annals OF ty-
ranny, was silence ever punished as crime
Citizens who disapproye Of the acts Of the
administration are denied even the yefugs o.
. dignifed silence, and. on malicious and
partisan conjectures Of the motives OF sucl
silence, they are deprived Of their liberty
Few among us ever expected TO live to sec
such things done; and nobody, we are sure
to see them so unblushingly confessed. Whal
must bs Mr.. Lncoln's appreciation Of the
Ipublic sentiment Of the world, when he thus
4 comes before the country with paper con-
taining statements which sound more like
the last dying speech and confession Of a ty-
rant than like the Justification Of the elected
ruler ot Q free people? e4d
4 The courts, Of course, cannot punish this
dreadful crima Of % atandinr hv and SAVING