Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-07-29
Address OF the Hon. G. L. Vallandigham to the
People of Ohio.
NIAGARA FALLS
No~aIs "n,< T,.l,, 1SkI 1870

NIAGARA FALLS,
Canada West July 10Th, 1858. !
Arrested and confined for three weeks in the
United States, prisoner Of State; bauished thence
to the Confederate States and there held Is an alien
enemy and prisoner of war, though on parole;
fairly and honcrably dealt with and given leave to
depart an act possible only by running the block
ade at the hazard of being fred upon by ships fly
ing the flag of my own country, found myself
first a freeman when on British soil. And to-day,
under protection of the British flag, am here to
enjoy and in part to exercise the privileges and
rights which usurpers insolently deny me at home.
The shallow contrivance of the weak despots at
Washington, and their advisers, has been defeated.
Nay, it has been turned against them and I, who
for two years was malgned in secret league with
the Confederates, having refused when in their
midst under circumstances the most favorable,
either to identify myself with their cause or even
much as to remain, preferring rather exile in for
eign land, return now with allegiance to my own
State and government unbroken in word thought
or deed, and with every declaration and pledge to
you while at home and before I was stolen away,
made good in spirit to the very letter.
Six weeks ago. when just going into Punishment,
because an audacious but most cowardy despotism
caused il, addressed you as q fellowcitizen. To-
day, and from the very place then selected by me.
but after wearisome and most perilous journeyings
the sea- still in exile, though almost in sight of my
native State, greet you as your representative.
Grateful certainly am for the confidence in my in
tegrty and patriotism, implied by the unanimous
nomination as candidate for Governor of Ohio,
which you gave me while was yet in the Confed-
crate States 1t was not misplaced; it shall never
be abused. But this is the last of all considers
tons in times like these. ask no personal sym
pathy for the personal wrong No; it is the cause
of constitutional liberty and private right, cruelty
outraged beyond example in free country, by the
President and his servants which gives public sig
infancy to the action Of your convention. Yours
was, indeed, an act of justice to a citizen who for
bis devotion to the rights of the States and the lib
critics Of the people, had been marked for destruc
ton BY the hand of arbitrary power. But it was
much more. TWAS an example of courage worthy
of the heroic ages of the world; and it was spec
tacle and rebuke to the usurping tyrants who,
having broken up the Union, would now strike
down the Constitution, subvert your present Gov
ernment and establish formal and proclaimed des-
potlsm in its stead. You the rescorers and the
defenders of constitutional liberty, and by that
proud title history will salute you.
congratulate you upon your nominations They
whom you have placed upon the ticket with me are
gentlemen Of character ability, integrity and tried
fidelity to the Constitution, the Union, and to Lib
erty. Their moral and political courage quality
always rare and now the most valuable Of public
were nominations fil to be made. And even jeal
ousy, am sure will now be hushed, if l especially
rejoice with you in the nomination Of MIR. Pugh as
your candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Presi
dent of the Senate A scholar aud gentleman,
soldier in foreign war; and always patriot; emf
nent as lawyer and distinguished IS an orator and
statesman hail his acceptance as an omen OF the
return of the better and more vrtuous days Of the
republic.
endorse your noble platform-elegant in STYLE
! admirable in sentiment You present. the true Is
| sue and commit yourself to the great mission just
now of the Democratic party-to restore and make
sure FIRST the rights and liberties declared by your
constitutions 1t is vain to invite the States and
people of the South to return to Union without
constitution, and dshonored and polluted by re-
peated and most aggravated exactions of tyrannic
power 1t is base in yourselves, and reasonable to
| your posterity, to surrender these liberties and
rights to the creature whom your own breath Gre
| ated and can destroy.
Shall there be free speech free press, peacea5le
assemblages of the pleople, 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 reckoning Of
their stewardship and to place other men ana anoh
er party in power at their supreme will and pleas
ure? Shall Order 80 or the Constitution be the
any more be arrested by an armed soldiery at mid
| night, dragged from wife and child and home to
military prison; thence to a mock military trial
thence condemned, and then banshed as feon tor
the exercise of his rightss This is the issue, and
nobly you have met it. 1t is the very question of
free popular government itself 1t Is the whole
question; upon the one side liberty, on the other
despotism The President, as tho recognized head
of his party accepts the issue. Whatever he wills,
that is law. Constitution, 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 law-mtary ne
cessity, and he sole judge. Military orders super
cede the Constitution, and military commissions
usurp the place of the ordinary courts of justice In
the land. Nor are these mere idle claims. For
two years and more, by arms, they have been en-
forced. 1t was the mission of the weak but pre-
sumptuous Burnside name infamous forever IN
the ears of all lovers of constitutional 5erty-to try
the experiment in Ohio-aided by judge whom
name not because he has brought foul dishonor up
or the judiciary of my country. In your nanos
now. men of OHIO, is the final issue of the expert.
ment. The party of administration have accepted
it. By pledging support to the President they
have justified his outrages upon liberty and the Con
stitution; and whoever gives his vote to the candl
dates of that party commits himself to every act OF
violence and wrong on part Of the Administrator
which he upholds; and thus, by the law OF retaiia-
ton, which is the law of might, would forfeit MS
own right to liberty, personal and political, when
soever other men and another party shall hold the
power Much more do the candidate themselves
Suffer them not entreat you, to evade the issue
and by the Judgment of the people we will abide.
And now finally, let me ask, what is the pretext
for all the monstrous acts and claims of arbitrary
power which you have nobly denounced2 mil
itary necessity" But if indeed, all these be de.
handed by military necessity, then, believe me,
vour liberties are gone and tyranny is perpetual
For if this civil is to terminate only by the SUBJ
iugation or submission of the South to force and
arms the infant of to-day will not see the end of it
No; in another way only can 1t be brought to a
close Travelling thousand miles and more, through
nearly ons-haf of the Confederate States, and So
journng for time at widely different points, met
not one man, woman, or child who were not resolved