The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-24
ADDRESS OF
Hon. C. L. ValIandigham
To the People of Ohio.
He Accepts the Nomination and Defines
His Position.
NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA WEST,
July 18th, 1868.

ATTeSteu uOu COUuutu lOt INV "NN"N
in the United States, aprisoner OF State;
banished thence to the Confederate
States. and there held as an alien enemy
and prisoner of war, though on parole
fairly aud honora6ly dealt with and
given leave to depart an act p6Sisolt
only by running the blockade at The
hazard of being fred upon by ships fly
ing the flag of my own country, | found
myself first freemen 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 insoently 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 l.,
who tor two years was maiigned rs in Sc.
cret eagie with the Confederates, haV-
ing refused when in their midst, under
circumstances the most favorable, either
to Identity myself with their cause or
even so much as to remain, prefCrring
rather exile in a foreign land, return
now with allegiance to my own State and
Government, uubroken in word, thought
or deed, and with every declaration and
pledge to you while at home, aud before
l was stolen away, made good In spirit
and to the very letter.
Six weeks ago, when just going into
Punishment because an audacious but
most cowardy deSpotism caused it,
addressed you as (eIlow.cilizen. To.
day, and from the very place then Sc
lected by me, but after wearisome and
most periIonS journcying for more than
four thousand mileS by land and upon
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 integrity and
patriotism, implied by the unanimous
nomination as candidate for Governor Of
Ohio, which you gave me while l was in
the Confederate States. 1t was not
misplaced it shall never be abused. -
But this is the last of all considerations
in times like these. | ask no personal
sympathy for the personal wrong. No;
it is the cause of the Constitutional lib.
erty and private right cruelty outraged
beyond example in u free country, by the
President and his servants, which gives
public signdcancy to the action of your
convention. Yours was indeed, an act
Of justice to a citizen who. for his devo-
ton to the rights Of the States and the
liberties of the people, had been marked
for destruction at the hand of arbitrary
power. But it was much more 1t was
an example Of courage worthy of the
heroic ages of the world and it was n
spectacle and rebuke to the usurping
tyrants who, having broken up the Uni
on would now strike down the Consli
tuition. subvert your present government
and establish formal, and proclaimed
, disposition in its stead, You are thr
REsToRERs AND DEFENDERS OF CoNsrI
TUTIoNvL LIBERTY, and by that proul
title history will salute you.
| congratulate You upon your nomi
natious. They whom you have pIacel
upon the ticket with me, are gentlemen
of character, ability, iut gritty and lrie
fidelity to the Constitution, the Union
and 10 Liberty. Their moral and po
ltcal courage-a quality always rare
and now the utmost valuable of publ,
virtues-iS beyond question. Ever
way, all these were nominations fit l.
be made. And even jealousy, l al
sure, will now be huShed, if especial
rej1ice with you in the nomination @
Mr.. Pugh as your candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor aud President of tn
Senate. A scholar and gentleman,
soldier in foreign war, and always
' patriot; eminent as a lawyer, aud dis
linguisbed as an orator aud statesman
, | hail his acceptance as an omen of til
return Of the better and more vir.uou
days of the Republic.
: l endorse your noble platform-elt
giant in style, admirable in sentiment =
You present the true issue, and comm
}. yourselves to the great mission Just no
). Of the Democratic party-to restore an
). make sure FIRST the rights and liberti,
J. declared yours by your constitutions =
1t is vain to invite The States and peop
!. of the South to return to Union witt
2, out Constitution and dishonorcd al
r, polluted by repeated and most aggrav
a , ted exactions Of tyrannic power. 1t
- u base iu yourselves, and reasonable
your posterity, to surrender these lite
ties aud rights to the creatures who
10 your own breath created and can destro
y Shall there be free speech. free pre-.
n peaceable aSSemblages of the people al
n a free ballot any longer in Ohiop Sht
- - the people hereafter, as heretofore, ha
'' the right to discuss and condemn t
az principles and policy Of the party--t
Is ministry-the men who, for the tin
of conduct the Government-to demand
their public servants reckoning Of thu
stewardship, and to place other men a
another party in pow at their supreI
Al will and pleasure2 Shall Order 3S
IL the Constitution be the supreme law
the land? And shall the citizens u
o' more be arrested by all armed soldt
KS at midnight, dragged from wife and ch
1n dren at home, to military prison, then
no condemned aud then banished us frl
IL for the exercise Of his rights2 This
-, ., the issue, aud nObly have you met it.
III is the very question of free, popnl
p. government itself. ltiSth whole qu
Iy ton; upon the one side, liberty; on