The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-07-22

| your answer, after speaking Of certain dis
turbances which are alleged to have occurred
| in resistance OF the arrest Of deserters, and
| OF the enrolment preparatory to the draft,
and which you attribute mainly to the course
Mr.. Vallandigham has pursued, you say that
he has made speeches against the war in the
midst of resistance to it, That "he has never
keen known, in any instance, to counsel
against such resistance" and that ~ is nerl
10 impossible 10 rcpel The inference het he has
oomse!ed directly in fpVorof it," Permit us
10 say that your in oImalon is most griev
ously at fault. The undersigned have been
in the habit Of hearing Mr.. Vallandigham
speak before popular assemblages. and they
appeal with confidence to every truthful per.
son who has ever heard him, for the accuracy
of the declaration that he has never made a
speech before the people OF Ohio, in which
be has not counseled submission and obedi
enCe to the laws and the Constitution, and
advised the peaceful remedies OF the judicial
tribunals, and Of the balot-box for the res
dress Of grievances, and for the evils which
Gffict our bleeding and suffering country
And, were ii not foreign TO the purposes Of
this communica ion, we would undertake to
establish, to the sa isiaction OF any candid
person, that the disturbances among the peo-
pie, to which you alude, in opposition to the
arrest Of deserterS and the draft, have been
occasioned mainly by the measures. policy
and conduct Of your administration. and
the course OF its political friends. But if
the circumstaRtial evidence exists, to which
you alude, which makes sit next to impos-
sible to reps the inference, that Mr.. VaIlan>
digham has counseied directly in favor Of"
this resistance, and that the same has been
mainly attributable TO his conduct, why was
be not turned over to the civil authorities to
be tried under The late acts Of Congress-
II there be any foundation in fact for your
statements duplicating him in resistance 10
the constituted authorities, be is liable to
such prosecution. And we now denand,
as mere act Of justice to him, au investigl-
ton OF this matter, before a jury OF his
country; and respectfully insist that fairness
requires, either that you retract these charge
which you make against him, or that you
revoke your order OF bsnshment and allow
him the opportunity of au investigation be-
fore an impartial jury.
The committee do not deem it necessary
to repel at length the imputation, that the
attitude Of themselves or Of the Democratic
party in Ohio "encourage desertionR, reSis
tance to the draft, and the lke' Sugges>
tions Of that kind are not unusual weapons
in our ordinary political contes's, They
Iise readily in the midst Of politicians heat>
ed with the excitement of partisan strife -
Duling the two years in which the Demo-
cratic party Of Ohio has been constrained to
oppose the policy OF the Administration,
and to stand up in defense Of the Cons(itu-
ton and Of personal rights, this charge has
been repeatedly made. 1t has fallen harms
less, however, at the feet Of these whom it
was intended To- iniure. The committee be-
Heve 1t Will do so Ggan. II it. were proper
to 90 so in this paper. they might suggest
that the measures OF the Administration,
and its changes Of policy in the prosecution
of the war, have been the fruitful sources Of
discouraging enlistments and inducing daser>
ti1ns, and furnish reason for the undenia>
Die fact, that the first call for volunteers was
answered by very many more than were de-
manded and that the next call foi soldiers
will probably be responded to by drafted
men alone, The observation Of the PreS>
dent in this connection, that neither the Cons
vention in its resolutions, nor the committee
in its communication, Intimate that they
care conecions Of an existing rebellion being
in progress with the avowed object of de
stroying the Union' needs, perhaps, no
reply. The Democratic party Of Ohio has
felt so kcenIy the condition of the country,
and been 50 stricken to the heart by the
misfurtunes and sorrows which have heiallen
it, that they hardly deemed it necessary by
solemn resolution when their very State ex~
hibted every where the sad evidences of war
to remind the President that they were
aware of It's existence.
In conclusion OF your Communication, you
propose that, II a majority Of the committee
shall atfix their signatures to duplicate copy
of it, which you furnished, they shall stand
committed to three propositions therein at
leng h set forth that YOU will publish the
names thus signed, and that this publication
shall operate as revocation ofthe orders Of
banlshment. The committee cannot refrain
from the expression OF their surprise, that
the President should make the fate Of Mr..
Vallandgham depend upon the opinion Of the
committee upon these propositions. 1.-THE
arrest and banishment were legal, and were
uSSGIh hSu, IL lIS / lGStuGlb GAtltiSSu pow
er clearly delegated, under circumstances
which warranted its exercise, the order
ought not TO be revoked, merely because the
committee hold, or express, opinions accor>
dant with those OF the President. If the
arrest and banishment were not legal, or
were not deserved BY Mr. Vallandigham,
then surely he is entitled to an immediate
and unconditional discharge.
The people of Ohio were not so deeply
moved by the action Of the President, mere
ly because they were concerned for the per-
sonal safety or convenience of Mr. Vallan~
dgham, but because thsy saw in his arrest
ana banishment an attack upon their own
personal rights, and they attach value to his
discharge chiefly as it will indicate an ahan~
donment OF the claim to the power Of such
arrest and Punishment. However just the
undersigned might regard the principles con>
tanned in the several propositions submitted
by the President, or how much soever they
might, under other circumstances, feel in
clned to indorse the sentiments contained
therein, yet they assure him that they have
not been authorized to enter into any bars
gains, terms, contracts or conditions with
the President Of The United States to procure
the release Of Mr.. Valaudigham. The
opinions of the undersigned touching tie
questions involved in these propositions, are
well known, have been many times publicly
expressed, and are sufficiently man Tested in
the resolutions OF the Convention which they
represent, and they can not suppose that the
President expects tha. they will seek the
discharge Of Mr. Vallandigham by pledge,
implying not only an imputation upon their
own sincerity and yide1tty as citizens OF the
United States; and also carrying with it by
implication a concession OF The Legality OF his |
arrest, trial and Punishment, against which
they, and the Convention they represent,
they solemnly protested. And while they
have asked the revocation of the order Of