Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-08
From the Chattanooga Rebel.

C1FD
The reception of Mr.. Vallandigham by our
command, and the subsequent observance of the
soldiers through whose ranks he passed with Col.
Ssoddard Johnston. en- route for Shelbysille, ex-
hibit TO us a wise dignity. which we trust win be
marred by 40 future event of indiscresion
We are unable to arrive at a conclusion as TO
the ultimate design OF the principal figure in the
group. The letter of our correspondent published
in yesterdays Rebel, rather gives his own impres
sion than Mr.. VaTlandigham's views. Mr.. Val
landigham, he writes. is cheerful and seems to
breathe freer on escaping from the Lincoln des
potism- BE very properly avoids all public de-
monsrration, and only asks that he may find a
quiet refuge in our midst, until such time as the
voice of the people relieved from despoiic inhu-
ence, shall call him again to their midst. He
seems fully to realize the embarrassment of his
position, and will, beyond doubt. be fully equal to
its responsibilities. A digni6ed retirement and
seclusion from all public matters, will, TO the
minds of all proper persons, and doubtless TO bis
own, be tie best course for him 10 pursue.
We cannot believe il is the wish of one OF Mr..
Vallandigham's ~sagacity and courage, to settle
down into a. baleTul obscurity among strangers,
who can DO no more than respect his character
and sympathize with him in his Domestic troubles,
his persecution and his Punishment. Far, very
far from il. The golden moment Of all his life
is the present moment. The tide which leads to
fortune is now at its food. In a little while it
will ebb and flow from him. and leave him like
one upon a desert strand, who sees the bright blue
pillows roll off into the night, never to come
again. If he remains in the South-traduced by
his enemies at home, abused in the mind of his
friends, and at best occupying an equivocal posi-
ton before men-the day viii not dawn " when
the voice of his people, relieved from despotic
influence. shall again call him to their midst"
The roaring ocean of revolution. whose red surges
ora raaD,p. oro tho North will pracanflv cwof
low up all that remains of Mr.. Vallandigham. He
and his labor and his fame, what he did and what
he stroye to do. will go to the bottom. Like
little wanton boys that swim on bladders," and
perish when the buoys are Withdrawn, all the
hopes of Mr.. Vallandigham and his party must
sink beneath the wave. while the foam and drift
wood of Lincolnism float wildly but triumphant
ly over them.
Our correspondent says that he fully realizes
the embarrassment of his position, "and will, be-
] yond doubt, be equal to its responsibilities"
There should be no embarrassment There
are responsibilities and weighty: but (except in
a n merely personal point of view no embarras-
ment The road which leads up the steep ascent
of the future is direct, and gas-lighted all the
wav. 1t leads first out of some Confederate port
to Nassau. thence to Canada, and finally into the
Gnbernatorial chair Of Ohio. The return of Ma
poleon from Elba was the signal for a general re-
action in France. Thousands nocked to him on
the instant. Nothing could keep the "littie cor
poral" bars. nor iron, nor prison, nor island. He
stood once more on his own heath; the supersti
ton of the popular heart chung to him, and he
triumphed. Let Mr.. Vallandigham's return be
as speedy. Let the absence Of n single month
find him Issuing an address to the people of his
State from Lower Canada, p~roclaiming these
thinpst to them:'I an a loval citizen of the Union,
and a soldier thereof and of freedom banished
against law and Constitution; thrown, contrary
to nv will. across the lines of the public enemy,
whose refusal to receive or recognize me estab-
fishes before all men my patriotism and NV
honor: /, Clement L Vallanligham, prosecuted,
exiled, reviled and coerced by tyranny and by
bayonets, but not dead nor dumb, issue these
words, and declar. myself a candidate for Gov
ernor of Ohio" The effect would be magical
Who would thereby be proven traitor? Who?
Certainly not Mr.. ValIandieham. This is the
true course. and the result of months (may they
not be too latel) will Justify it.
We like Mr.. Vallandigham. over and above
our respect for his honesty, ability and conserF-
atism, because we believe he is for peace. Dis
senting from all his views upon the possible or
probable reconstruction of the Union. we concede
them TO be az least the nearest approximate to
sanity, which have come out of any Northern
mind, and in any event we hold them TO be hu
name maxims directed toward a close of the war.
We regard Mr.. Vallandigham rs = faithful citizen
of the United States. AS an upright man, he
has spoken his sentiments freely and frank
". They are very clear; and if founded i'm an
erroneous estimate Of the feelings which inspire
he heart of the South, they are frank and honest.
We like them for these rare and good qualifca-
tons. But still in a public and political pointof
view he is orr enemy; and az such we are bound
to treat him. Mr.. Lincoln makes him our enemy
in his very act of banisement, which is the first
recognition of our independence by the Federal
Government. Mr.. Vallandigham is sent to a
foreign nation rs can exile" from his own. Now
expatriation must be voluntary; can not be CO
creed; and until the party concerned asserts his
desire to become a citizen of the country to which
he Is exiled, he remains in law and in fact still a
citizen of the country whence he has been
driven. Did the Federal Government mean
this? Assuredly so great = blunder could not
have been made. even by the asses composing the
Washington Cabinet. and we look at it as the re
snlt ofintention, not Of chance, or oversight. Let
Mr.. Vallandisham himself consider the point
He is now in a foreign country. The authorities
of the United States admit il to be so. and send
him to a foreign country. Does he desire to ex.
~patriate himself and become n citizen of the Con
federate States. If so. well and good We shall
have no more 10 say. But. as a citizen Of the
United States, he cannot and should not, remain
here. We do not wish to be inhospitable; but we
cannot recognize the right of any power, or court
to send its convicts here as 10 Botany Bay. The
South is not the proper lodge for political con
victs however identified. or poDular. or noble.