Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-07-23

| the Union, should not be thrown into
conflict with each other. The arrest, un-
usual trial, and Punishment Of Mr.. Val
landgham, have created widespread and
alarming disaffection among the people
of the State, not only eudangering the
harmony of the friends Of the Constitu-
tion and the Union, and tending to dis.
turb the peace and tranquility OF the Stale,
but also imparing that confidence in the
fidelity Of your Administration to the
great landmarks OF free government, es-
sential to a peaceful and successful en-
forcement of the laws in Ohio.
You are reported to have used, in q
public communication on this subject,
the following language .e m
II gave me pain when learned that Mr.. yallan.
that there hould have seemed necessity for ar.
resting him; and that IT will afford me great pleas
ure to discharge him, soon Us l can by any means
| believe the public safety will not suffer by it.
The undersigned assure your Excellen.
cy. from our personal knowledge of the
feelings Of the people of Ohio, that the
public safety will be far more endangered
by continuing Mr.. Vallandigham in exile
than by releasing him. 1t may be true
that persons differing from him in polit-
ical views may be found in Ohio. and
elsewhere, who will express different
opinion. But they are certainly mistaken.
Mr.. Vallandigham may differ with the
President, and even with some Of his own
political party, as to the true and most
effectual means of maintaining the Con-
stitution and restoring the Union but
this difference of opinion does not prove
him to be unfaithful to his duties as an
American citizen. If a man, devotedlv
attached to the Constitution and the I'm.
ion. conscientiously believes that, from
the inherent nature Of the Federal COM
pact, the war, in the present condition
of things in this country, can not be used
as a means Of restoring the Union or
that a war to subjugate part of the
States, or a war to revolutionize the SO.
ciol system in part of the States, could
not restore, but would inevitably result
in the fual destruction of both the Con.
stitution and the Union, is he not to be
allowed the right of an American citize n
to appeal to the Judgment of the people
for change of policy by the constitution
al remedy Of the baIlotbox
During the war with Mexico, many Of
the political opponents Of the Admins
tration then in power thought it their du-
ty to denounce and oppose the war, and
to urge before the people of the country
that it was unjust, and prosecuted for un'
holy purposes With equal reson i,
might have been said of them, that theil
discussions before the people we're calcu
lated to discourage enlistments, "to pre-
vent the raising of troops" and to induce
desertions from the army. and leave the
I Government without an adequate militia
ry force to carry on the war.
Ifthe freedom of speech and of the press
are to be suspended in time of war, then
the essential element of popular govern.
ment to effect change of policy in the
constitutional mode is at an end. The
freedom of speech and of the press is in
dispensabie, and necessarily incident to
the nature Of popular government itself
Ii any Inconvenience or evils arise from
its exercise, they are unavoidable.
On this subject you are reported to
have said, further:
1t is asserted, in substance, that Mr.. Vallandig
ham, was. by y military commander, seized anC
pub bile meeting in criticism of the course of tho
Adminlstratlon, and IN condemnation Of the mil
itary orders Of the general" Now if there be ne
for the arrest, then coneede that the arrest wal
wrong. But the arrest, | undsrstapd, was made
ayows his hostility to the on the part OF tn,
Union; and his arrest was made because he wa,
iaboring, with some effect to prevent the raising
| OF TROOPS. to encourage ueSortiOn from the
and to leave the rebellion without an adequat.
military force to suppress T. He Was not arrested
the Administration or the personal interests of the
commanding General, but because he was dana
winch the life Of the nation depends. He was war
ring upon the military and this gave the mill tar!
II Mr.. Vallandigham was not damaging the mill
tary power OF the country, then his arrest wal
, made on mistake Of facts, which would be gla'
In answer to this, permit us to say
first, that neither the charge nor the spec
itications in support of the charge OF
D which Mr.. Vallandigham was tried, i'm
. pute to him the act of either laboring t
prevent the raising of troops, or to en-
courage desertions from the army. Sec
ondly, no evidence on the trial was offer
ed with view to support any sue
CustBo' III WuAt lubtAnco, anu WnhL aCl
9 did he either discourage enlistments O
Q encourage desertions in the army? VIII
: is the man who was discouraged fror
n enlisting, and who encouraged to deser,
by any act of Mr.. Vsllandigham If
y be assumed that perchance some perso
Q might have been discouraged from enlist
? ing, or that some person might have bee
= encouraged to desert, on account Of hear
J. ing of MIR. Vallandigham's views as t
Q the policy of the war as means OF res
toring the Union, would that have lai
# the foundation for his conviction an
i Punishment? If so, upon the sam
d grounds every political opponent of tn
# Mexican war might have been convicte
n and banished from the country. Whe
= gentlemen of high standing and exter
: sive influence, including your Exceller
! cy, opposed, in the discussion before ii
b people, the policy of the Mexican wa
y were they "warring upon the military.
: and did this "give the military constitr
n tioual jurisdiction to lay hands upon
: them And, finally, the charge in Il
: specification upon which Mr.. Vallsndis
ham was tried entitled him to trial b,
y fore the civil tribunals, according to Il
'f express provisions Of the late acts Of Coz
IS gress. approved by yourself. July l7tl