The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-30

official Visit of Vallandighammcr
TO the Army of the GumberIand..
His Conversarion with Gen. GAR
field--The Defeat of our Army Con-
coded to be Important to the Success
of the Dem ocratic Tickets.VaIlan. /
dighamss FaIsehOods Exposed,
Especial Correspondence of the Gin. Gazette
BRIDaEpoRr, ALA, Sept. 6.
The gentlemen appointed by Governor |
Tod to distribute election blanks to the Ohio |
troops, arrived Yesterday Mr. Griffiths, who |
represents the Vallandigham party, called to-
day at Gen. Rosecrans, headquarters. The !
Governors Introductory letter obtained for
him arespectful reception and hearing, which
would not otherwise have been accorded TO a
man of his sentiments. Gen. Garfield, Chief
of Staff, during the day fell into conversation
with him and introduced Ohio politics, when
most animated aud interesting scene ensued.
Griffiths is shrewd and we'll informed on po-
litical topics, and unusually candid for one of
his party, but he found more than match in
Garfield.
During the interview the following conver-
sation between the two occurred. Garfield
remarked in substance that he understood the
Vallandigham party professed to believe that
the Government couldn't succeed in crushing
the rebellion, and it was in favor of immedi-
which Griffiths answered affirmatively
Garfeld-If contrary to your expectations,
the armies of the Government should sue
ceed, your party would be disappointed and
its prospects badly injured.
Griffiths-Yes, to some extent.
Garfeld-Now, in a few days this army
may be engaged in a terrible battle with
Bragg's whole force. Possibly we may crush
it. Would not your party be injured by such
resul
Grifiths-Well, you would affect the result
of the election.
Garfeld-Oh then, as party you don't
want to see Us successful
Griffiths-Really we have no interest in
the fight.
Garfeld-You are perfectly indifferent then
whether we or Bragg are crushed =?
This Griffiths rather evadej, saying his
PARTY had 10 interest in the issues of the
fight, but carefully abstainedfrom saying that
! his party sympathized with Rosecrans in the
present coming struggle. 1,4H
Somewhat later Garfield expressed surprise
that man who had held the public position
of Vallandigham should write IA letter to the
people of Ohio containing three important
statements, which were not only totally false,
but which he knew to be lies. For example,
he says in the Niagara Falls letter that he
met not single man, woman or child in the
South, who did not express themselves will
ing and anxious to discuss the subject of a
reconstruction of the Union as soon as the
Government would withdraw its troops
Now said Garfield, sternly and emphati-
cally, hold myself responsible, as a man
and public officer, to the Democratic party of
Ohio, to prove that Yallandgham knew that
he stated a stupendous falsehood. The rebel
Governor Harris Of Tennessee, said to him in
the presence of many witnesses Mr. Val
landighau:, you totally misapprehend us
We will accept no oterms that do not recognize
the eternal separation of the South from the
North. We will listen to no terms which do
not begin with these conditions. We will ac-
cept no boundary line south of the Potomac
and Ohio"
Gen. Garfield added that he could give the
name of many responsible citizens of Shell
byville, Tennessee, who heard the conversa-
ton between ValanGighan. and Harris.
In reply Griffiths said that Vallandigham
was steering as close to the wind as he could
when making that statement, to secure his po
litical success. !" FalIandigaona," he said "ha.
no expectation Of the restoration Of the Ulaion."
As may have been expected, much feeling
was created in the staff at his appearance.
SHRAPNELL.