Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-08-14
speech OF Hon John Sherman--ValIa
digham's Congressional Record Il

speech OF Hon John Shernlan--Vallan
digham's Congressional Record Ex
amined.
The Hon. John Sherman addressed larg
audience at Delaware, on Tuesday evening, up
on the issues involved in the present politica
campaign in Ohio. His speech was able, earn
est and eloquent, and held the undivided atten
ton of his hearers. ofMr. Vallandigham's s con
sorting with traitors and treasonable course il
Congress, Mr.. Sherman said:
served as a member of Congress with hin
during his entire time. He was the intimate
friend and associate, personal and political, Of
the leaders of this rebellion You will look in
vain for any word from him of reproof, discour-
agement or dissent, to any act of theirs in the
progress of the rebellion. He defended all the
outrages in Kansas The repeated invasions of
armed Missouri mobs, the fraud, violence MUIR
der and crime, with which these same rebels
sought to overcome freemen in Kansas-the in
famous laws of a bogus legislature-thea attempt
to establish pro-slavery constitution by elec-
tion frauds, all these were defended and excused
by him. He applauded and Joined in the noisy
threats of disunion uttered in both houses Of
Congress when Mr.. Lincoln was elected Dur
ing the memorable election session followed by
Mr.. Lincolns election and when those rebels,
encouraged by the imbecility of Mr.. Buchanan,
killing and robbing our citizens, Mr. Vallandig-
ham defended and excused them.
He was with them in consultation, co-operat-
ed with them, was party to all their plans and
encouraged them more than any other Southern
man in acts of open war; He was the first aud
indeed the only man who personally proposed
in Congress a substantial dissolution Of the Uni
on, and the substitution of four Contederdcies.-
When Major Anderson withdrew from Fort
altrs1 -
fandigham was the only man from Ohio who
voted "No' on resolution of thanks to that
gallant officer. Up to the close of the Both Con-
gress there was not a single act or declaration
OF Mr.. Vallandigham that was not approved by
the leaders in the rebellion. The only differ
ence afterwards was that they took up arms
boldly to overthrow the Government, while he
avails himself of his position as a member of
Congress from Ohio to sap and undermine the
authority of the Government, and thus more ef-
fectually aid the rebels than by sharing their
dangers in the field.
When the extra session of Congress met in
1861, party ties had disappeared, the people OF
the loyal States were acting heartily together in
defense of the capital then beleagued by hostile
armies. Where was Mr.. Vallandigham then?
No political debates about the conduct of the
war had then arisen, when Crittenden and John.
son, Union men of the South and the North
ing heartily together in providing means of de-
fense, what then was the course of Mr.. Vallan-
digham? He was active and spoke frequently,
but not one word against the rebels then in arms
around the capital, but arraignment after ar
raignment, ACQUISITION after ACQUISITION, against
the constituted authorities The record will
show that six men at this session were especial
ly prominent in opposition to every measure of
offense or defense: Breckinridge of the Senate;
Bennett Norton Wood Reid and VallandiOham
of the House. Since then Breckinridge, Reid
and Bennett have joined the rebel service; Wood
cropped ont in the New York riot, and our
Democratic friends now propose to make the
other Governor of Ohio. You will not find his
vote recorded in favor of any appropriation for
the support Of the army. l have before me the
record Of the vote on the bill to authorize Ma
tional loan, taken on the 10th day of July, 1861.
Those who voted in the negative on this impor-
tant bill are Bennett, Reid, Wood and Vallan-
digham. Is not man known by the company
he keeps9