The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-07-31
NIAGARA FALLS, Canada West,

Arrested and COnnneQ TOT Three WceAS IL
the United States, a prisoner of State; Danish
ed thence to the Confederate States, and there
held as an alien enemy and prisoner Of war
though on parole; fairly and honorably dealt
with and given leave to depart, an act posi-
BILE only by running the blockade at the
hazard Of being fred upon by ships flying the
flag of my own country, found myself first
freeman when on British soil. And on to-
day, under protection Of the British flag, i
am here to enjoy and in part to exercise the
privileges and rights which usurpers insolent-
~ deny me at home The shallow contri-
vance of the weak despots at Washington,
and their advisers. has been defeated. Nay,
it has been turned against them, and /, who
for two years was malinged as in secret league
with the Confederates, having refused when
in their midst, under circumstances the most
favorable, either to identify myself with their
cause or even so much as to remain, preferring
rather exile in a foreigD land, return now
with allegiance to my own State and Govern
ment, unbroken in word, thought or deed,
and with every declaration and pledge to you
while at home, and before was stolen away,
made good in spirit to the very letter.
J. Six weeks ago, when just going into ban-i
ishnent, because an audacious but most cow
ardly despotsm caused it, l addressed you as
a fellow.citizen. I. clay, and from the very
place then selected by me, but after weari-
some journeyings for more than four thou
sand miles by land and upon the sea, still in
exile, though almost in sight Of my native
State, greet you as your representative
Grateful certainly ! am for the confidence in
my integrity and patriotism, implied by the
unanimous nomination as candidate for Go
vernon Of Ohio which you gave me while
was yet in the Confederate States It was
not misplaced; it shall never be abused. But
this is the last Of all considerations in times
like these. ! ask no personal sympathy for
the personal wrong No; it is the cause of
constitutional liberty and private right, cruel
ly outraged beyond example in free country,
by the President and his servants, which
gives public signifcancy to the action Of your
convention. Yours was, indeed, an act of
justice TO acitizen who. for his devotion to the
rights of the States and the liberties of the
people. had been marked for destruction by
the hand of arbitrary power. But it was
much more. 1t was an example Of courage
worthy of the heroic ages of the world; and
it was a spectacle and a rebuke to the nsurp-
ing tyrants who, having broken up the Union,
would now strike down the Constitution, sub
vert Your present Government and establish
a formal and proclaimed despotism in its
stead. You arethe restorers and defenders
of constitutional liberty, and by that proud
title history will salute you.
icongratuiateyyo upon your nominations.
They whom you have placed upon the ticket
with me are gentlemen of character, ability,
integrity and tried fidelity to the Constitution,
the Union and to Liberty. Their moral and
political courage--;l quality always rare. and
now the most valuable of public virtnes-is
beyond question. Every way, all these were
mountainous fit to be made. And eyen
jealousy / am sure, will now be hushed, if ]
especially rejoice with you in the nomination
Of Mr.. Pugh as your candidate for ,Lieutcn-
ant Governor and. President of the Senate
A scholar and a gentleman, soldier-in a
foreign war, and always patriot; eminent
as a lawyer and distinguished as an orator
and a stateman, ] hail his acceptance as an
omen Of the return Of the better and more
virtuous. days Of the republic.
Icndorse your noble platform elegant in.
style, admirable in sentiment. You present
the true issue, and commit yourselves to the
ty---to restore and make sure first the rights
tions. II is in vain to invite the States and
people of the South to return to Union
without constitution, and dishonored and
polluted by repeated and most aggravated ex-
actions Of styrannic power. 1t is base in your
selves, and reasonable to your posterity, to
surrender those liberties and rights to the
creatures whom your own breath created and
can destroy.
Shall there be free speech, q free press,
peaceable assemblages Of the people, and a
free ballot any longer in Ohio? Shall the
people hereafter, as hitherto, have the right
to discuss and condemn the principles and
policy Of the party; the men who, for the time,
conduct the Government; to demand of their
public servants reckoning Of their steward.
ship, and oplace other men and another par
ty in power at their supreme will and plea
sure? Shall Order SO or the Constitution be
the supreme law of the land? And shall the
citizen any more be arrested by an armed
soldiery at midnight, dragged from wife and
home to military prison; thence to mock
military trial: thence condemned, and then
banished as felon for the exercise of his
rights ?-This'is the issue, and nobly you have
met it. 1t is the very question of free, popu-
lar Government itself. It is the whole cues
ton; upon the one side liberty, on the other
despotisms The President, as the recogniz-
ed head Of his party, accepts the issue
Whatever he wills, that is law. Constitutions,
State and Federal, are nothing; acts of legis-
lation nothing; the Judiciary less than moth
ing. In time Of war there is but one will SUI
preme-his will; but one hw-military me-
cessity, and he the sole judge. Military or
ders supercede the Constitution, and military
commissions usurp the place Of the ordinary
courts Of justice in the land. Nor are these