The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-06-26
SPEECH OF
HON. GEORGE E. PUGH,

0tutO NOutOuIlOu'
Immediately after the nomination Of
Mr.. Vallandigham by the Democratic
State Convention of June llth, 1868,
and after order and quiet had in some
measure been restored, ex-senator Geo.
e. Pugh, the able and distinguished
counsel for Mr.. ", in the late pretend.
ed trial of that gentleman, was called
upon to respond for the illuStriouS exile
In obedience to this call, Mr.. Pugh, de-
livered the following bold, manly, elo-
quent and powerful speech:
FELLOW CITIZENS: For some time be-
fore his final banishment / discharged
the duty of attorney and counselor for
the gentleman you have just so unani-
mously nominated as your candidate for
Governor Of Ohio. l have not entirely
agreed with Vallandigham in regard to
all questions Of policy and expediency
in reference to the war. l have not,
with him, seen it possible to decide up
on any terms of peace, by which the
questions could be settled; but | am sat-
isfed that the question ofwar or of peace
is the highest problem of craftsmanship;
but cannot, and you cannot decide up
on the issue raised without absolute lib.
,erty of speech and freedom of discussion
NOT only as politicians, but as citizens
His injuries are my injuries his rights
are my rights; the outrage upon him is
an outrage upon me. Iimplore you all
to regard it SO. (CrieS of"We do. ~
They have forced Clement L. Vallandig.
ham into exile into the Confederate
States, and I exhort you to make the
cause of that brave, heroic, honest and
prosecuted man your cause. In the
many anxious hours, both day and night,
when it was nay duty to be with Vallan-
digham and consult his welfare, l never
saw his cheek blanch or his eye quail /
never knew him to swerve for moment
from the fundamental principles of the
Government, the right of every citizen
to express his opinions, without fear of
military dictatiou or military law, upon
war or peace. CHEERS.
The question of prosecuting the war
or concluding peace, cannot be intelli
gently decided by free people until
they hear both sides am not prepar-
ed to decide. (Cries Of "Peac, Peace. u"
l say you cannot decide any idea of
discussing such questions under Burn
sides Order No. 3S, is sham and
mockery. l do not know the character
of the resolutions to be brought before
the Convention, but if my advice is ia
ken they will be short and simple and to
this effect: That the question of prose.
cutting the war cannot be decided until
we have achieved our own liberties. ~
The question of the right of the people
to discuss their own affairs is of para.
mount Importance. If Mr.. Vallandig-
ham can convince me that the Confeder-
ate States will accept honorable propo.
sitions of peace, as claimed by him, l
will 60 with him heart and hand; but
until | hear his arguments and statement
of facts, am unable topronounce judgs
ment. And, therefore, when any militia
ry man, whether President or corporal,
declares that he shall not tell what he
knows of the question, and express what
he thinks for the best interests of the
Republic, it is farce and sham to
talk of free government. The Demo-
cratic party is not responsible for these
unhappy divisions and this disastrous
war; but our adversaries are RESPONSE
BILE. / know that suppliant slaves at
the foot of power say that these Difficult
ties couid'nothave been adjusted on hon
orable terms ; but l know, too, that they
might have been settled without war and
the Union maintained in its integrity, had
abraham Lincoln and the Republican
party been willing to accept fair and
honorable terms ofcompromiSe This is
not merely matter of opinion; know
it to be a fact. The President and his
party were urged and implored and
warned not to launch this country into
the miseries of civil war; but they did it
upon the distinct proposition that they
could maintain the government and the
integrity of the Union by the sword.
They assumed that responsibility, and
hold them to it before God, the civilized
world, and the judgment Of all ages. 1
will do no act, will utter no word, to
relieve them of that responsibility. If
they demand more men they shall have
them; if they require millions of treas.
tire they shall have it; but if they fail,
and at the end their folly and their fail
are are apparent, the judgment Of God,
Of men and of history will be against
them. But l will do no act, utter no
word that they in the future can construe
into an excuse for their failure, or as a
plea for escaping the responsibility. If
they succeed and restore the Union as it
was, am false prophet; and if they
fail they shall not put on me any excuse
or responsibility for their failure. Gap
plause. )lo }.5..s ,. M .,ap
But as q citizen, l will not submit for
one moment to the exercise OF arbitrary,
despotic and irresponsible power The
Democracy have already submitted to
more Of it, and experienced more out
RACES under it than any other people
that ever existed would have borne. =
We have borne. those repeated outrages
patiently, but there is limit to endur.
ance. But il they persist in declaring
or maintaining martial law in States
where there is no war-if hold my life