The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-08-05
made as less disagreeable mode to him
of securing the same prevention.

VI scouting Tue Sdule prevention.
I am unable to perceive an insult to
Ohio in, the caes OF Mr.. Vallandigham.
Qaite surely nothing of this sort was or is
intended. was wholly unaware that Mr..
Vallaudigham was, at the time of his ar
rest, candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation for Governor, until SO informed by
your reading to me the resolutions of the
Convention. | am, grateful to the State
of Ohio for many things, especially for
the brave soldiers and officers she has Civ
en- in the present national trial to the ar
mics of the Union. q.,s -.v... a., t.t
You claim, as understand, that accor-
ding to my own position in the Albany
response, Mr.. Vallandigham should be
released; and this because, as you claim,
he has not damaged the military service,
by diseouraging enlistments, encouraging
desertions, or otherwise, and thatif he had,
he should have been turned over to the
civil authorities under the recent acts of
Congress-. / certainly do not know that
Mr.. Vallandigham has specifically, and
by direct language, advised against enlist
ments, and in favor of desertien and resis-
tance. to drafting. Weall know that com
binations, armed in some instances, to. re-
sist the arrest of deserters, began several
months ago; that more recently the like
has appeared liz resistance to the enroll
ment preparatory to draft; and that
quite number of assassinations have oc-
Cured from the same animus. These had
to be met by military force, and this again
has led to bIoodshed and death. And now
under sense of responsibility more
weighty and enduring than any which is
merely official, | solemnly declare my
belief that this hindrance of the military,
including manning and murder, is due to
the course in which Mr.. Vallandigham
has beeu engaged, in a greater degree than
to any other cause; and is due to him per-
sonally in greater degree than any other
one man. These things have been noto-
rious, known to all, and of course known
to Mr.. Vallanaisham. Perhap, l would
not be wrong to say they originated with
his especial friends and adherents. With
perfect knowledge of them he has frequent
~, if not constantly made speeches in Con-
gress and before popular assemblies; and
if it can be shown that with these things
staring him in the face, he has ever utter
ed word of rebuke or counsel against
them, it will be fact greatly in his favor
with me, aud one of which, as yet, | am
totally ignorant. When it is known that
the whole burden of his speeches has been
to stir up men against the prosecution Of
the war, and that in the midst of resistance
to it, he has not been known in any in
stance to counsel against such resistance
it is next to impossible to repel the in
ference that he has counseled directly in
favor of it,. With all this before theil
eyes, the Convention you represent have
nominated Mr.. Vallandigham for Cover
nor of Ohio; and both they and you have
declared the purpose to sustain the natl
onal Union by all constitutions means
But of course they and you, in common
reserve to yourselves to decide what are
constitutional means and, unlike the Alba
ny meeting, you omit to state or intimate
that in your opinion an army is consti
tutional means Of saving the Uninn agalns
re ebellion, or even to intimate that you
are conscious of an existing rebellion
being in progress with the avowed objec
Of destroying that very Union. At the
| same time your nominee for Governor, II
whose behalf you appeal, is known to yor
and to the world to declare against the
use of an army to suppress the rebellion
Your own attitude, therefore, encourage.
| desertion, resistance to the draft and tbs
| like, because it teaches those who incline
to desert and to escape the draft to believ'
it is sour purpose to protect them, anc
( to hope that you viii become strong
enough to do so. After personal inter
course with you, gentlemen of the com
mittee, 1 can, not say. [ think you desire
this effect to follow your attitude, but
assure you that both friends and enemies
! of the Union look upon it in this light
1t is a substantial hope, and by conse
queuce. a real strength to the enemy, l
/ is a false hope, and one which you woult
willingly dispel. l will make the wa.
Exceedingly easy. | seud you duplicate
of this letter, in order that You, or a ma
ijority of,you, may, if you choose, lndors'
! your names upon one Of them, and return
| it thus endorsed to me, with the under
standing that those signing are thereb.
com mitied to the following propositions
and to nothing else: -,-,,.-y... ~
l. That there is now rebellion in tn
United States, the object and tendency Q
which is to. destroy the National Union
and that, in your opinion, an Army ant
Navy are constitutional means for. sup
! pressing that rebellion.
T D. That,no one of you will do anythin!
which, in his own judgment, will tend t
hinder the increase or favor the decrease
or lessen the efficiency of the Army 0
Navy, while engaged in the effort to sup
Lpress thatrebellion; and, ees ~, s7s
+ 3. That each of you will, in his sphere
do all he can to have the officers, soldier
aud seamen of the Army and Navy, Will
engaged in the effort to suppress the re
bellion, paid, fed, clad, and otherwise wei
provided and supported. ia odsa a
And with the further understanding tha
lupon receiving the letter and names thu
Endorsed, [ wiilcause them to be publish
led, which publication shall be, within
itself, arevocation of the order in relatio
to Mr. Vallandigham. ei15'f
| 1t will not escape observation that
consent tn the release of Mr.. Vallandip