The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-07-25

NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA WEsr,
J,,l,, * lSS9

to depart,-an act possible only by run
ming thu BLOCKADE at the hazard of being
fired on by ships flying the flag of my own
country,--I found myself first freeman
when on British soil. And to-day, under
protection of the British flag, am here to
ENJOY, and in part to exercise, the privI-
leges and rights which usurpers insolent-
ly deny me al-home The shallow con.
trivance of the weak despots at Washing
ton, and their advisers, has been defeated
Nay, it has been turned against them
and |, who for two years was maligned 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, preterrins rather
exile in a foreign land, return now with al
legiance to my own State and government,
unbroken in word, thought or deed, and
with every declaration and pledge to you
while q: home, and befJre | was stolen
away, made good in spirit and to the very
letter.
Six weeks ago, when just gong into
banishment, because an audacious but
most cowardly despotism compelled it, |
addressed you as iellow-citzen. To-day,
and from the very place then selected by
journeyings for NOR more than four thou>
sand miles by lard and upon the sea
still in exile, though almost in sight of my
native State-I greet you as your repre-
sentative. Greatetul certainly l am for
the confidence in my integrity and pat
riOtism implied 10y the unanimous noml-
nation as candidate for Governor OF Ohio
which you gave me while | was yet IN the
Confederate States. 1t was not misplace
ed; it shall never be abused. But this is
the least of all considerations in times
like these. | ask no personal sympathy
for the personal wrong No, 1t is the
cause Of constitutional liberty and private
right cruelty outraged beyond example in
a free country, by the President and his
servants, which gives public signiiicancy
TO the action OF your convention. Yours
was indeed AN act of justice to the citizen
who for his devotion 10 the rights o! the
States and the Liberties of the people, had
been marked for destruction 10y the hand
or arbitrary power But II was much
more. 1t was an act Of courage worthy OF
the heroic agest Of the world: and 1t
was a spectacle and a rebuke TO the usur-
ping tyrants who, having broken up the
Union, would now strike down the consti
tuition, subvert your present government,
de>potism in It's stead. You are the RE-
sTorERs AND DEFENDERS OF CoNsrITUTIoSAL
LIBERTY, and by that proud title history
Wi! salute you.
/ congratulate you upon your nomIna-
tions. They whom you have placed upon
the ticket with me are gentlemen of char
acter, integrity ability, and of tried fideli-
ty 10 the constitution, the Union and TO
LII Il
"a quality always rare, and now the most
valuable of virtues-is beyond question
Every way, all these were nominations fit
sure, will now be hushed. If ] especially
rejoice with you IN the nomination Of Mr.
pugh as your candidate fer Lieutenant
Governor and President of the Senate.
scholar and a gentleman, "a soldier in
foreign war and always patriot; emi-
nent rs "A lawyer, aud distinguished as an
orator and a stateman, hail his accept
ance "a an omen of the return Of the bet
ter and more virtuous days of the Re
puclic.
endorse your noble Iletform-elegant
in style admirable in sentiment You
present the true issue, and commit your
selves to the great mission just now OF the
democratic party,-to restore and make
sure first the rights and liberties declared
yours by your constitutions. II Is IN vain
to invite the States and people of the
South to return to the Union without a
constitution, and dishonored and polluted
by repeated and most aggraved exertlons
OF tyrannic powor. 1t Is base In your
selves, and reasonable TO yonr pos,erity,
to surrender these liberties and rights to
The creatures whom your own breath cre-
4 Il hxaF fro.
speech, free press, peaceable assembiages
Of the people, and free ballo, any longer
in Ohio? Shall the people hereafter, as
condemn the principles and policy of the
party-the mnistry-the men who, for
the time, conduct the government,-to de-
mand of their public servants reckoning
of their stewardship, and to place other
men and another party in power at their
supreme will and pleasure? Shall order
Thirty eight or the constitution by the
supreme law of the land? And shall the
citizen any more be arrested by an armed
soldiery at midnight; dragged from wife
ard child and home, to a military prison !;
thence to Il mock military trial; there
condemned, and then banished as felon
for the exercise of his rights? This is the
issue; you have nobly met it. 1t is the
very question of free popular government
itself 1t is the whole question: upon one
side, liberty; on the other, despotisnl.
The President, as the recognized head Of
his party, accepts the issue. Whatever he
wills. that is law. Constitutions, State and
Federal, are nothing; acts OF legislation
nothing; Judiciary less than nothing. In
time Of war there is but one will supreme
his will but one law-military orders
supercede the constitution, and military
commissions usurp the places in the ordi-
nary courts Of justice in the land. Nor
are these mere idle claims. For two years
and more, by arms, they have been en-
forced. 1t was the mission of the weak
but persumptuous Burnside-a name infa-
NOUS forever in the ears of all lovers of
constitutional liberty-to try the expert
ment in Ohio, aided by Judge whom
name not, because he has brought foul
dishonor upon the judiciary of my country.
In your hands now, men of Ohio, is the
final issue of the experiment. The party
of the administration have accepted it.
By pledging support to the President, they
have justified his outrages upon liberty
and the constitution; and who ever gives
his vote for the candidates of that party
commits himself to every act of violence
and wrong on the part of the administers
ton which he upholds; and thus, by the
law of retaliation. which IS the law OF
might, would fairly forfeit his own right TO
liberty, personal and political, whensoever
other men and another party shall hold the
power Much more do the candidates
themselves Suffer them not, entreat
you, to evade the issue; and by the judg-
ment of the people we will abide.
And now, finally. let me ask. what ia
the pretext for all the monstrous acts
and claims of arbitrary power which you
have so boldly and nobly denounced :?
"Military necessity" But il, indeed, all