Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-07


DrpATTsrFNr OF THE CUMBERLAND
W1vcHRsrEn, Tennessee, August II.
Bou William Dennison, Chairman Of the ]
Union State CoRVsntiOH, Columbus, Ohio:
DEAR sn in the address Of c. L. VAL !
laudigham to the Democracy of Ohio, dated
Niagara Falls, July 10th, 1868, the follow
ing passage occurs:
Travelling thousand miles and more,
through nearly one half Of the Confeder-
ste States, and sojourning for time st
widely different points, 1 net not one man,
woman or child, who was not resolved TO
perish rather than yield to the pressure Of
arms even in tbs most desperate extrem-
tiles. And whatever may AID must be the
varyipK fortune Of the war, in which l
recognize the hand Of Providence point
ing Tisibly to the ultimate issue Of this
great trial Of the States and People OF
America, they are better prepared now eV-
ery way to make good their inevitable pur-
pose. than at any period since the begin
ming of the struggle. These may indeed
be unwelcpme truths; but they are ad-
dressed to candid and honest men. Mel |
| tber. however, let me add, did l meet any |
one. whatever his opinions or his station,
noIitieal or private who did not declare his
readiness. when the war shall have ceased,
and invading armies been withdrawn, to
consider and discuss the question OF re-
nnion. And who shall doubt lhe issue Of
the argument
The substance Of this extract is clearly
this:
First-Thst the South is g unit on the
question of resisting the Federal Govern
meut to the last extremity, and the una
nimity is so great that he saw not one
man. woman or child that dissented.
Second-That the Confederate States are
better prepared than ever before to carry
out their inexOrsble purpose Of rebellion
Third-Thst the people of the rebellious
States. with great unsnimity, declare their
readiness to discuss terms of reunion, on
the cessation of hostilities and the with
draWal Of our armies.
It's strange that Mr.. Yallaudigham had
J the temerity to make the first Of these
statements, when it is notorious that no
precinct in this State, not even in East
Tennessee has 80 large per cent. Of mon
/ men as Bedford county aud Shelbyville, its
! county seat NJ. Vsllsndighsm's hrst rest
: ING piace after he left our lines. The vii
f lage gave three hun ired and fifty Union
votes. 10 fifty for Secession, at the begin
: ming Of the wsr, and it has retslned It's
rep1tstion for loyalty untarnished during
the struggle thus far. If Mr.. Nsllanalg'
i ham had attempted to ascertain the senti-
It ments Of its citizens, he would have found
that nine out OF every ten were in favor oil
immediate submission TO the Federal Gov
ernment.
|, 1 would be glad to believe it possible
e that these facts escaped his notice, but haV
r ing recently visited ShelbyTille, and con
versed with large number of citizens, Wh'
u saw and oonversed with Mr.Vallandighan
g, during his stay there. an forced to th'
N conviction that he knew the statemen
n quoted above to be false.
The second statement is not less Wil'
rs and singular than the first He must hav
ID known that at the time Of his visit, ant
In before the late heavy disasters had falleI
upon the rebellion, the commercial affair
Of the South were in most serious cOndi
u tion. Prices current stand as follows
n Boots were selling from $50 to SI5 pc
n common 4itiRE hTpgals st S45 psFE PRqss55g
bacon, 81 so per pound -four, 800 pc
pound corn, 50 per bushel, and othe
commodities in proportion. He coul
sc hardly have failed to notice that nearl
of the whole available force Of the COnfedeE
Id acy was already in the field; that barrel
- enough citizens were left at home to over
see the slaves and manage the plantations
III that the Confederacy was a shell, which
p though made Of iron, when once pierce
ic must collapse into ruin.
His faith in the strength and militar.
virtue of the Southern Confederscy great
IN ly surpasses that o. large number Of hi
be friends who are officers and soldiers in th
ee rebel army. Witness the swarm Of de
p serters who are daily leaving their ranks
!. Furthermore, it is q well known fact tha
IL even before Bragg's expulsion from Mid
Oh die Tennessee, many Of his officers, includ
n ing at least two Major Generals, gave
y as their private opinion that the rebellion
could not succeed.
le The third statement Of Mr. Vsllandig
10 ham is only true in so far as his first on
is false Of course all loyal Southerner
- are not only ready to discuss the question
o. Of reunion, but are anxious to return
the Union without discussion. But whel
Mr.. Vallandigham states that the leader
of this rebellion unanimously expires
'n their willingness to discuss the questio
of return to the Union, he either entire
" ly forgets his conversations with rebels o
recklessly states falsehood.
In 8 full and frank conversation be
tween eimself and Governor Harris (TebS
10 Governor Of Tennessee) the latter, afte
hearing Mr.. Vallandigham's statement 9
o his own opinions and policy, said in tn
d, presence Of many witnesses: You to
Of tally misunderstood US. We have resolv
~ ed to listen to no terms short Of the tots
separation and absolute independence G
IN the South, and we will accept no boundar
be south Of the line Of the Ohio and the PC
be tomac Negotiation on other basis is nj
Al terly useless
I hold myself personally reponsible I
Mr.. Vallsndighsm or any Of his respon
sible friends for maintaining by abundsI
ds proofs the assertions have made sbovt
1 appeal to the citizens Of Ohio to vindicst
al the honor Of eur State and the loyalty {
m cur people against the designs Of 8 part
headed by a man who not only stand
convicted as the public enemy Of hi
country, but, after having cleft his countr
for his csuntry's good" Joined himse
a with pirates and smugglers to throw cor
tempt upon the laws OF the Olookdo
which his Government had established fc
her protection, now stands on foreig
shore, and with knot Of admiring ira
tors around him, looks on the Republic eI
r; gagged in deadly struggle for its life, an
IS, tries to give cheer to our enemies by d
'te claring our cause hopeless.
ur answer his craven words Of despa
by the stout facts Of July under which Il
whole rebel framework is reeling and t.
tering to its fall. I answer then by Il