Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-08-29
SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 80, 1863
Senator Harding's Letter.


Harding Of Oregon, which we think will sat
isfy all reasonable men of his fidelity to the
Union organization. His course in the ap'
preaching Congress will undoubtedly prove
satisfactory to the Administration. Unlike
the Democratic Delegate from this Territory,
Mr.. Cole, he docs see reasons" for condemn
ing both the course and opinions of the traitor
Vallandigham. We can very we'll excuse tine
aisapprobation of the policy of his arrest at
the time and under the circumstances.
While We believe hc deserved the punishment
inflicted upon him, we would have preferred
that he had been left to the operation of the
civil law and public opinion.
The reasons assigned by the Senator for
disappearing of the arrest, are very forciblc
if not conclusive, and it will be remembered,
in this connection that the President in his
reply to the Albany Committee of Democrats,
very clearly manifests his regret that the ar
rest wa. made. The opinions expressed by
Mr.. Harding on the slavery question are those
Of many of the most ardent and Jealous friends
of the Administration, and it is not positireIy
certain that they are mott the opinions ofprom-
inent members of the Administration itself.
We presume our Union friends in Oregon
will take pleasure in correcting the misappre-
tensions they have created in relation to Sen
ator Hardings political sympa,lies and party
predictions:
SALEM, Ogn., August 90, 1868.
Dear Sir: Yours of 18th inst. is received
to-day, and hasten to answer.
Some timo ago l was much surprised OIL
learn that it was reported that | had said, in
private conversation that if were in Ohio
/ would vote for Mr.. Vallandigham for Gov
ernor. disapprove of his whole course
since the opening of the rebellion. and on all
occasions when speaking of it, and in the con-
versation referred to, expressed my disappro-
baton, and usually in strong terms. One gen
tleman taking part in that conversation said
he would, if in Ohio, vote for Mr.. ", and !
Just as distinctly said ,c0uld not; but adj
mitted that if l were called upon to vote for
him, or an extreme abolitionist, who would
prosecute the war against the seeded States
after they were willing to return to their duty
under the Constitution, to compel the aboli-
tlon of slavery, would prefer Vallandigham
Aud further said" Because, if he were Gov
ernor Of Ohio, he would be compelled to pur-
SUE nearly the same course as tho present
Governor of New York, and would be in favor
of allowing those States to return and control
their own domestic policy under the Constitu
ton of the United States; and that b..
lieved they could be compelled,-or cocrced,
If you please.-to return upon that condition,
and the whole country restored to peace and
harmony. But if the extreme abolition policy
prevailed, I saw no prospect Of peace until the
whole Of the seeded States should be subject
ed to military despotism, if that were possible,
which would in all probability overthrow tho
Federal Government and establish itself over
the whole country. Such was the conversa-
ton, and 50 it was understood and reported
by those who heard it. and there is nothngin
it desire to change or modify. Contrary to
my expectation, it grew less and less in vol
ume and greater in significance, until it comes
down to He said if in Ohio he mould rote for
VaNaxd;gham.
That a necessity for choosing between him
or an abolitionist will ever occur, is so improb-
able that my preference for the one or the 9th.
Of amounts to nothing, and would not have
been repeated here had it not been necessary
to show the origin Of the report that / was IN
favor Of MI. VS. election.
His arrest, imprisonment and Punishment
do not approve, because believe he had made
all the arguments in favor OF his erroneous
views that hs could make, and they had been
printed and widely scattered over the coun-
try, and read by all who chose to read them.
His Punishment could not stay the force Of his
reasoning. or turn the point Of his sarcasm,
nor could it destroy his personal inAence.
The peculiar and Objectionable time and man.
nsr Of his arrest, and the novel character Of
bis sentence, called forth the utmost activity
Of his frisnds in his defense. justification
directed public attention to him. and caused
all he had said to be read and repeated, with
al the curiosity which martyrdom awakens,
and made new side issue between the ADJ
ninistration and its opponents, upon the
rights of citizens in loyal States to personal
al liberty, subject upon which the people are
always justly sensitive, and right which they
will not allow infringed without resentment 4;
and thereby believe the Government has
been weakened more than it could have been
done by all the peace speeches that he could
have made. Yet while do not approve of
that and some other acts of tho Administra-
ton. believe the President is honestly On.
dsavoring to suppress rebellion and preserve
the Union, under the Constitution. In his Of.
forts for that purpose, he shall have my ear
>,.,> ~s.ss -. a. .,ua. a.. ~ a.. 49, ,s,.sx.