The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-08-12
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RAvENNA, OHIO. ea''
r...s-.....August I2. 1868
VALLANDTGHAM EXPOSED.
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His Congressional Record Shown
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TIE IssUE FAIRLY STATED.
THE Duty OF UNION MEN.
The Speech of Senator Sherman.

sHoN, JOHN SHERMAN, spoke at Deleware
upon the 29th of July. His speech is placed
in full before the readers of this paper. 1t is
an able and earnest effort--and vindieates the
"truth of history, relating to the Congress
sional record of Eallandigham. Italso states
the issue before the people-and defines the
duty of all men who love their country and
-NessA.not betray it by ioing hands with:rebels.
On being introduced to the audience Mr..
Sherman spoke as follows: z,t ,fi nc
The political campaign in Ohio this season
presents some singular features. We are in
the midst of a civil war, in which tits safe to
say that one million of men are now arrayed
in arms against each other. There are per-
haps now from Ohio one hundred thousand
of her best and bravest citizens in the field,
in hospitals or camps, sharing the burdens of
war. The immediate stake involved is moth
ing less than National existence, while the 'ul-
innate stake involves nothing less than Civil
Liberty for generations yet to come. In the
midst of this contest the Democra, ic party,
make personal issue. They propose to
withdraw our armies, to abandon the war and
to try the question whether their candidate
for Governor has been legally convicted as a
traitor to his country. We are assured by
Mr.. Pugh, tie Democratic candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor, who is one of the most elo-
auent and able young men in the State, that
here in Ohio we have been subjected to ty-
ranny as intolerable as thatof King Boriba of
Naples. Whsn We ask sforseTidenee of this
tyranny, we, are told that ClementL. Vallan-
digham has been illegally convicted and ille-
gally banished; i and that if we are fit to be
| free we must stop and examine the recor,! in
his case, and not to be turned from it by clam
ors about prosecuting the war, or of conclud-
ing peace. Aud we are told that if we don't
do all this we are helpless slaves and deserve
no better fate. Now, as / do not desire to be
asslave, and do not wish the people of my
native State to be slaves, Il will so far depart
from my usual course in political discussion as
tosexamine the personal issue thus made. sE
4 .5sIhad supposed, fellow citizens that no
where in the wide world did people live a.
free from oppression assin the State of Ohio
Batnthe Democratic party has sounded tn,
alarm that our liberties were jeopardized il
that Mr.. Vallandigham has been, as they as
sert illegally convicted and banished. Befor
, alluding TO matters of more general interest
propose to consider that question. ( s.
The candidate of the.Democratic party wa
convicted, by military tribunal for aiding tn
+ enemy with whom We are at war; For thi
r he was expelled beyond our, lines and wa
within the lines of the enemy when nomina
!, ted for Governor of Ohio. By the judgnen
r of military tribunal, composed mainly c
Il his friends approEed'by Gen. Burnside, tn
q chief military officer within the State; sane
toned by Judge Leavitt-a Judgeseleeted b
# Court, he WAS convicted and sentenced TO i'm
r prisonment during the war. By the mere
. of the President he was released from i'm
y prisonment and dsent beyond our lines.-
y While thus banished as convicted traitor, b
n military authority, the Democratic party
the State of Ohio nominated this man as
candidate for Governor, and you arc ealle
upon to ratify and confirm that nomination
to entrust this man, convicted as traito
with the chief command of our militia, IL
appointment of all it's officers, and the maj
agement of the Executive authority of Il
State; and that too in the midst Of a w
with the rebels he was convicted of aiding.
This is startling proposition. am su
prised that a party could be found in Ohio
I'd make such a nomination. Y Yet they had Il
right to make it. It is for the people of Oh,
IS, to say what shall be done with it. 1t will 7
ts aS quire some forbearance for tbe brave soldie
>. who are now exposing their lives to the bt
lets of the enemy, to discuss this nomin
"a tion,s and admit that it tries the patience
I, patriotic citizens to discuss it with good tel
per. Yet the men who made the nomnati
! had the right to make it, They had the rig
to nominate JEFF Davis, Breckinridge. or
IS, other rebel. They might have initiated
practice which has become common in Z
}. rope and selected Greek or other pri,
(Iaughter.) The Constitution of the st
S does not limit even to citizen of the st
s. the right to hold the Office of Governor.
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