The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-17

I
stantial evidence exists, to which you al
lude, which makes "it next to impossibl,
to repel the inference that Mr.. Vallan
digham has eounseled directly in favor
OF this resistance, and that the same ha
been mainly attributable to his conduct
why was be not turned over to the civil au
thorities to be tried under the late act
of Congress! If there be any founda
tion in fact for your statements impli
eating him in resistance to the consttu
ted authorities, he is liable to such pro-
secution. And We now demand. ss q
mere act ofjustice to him, an inVestiga'
tiOn Of this matter before jury Of hii
country; and respectfully insist that
fairness requires, either that you retract
these charges which you make against
him, or that you revoke your order Of
banishment aud allow him the opportu.
nifty Of an investigation before an im.
partial jury.
The committee do not deem it neces.
sary to repel at length the imputation
that the attitude of themselves or of the
Democratic party in Ohio encourages
desertions, resistance to the draft, aud
the like" or tends to the breach of any
law of the land. Suggestions o. that
kind are not unusual weapons in our
ordinary political contests. They rise
readily in the minds Of politicians heat
ed with the excitement Bipartisan strife.
During the two years in which the Dem.
ocratic party Of Ohio has been constrain>
ed to oppose the policy Of the Admins
tralion and 70 stand up in deferSe uf
the Constitution aud of personal rights
this charge has been repeatedly made
1t has fallen harmless, however, at the
feet Of those whom it was intended to
injure. The committee believe it will
do so again. If it were proper to do
so in this paper, they might suggest
that the measures of the administrat /
and It's changes of policy in the perse.
cution OF the war have been the fruitful
sources Of discolraging eulistments and
inducing desertiOns, and furnish rea.
son for the undenAble fact, that the FIRST
call for volunteers was answered by very
many more than were demanded, and
that the next cali for soldiers will pro-
badly be responded TO by drafted men
alone. The observation Of the Presi
dent in this connection. that neither the
Convention in its resolutions, nor the
committee in its communication, init
mate that they "are concious of all exist.
ing rebellion being in progress with the
avowed object of destroying the Union"
needs, perhaps, no reply. The Demo,
cratic party of Ohio has felt so keenlv
the condition Of the country, ar, nesn
SO stricken to the heart ,yy the msfor.
tunes and sorrows which have befaIlen il
that they hardly deem it necessary by
s4.emn resolution, when their very state
exhibited everywhere the sad evidences
oi war, to remind the President that
they were aware ofits existence.
In the conclusion of your communi.
cation, you propose that, if majority
Of the committee shall attix their sigma
lures to duplicate copy, which you
have furnished, they shall stand commit.
ted to three propositions therein a,
length set forth; that he will publish the
names thus signed, and that this publ
cation shall operate as u revocation o.
the order Of Punishment. The comrt
tee connot refrain from the exprt ssior
Of their surprise, that the President
should make the fate of Mr.. VallandiE.
ham depend upon the opinion of this
committee upon these propositions Il
the arrest and 5anshment were legal
and were deserved; if the President ex
ercised power clearly delegated, under
circumstances which warranted its exer
cise the order ought not to be revoked
merely because the committee bold, oil
express, opinions accordant with thost
Of the President. If the arrest and
banishment were not equal or were moi
deserved by Mr.. Vallaudigham, then
surely he is entitled TO an immediate
, and unconditional discharge.
The people Of Ohio were not so deep
ly moved by the action of the President
merely because they were concerned for
: the personal safety or convenience o.
Mr.. ValIandigham, but because they
,aw in his arrest and Punishment an at
tack upon their own personal rights
and they attach value to his discharge
5 chiefly, as it will indicate an abandon
, ment Of the claim to the power of sucf
arrest and banishment. However jus,
S the undersigned might regard the prin
ciples contained in the several PROPOSE
tions submitted by the President, or hov
t much Soever they might, under othe
, circumstances, feel inclined to indors
the sentiments contained therein, ye
:. they assure him that they have not beel
/ authorized to enter into any bargains
E terms, contracts, or conditions with th
Y President of the United States to pro
5 cure the release Of Mr. VaIlandgham
The operations Of the undersigne
# touching the questions involved in lhes
y propositions, are we'll known, have bee
r many times publicly expressed, and ar
sufficiently manifested in the resolution
Of the convention which they represen
J, and they cannot suppose that the Presi
e dent expects that they will seek the dis
y charge of Mr.. ValIandigham by o pledg
s implying not only an imputation upO
3 their own sincerity and fidelity as cit
t zens of the United States, but as ais
r carrying with it by. Implication cessa
. tion of the legality Of his arrest, trii
t and banishment, against which the
and the convention they represent, ha '