Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-09-26
Important Letter from Gen. Garfield
Vallandigham Convicted of Falsehood-
HIS Conversation with the Rebel CO.
vernon HARRIS. .r- ...fr.. r.t- 81 ~

|
Hon William Demnison, Chnirmdn Union
State Central Committee, COLUMBUS, O.
/ DEAR Sir :. In the address of,C. L. Val
landigham to the Democracy of Ohio,
dated Niagara Falls, July Is. 1863" the
following passage occurs: ,5. .a.
Travelling thousand miles and more,
through nearly one half of the Confederate
States. and sojourning, for lime, at wide
ly different points, ] met not one man,
| woman, or child, who was not resolved to
perish rather than to yield to he pressure
of arms, even in the most desperate ex-
tremity. Aud whatever may be the vary.
| ing fortune Of the war in which recognize
tte hand of Providence pointing visibly to
the ultimate issue of this great trial Of the
States and people Of America, they are
better prepared now, every way to make
good their iuexorable purpose, than at any
period since the beginning of the struggle
These may, indeed. be uuwelcome truths,
but they are addressed to candid and honest
men. Neither, however, let me add, did |
meet any one, whatever his opinions or bis
station, political or private, who did not
declare his readiness, when the war, shall
have ceased, and invading armies been
withdrawn, TO consider and discnss the
question of re union. And who shall doubt
the issue Of tue Rrgument?'
The substance of the extract is clearly
this: III ~
lst That the South is unit on the
IF \ ha Eadara1 Gny
ment to the last extremity, and the unani-
nifty is SO great that be saw not one man,
woman child, who dSsented.
I'd. That the Confederate States are bet.
ter prepared than ever before to carry out
their iDexorable purpose Of rebellion.
Sd. That The people of the rebellous
States. with great unanimity, declare their
readiness to discuss terms of reunion, on
the cessation of hostlities and the with
drawal Of our armies. 7 .-s..-,.. l.s
1t is strange that Mr. Vallandgham had
the temerty to make the first OF these
statements, when it is Lotorious that no
preciut in the State, not even in East Ten
nessee, has so large a per cent. Of Union
men, as Bedford county, and Shelbyvile,
its comfy seat, Mr.. Fallandigham's first
resting place after he left our lines. That
village gave three hundred and City Union
votes. to City secession, at the beginning
of the war, and it has retained its reputa-
| ton for loyalty untarnished thus far If
Mr.. Vallandigham had attempted to ascer-
tain the sentiments of its citizens, he t1ould
hare found thds nine out of every ten toere
tn faoor of immediate submission to the
| FEDERAL Goreram ame1lt Bon ar..ss3
n Ifwould be glad to believe it possible
that these .facis escaped his notice, but
having recently visited Shelbyyille. and
conversed with large number of citizens
who saw and conversed with Mr.. Vallan.
diGbam during his stay there, am forced
to the conviction that he knew his state
ment quoted above to be false. ''1 .H''st
n- The next statement Is not less wild and
singular than the first, He must have
known that at the time OF his visit, and be-
fore tho late heavy disasters had fallen
upon the rebellion, the commercial affairs
Of the South were in most ruinous, con-
dtion.. Prices current stood as follows:
Boots were selling at from fifty to SEVENTH
Ave dollars per pair; soldiers brogans at
forty Eve dollars per pair; common felt
bats from forty TO fifty dollars apiece; ba-
con one dollar and ! Fifty cents per pound;
-four City cents per pound corn three dol
lars per bushel; and other commodities ID
proportion. He could, hardy have tailed
to nolics thai nearly the whole svailaoie
force 81 the oonisdersey wss slfssdy 10 the
lesld--thst barely snongh citizens were isfs