Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-20

Sentence Of VaIInndighhm'
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT or TEE OHIO I
CIScrSEATI, OHIO, May l6, 1868. ;
GENERAL ORDER, NO. SO.

HEApouARrrRs DEPARTMENT or TRE oHTo,
CIScrSSATI, OHIO, May l6, 1858.
GENERAL ORDER, NC. So.
i. At a military commission, which con-
vened at Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 9th day
of May, 1863, pursuant TO Special Orders,
No. 1876, Of April q, 1863, current series,
from these headquarters, and Of which
Brigadier-Gen Robert B. Potter, U.s
Vols. is President, was arrsigned and
tried, Clement L. ~Vallandigham, a citizen
Of the State of Ohio, on the following
charge and specification Of charge, to-wlt:
Charge-Public expressing, IN violation
of General Orders, No. 3S, from Headquar-
ters Department Of the Ohio, sympathy Tor
those in arms against the Government OF
the United States, and declaring disloyai
sentiments and opinions, with the o2Ject
and purpose Of weakening the power Oh
the Government in its efforts to suppress
an unlawful rebellion.
Specifcation-In this, that the SAID
Clement 1. Vallandigham, q citizen OF the
State of Ohio, on or about the LIST day Of
Nav, 1868, at Mount Vernon, Knox ooun-
ty, Ohio, did publicly address a large
meeting of citizens, and did utter senu-
ments in words, or in effect as follows
Declaring the present war "a wicked,
| cruel and unnecessary war; "a war not
| being waged for the preservation Of the
Union :" "a war fer the purposeof crush
ing out Liberty and erecting a Despotism;.
IA war for the freedom Of the blacks and
the ~euslavement Of the whites stat
inc that "If the Administration had so
wished. the war could nave been honorably
terminated months ago that "peace
=. - -. honnrnhIu attained "
lisfening to the proposed intermediation OF
France that q propositions by which the
Northern States could be won back, and
The South guaranteed their rights under
the Constitution, had been rejected the
5ev before the late battle Of Frederieks-
bnro bv Lincoln and his minions, mean
inc thereby the President Of the United
States and those under him in authority
cbar0ipp that "the Government of the
limited States we're about to appoint Mill
tary Marshsls in every district to restrain
the people of their liberties, to deprive
them Of their rights and prlVIleges5
q racteriziug General Order No. 80,
from Headquarters Department OF ONO, as
a base u~surpation Of arbitrary authority,
inviting his hearers to resist the same oy
saving, /" the soone the people inform the
minions Of usurped power, that they WIN
not submit to such restrictions upon their
liberties, the better" declaring that "he
was at all times and upon all occasions, re-
solved to do what he could to defeat the
attempts now being made to build up a
monarchy upon the ruins of our free Gov
eminent p asserting that h firmly BE-
Iieved as he said six months ago, that the
men in power are attempting to establish
3 despotism in this country, more cruel
and more oppressive then ever existed be
fore.V All of which opinions and senh-
ments, he well knew did aid, comfort and
encourage those in arms against the o
eminent, and could butinduce in his hear
ers. a d~istrust Of their own Government,
sympathy for those in arms against 1t, and
a disposition to resist the avs Of the land
To which charges ard specifications the
prisoner refusing to plead either Guilty,
} or HEot Guilty" the Commission directed
the Judge Advocate to enter on the records
: the plea of " Not Guilty"
FINDING AND SENTENCE.
The Commission, after mature delibers-
ton on the evidence produced and the
statement Of the accused, find the accused
Clement L. Vallandigham, a citizen Of the
State of Ohio, as follows:
; OF the specification, Except the words
"That propositions by which the Northern
, States could be won back and the Soutt
| guaranteed their rights under the Consti
l tuition. had been rejected the day betor'
tba last battle of fredericksburg, by LIN
coin and his minions;2' meaning thereby
: the President of the United States, AnC
/ those under him in authority,-"And tn
4 words, asserting that he firmly believed
: as he asserted six months ago, that tn
men in pOyer are attempting to establish
a Despotism in this country. more erue
a a1U More oppressive than ever eAlsUeu DC
fore,") "Guilty."
And as to these words, "Not Guilty"
: Of the charge, equity"
d And the Commission do therefore sen
tence him, a citizen Of the State of Ohio, t
r be placed in close confinement in some for
n tress Of the United States, to be designate,
! by the commanding officer of this Depart
D ment, there to be kept during the continu
ance Of the war.
s II. The proceedings, finding and sen
f tence in the foregoing case are approve,
: and confirmed, and it is directed that tn
3 place of confinement Of the prisoner
Z Clement L. Vsllandigham, in accordance
with said sentence, be Fort Warren, Bostol
I Harbor. By command of
Maior-General BURNSIDE.
LEWIS RICHMOND, A. A. General.