The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-08-05

accuracy of the declaration that hs has
never made speech before the people Of
Ohio, in which he has not counselled sub
mission aud obedience - the laws ard
Constitution, and advised the peaceful
remedies of the judicial tribunals, and of
the ballot box for the redress of griev-
ances, and for the evils that af1ict our
bleeding and suffering country. And,
were it not foreign to the purposes Of this
Communication, we would undertake to
establish, to the satisfaction of any candid
person, that the, disturbances among; the
people, to which you allude, in opposition
to the arrest of deserters and the draft,
have been occasioned mainly by the meas
ures, policy, and conduct of your admin
istration, and the course Of its political
friends. But if the cireumstantial eyi-
denee exists, to which you ,allude,, which
the inference, that, MFR. Vallandigharil
has codnselled directly in favor of this
resistance, and that the sanles has
been mainly attributable to his conduct,
why was he not turned over to the civil
authorities to be tried under. the late, acts
of Congress? If there be ANY founda-
tion in fact for your statements i'm nplicat-
ing him in resistance to- the constituted
authorities, he isliablesto such prosecu-
tion.' And we nowigdemand; as al mere
act of justice to him, an Investigation of
this matter, before Jury of his country:
and respectfully insist thatsfairness re-
quiros, either rthats Agous sretraet these
charges whichyoa make against him, or
h f,,.do L.,
ment and allow him the opportunity ofan
Investigation before an impartial jury.as .
The comittee do not deem, it necessary
to repel at length the imputation that the
attitude of themselves or the Democratic
party in Ohio encourage desertions, re-
sistenee to the draft. and the like" Sug-
gestions Of that kind are not unusual
weapons in ourordinary political contests.
They rise readily in the minds of politi-
clans heated with the excitement Of par
tisan strife. Daring the two years in
which the Democratic party of Ohio has
been constrained. to oppose the policy of
the Administration, and to stand up in
defense of the Constitution and 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, fit were proper to do SO
in this paper, they might suggest that the
measures of the Administration, and its
changes of policy in the prosecution of
the war, have been the fruitful sources
of discouraging enlistments and inducing
desertIons, and furnish reason for the
undeniable fact, the first call for yolun-
teers was answered by very many more
than were demanded, and that the next
call for soldiers will probably by respond
ed to by drafted men alone. The obser-
vation of the President in this connec-
tion, that neither the Convention in its
resolutions, nor the committee inits COM
munication, intimate. that they s'are con
scious of an existing rebellion being in
progress with the ayowcd object of de-
stroying the Union" needs, perhaps, no
reply. The Democratic party of Ohio
has felt SO keenly the condition of the
country, and been so stricken to the heart
by the misfortunes and sorrows which
have befallen it, that they hardly deemed
it necessary by solemn resolution, when
their very state exhibited every where
the sad evidences of war, to remind the
President that they were aware of its iex-
istence. ,k~ s;s..gs. ~ 80 -.
In the conclusion of your communica-
ton, you propose that, III a mojority of the
committec shall af6x their signatures to a
duplicate copy OF. it, whichYyou have fur
nished, they shall stand committed to
three propositions therein at length set
forth, that you will publish the names
thus signed, and that this publication
shall operate as revocation of the order
of -banishment. The committee canHot
refrain from the ex preston of their sur
Eprise, that the President should make the
fate of Mr.. yallandigham depend upon
the opinion of this committee upon these
propositions. If the arrest and banish-
ment were legal, and we're deserved; ifthe
president exercised power clearly dele
i gated, under circumstances which warrant.
ed its exercise, the order ought nottobe
lrsvoked, merely because. the committee
hold, or express, opinions accordant with
Ithose of the President. If the arrest and
Ebanishment were not legal, or were not
deserved by Mr. Vailandig CHAM, thensure-
by he is entitled to an Immediate and dsun-
conditional discharge. sssssd sid bsiaaz
fe5The people of Ohio were not SO deeply
moved by The action of the President
merely because they were concerned fol
the personal safety or convenience ef Mr.
Vallandig cham, but because they saw in
his arrest and banishment an attack upon
| their own personal rights; and they attach
!, value to his discharge chiefly as it viii
indicate an abandonment of the claim te
the power Of such arrest and banishment
However just the undersigned might re
gard the principles contained in the sew
beral propositions submitted by the Presi
dent, or how much soever they. might
) under other circumstances, feel inclined
to indorse the sentiments gcOntained there
in, yet they assure him that they have no
been authorizedto enter INTO any bargains
} terms, contracts or conditions with tn,
President of the United States to procur
t the release of Mr.. Vallandighham TIL
opinions of the undersigned touching tn
7 questions involved in these propositions
e are well known, have been many time
Epublicly expressed, and are snficientl