Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-08-27


surprised, not little surprised, that any on.
In this vicinity, should be ignorant Of my opir
lon, or doubt my position In that regard. Their
may be persons here, both Democrats and 9th
ers, who have heard me declare that doubte
the policy or pRopriety of putting Mr.. Vallau
dighAm forward as our leader. For eighties
n months after the Siege Of Sumter, was con
slant, O daily reader Of the Cincinnati CONNER
ctat, and though not converted 10 any Of hi
many political whims, might, may have re-
ceived some tinge from his chameleon hues.
know did not there fiud full and fair state
ment Of Vallandighsm's public career. l i'm
btbed the impression that he was not O wal
DemocFat--that he was 80 opposed, that he dix
and said everything he could TO favor the South
he did and said nothing to favor the North -
Mr.. Vallandigham was represented as an art
full, dangerous demagogue-desiring perhap
designing, to place the whole power Of the Uni
ted States Governments beneath the feet oi
Southsrn traitors. knew enough, however
extra the Commercial, to be convinced that thil
last charge was not true. The editor also knew
IL, for, utser Sue mock trial and gondemnatlo IN
of Mr.. Vallandigham, he made the scknowl.
edgment "that he had voted men and money
to carry on the war" Candor would have
justified that paper 10 adding that Clement
l.. Vallandigham had also offered resolution
In Congress, to Increase the pay Of the COM
mon soldier two dollars per month, and to pro-
vide Tor his comic and support, in case of dis
| ability from wounds or sickness. Csndor said
yes, but coWardice said no. That same cow
| ardice-that same craven spirit which induces
the Cabinet at Washington to deny to our SOL
diers In the field the dearest privileges of free.
men-the inestimable privilege of thinking,
speaking and voting as they please. 1t Ia an
Insult, IL is an outrage on the soldier, to deny
him the right to receive and to read whatever
documents and papers he may choose. / am
not public man, sir, but have public as
we'll as private interest in this matter. Two
Of my sons-nearly oil l have-entered into
this contest as private soldiers, and had they
remained In that capacity to the end of the
war, no President or power on earth could de.
prive them of their birthrlght. Citizenship Ia
the born-right Of an American, and citizenship
is the bought right of foreigner who complies
with the law. and dearly, dearly too, has many
q naturalized citizen paid for that right From
old Lexington to Gettysburg, they have soaked
the altar of liberty With their blood. -Four from
my house and home have gone forth "where
blood and carnage clothe the ground In GRIM
son, sounding with death groaus." One OF them
l shall never BEE more. He sleeps the long
sleep at Vicksburg. And yet am Copper
head" am "Butternut," am ga black
hearted traitor and ought TO be sent to Fort
Warren" "Heu me miseyum" How very
those men who stand on street corners when
Democratic professions are passing, and shout,
"Hurrah for jeff. Davis" are filled with Jus.
tice and generosity for their fellow citizens -
Who says they are breeohes pockets patriots2-
The thought is slanderous; they are noble, dis
Interested souls!
But enough, enough Of such fox faced vermin
The charge has been made, the charge is con-
Htantly repeated, that Democrats prefer theil
party to their country. Hence the fierce and
fiery invectives ehoWered down upon them
hence they are called "hounds and cuEs," and
hence, in Cabinet literature, 1t lie said "the
Copperhesds shall be sent Kissing back to their
holes" What are the proofs? The last proof
is that thousands and tens Of thousands Of those
who answered the call Of old D'vad Dot, shouted
out: "We will fight John Morgan but vote for
Vallandighsm." Capt Cunningham, In his
sccount of the raid through Indiana and Ohio,
says: "Wherever We went We were opposed BY
Copperheads and Butternuts In front and rear. u
Poor, miserable "hound-curs" why did you op-
pose your irlends7 The first proof was, that
when the President called for $4,000 men, the
Democrats rushed to the standard of their
country. When the President called for SOC, ,000
more, the Democrats poured In until our civilian
War Secretary Was obliged to cry out, "Hold
enough" On the volunteering system oui
army and navy have not less than one million
and half Of men, and at least one half are 90
true, unfinching Democrats as ever cast vote
or shouldered musket.
Again, your note says, that there are persons,
"both here and abroad, who are interested In
my opinions, and desire TO know "my views
about the political parties, at the present time"
have no pleasure In personality, no motive,
private or public, in speaking or writing about
myself. / shall do SO then, only 90 far as II
will elucidate my subject. You doubtless re-
member, that q meeting was called in Circle
vile, by the then Republican party, to organize
the great National Union Association. They
appealed 10 every patriot, to every lover Of his
country, to every man who was opposed to the
reasonable, the criminal efforts, which certain
Southern malcontents were making, TO tFample
to come forward and lend his aid to the Admin.
istration In defending that Constitution and pre-
serving that Union. Seeing, feeling, knowing
az did, that everything which held high and
holy, as an American citizen, was at stake, /
responded to that call. desired TO believe
that those men were honest and sincere In their
professions Of placing themselves above party.
know for one, felt, like the Quaker, of say
Ing to my political name, ellie there, Dsmoc-
racy, until have choked these Villains" -
was invited, was urged TO preside over
that meeting Standing in the presence of
Colonels Cochran and Florence, l declined
felt that they we're deserving the honor and
respect Of all men, and that either would be
worthy Of the cause and place. declined to
act as President, but determined 10 aot as o pri.
vate, and hence excused myself, one week Ia.
ter from o similar invitation from my old
Democratic friends. Well, sir, I voted for "Tod
and victory" but, no sooner did victory take
her seat in Columbus, than abe summoned all
the cohorts of Abolitionism-''likes swallows
to their sooty nests, they came In countless
thousands home.p Before the election, the
names of Ewing, Stanberry, Hunter, and other
honorable conservatives, we're freely spoken Of,
but, Immediately aftefwaFd, q whisper, faint
and low, went forth that "braye old Ben. Wade
might be the man." / did not think It possi-
BILE, The whisper soon increased to full