The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-31

AuN' We VIII enIheslly support every
constitutional measure tending to preserve the
Union OF the States. No men have q greater
interest in its preservation than we have-none
desire 1t more; there ore none who will make
greater sacrifices or endure more than we will
to accomplish that end We are, as we ever
have been, the devoted friends of the Coustitu.
tion and the Union, aud we have no sympathy
with the enemies of either.
10. That the arrest, imprisonment, pretend
ed trial, and actual Punishment Of CLEMENT L.
VALLANDIeHAN, a citizen Of the State of Ohio,
not belonging to the land or naval forces of
the United States, nor to the militia in actual
service, by alledged military authority, for no
other pretended crime than that Of uttering
words Of legitimate criticism upon the conduct
Of the Administration in power, and of appeal
ing to the ballot box for change Of policy
(said arrest and military trial taking place
where the courts of law are open and unob'
structed, and for no act done within the sphere
of active military operations in carrying on the
war)--we regard as palpable violation of the
following provisions of the Constitution of the
United States;
]. Congress shall make no law
abridging the freedom Of speech or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for
redress Of grievances"
., 1.-THE right Of the people to be secure in
their persons, houses, papers md effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated; and no warrants shall
issue but upon probable cause, supported by
oath or affirmation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched and the persons or
things to be seized"
8. "No person shall be held to answer for n
capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on
a presentment or indictment of grand jury,
eSceptin cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the militia, when in actual service
in time of war or public danger"
4. "ln all criminal prosecutions, the accused
shall enjoy the right to q speedy and public
trial, by an impartial jury of the State and
district wherein the crime shall have been com
mitted, which district shall have been previous
ly ascertained by law"
And we Furthermore denounce said arrest,
trial and punishment, as direct insult offer
ed to the sovereignty of the people of Ohio,
by whose organic law it is declared, that 'no
person she'll be transported out of the State
for any ofense committed within the same"
l6. That Clement L. Valandigham was, at |
the time of his arrest, q prominent candidate
for nomination by the Democratic party of
Ohio for the office of Governor of the State
that the Democratic party was fully competent
to decide whether he was a fit man for that
nomination; and that the attempt to deprive |
them Of that right by his arrestand punishment |
was an unmerited imputatiOn upon their intel
ligence and loyalty, as well as a violation Of
the Constitution.
II. That we respectfully but most earnestly |
call upon the President of the United States to
restore Clement L. Valandigham to his home
in Ohio; and that q committee of one from
each Congressional district of the State, to be
selected by the presiding officer of this Con
vention, is hereby appointed to present this ap-
pliCation to the President.
IS. That the thanks of this Convention are
hereby rendered to IIoratio Seymour, Governor
Of the State of New York, for his noble letter
in relation to the Nrrest of Mr.. Vallandigham;
and the President of the Convention is hereby |
directed to communicate copy of this reso-
luton to Gov. Seymour.
10. That the establishment of q military |
government over loyal States, where war docs
not exist, to supcrcede the civil authOritiesand
suppress the freedom of speech and of the
press, and to interfere with the elective fran |
chise, is not only subversive of the Constitution,
and the sovereignty of the States, but the &C.
tual Inauguration of revolution.
90. That it is the sworn duty Of the Govern.
or of the State to protect her citizens in the
enjoyment and exercise of Eli their constitu-
tiOnal rights, and we Lave behed with deep
humiliation and regret, not only the failure Of
David Tod, Governor of Ohio, to perform that
duty, but what is still worse his ac'irs Dartici-
pations in the violation of those rights.
u. That we denounce as traitors to the
country the Abolition JacObins who are seek
ing to bring about civil warm the loyal States,
with the view Of turning, if possible, the bay
onets of the army against the breasts of the
fathers, brothers and friends of the soldiers,
and subiecting those States to q military sur
yeillauce and dominion.
%. That we denounce, ms libclcrs Of the
Democratic party ami enemies of their country,
the men who are engaged in representing the
Democratic party as wanting in sympathy with
our soldiers in the field 1t is n base slander
upon human nature to assert that Democrats
who have hundreds of thousands Of brothers
and sons in the army, do not sympathize with
them-and it is an outrage upon the Demo-
cratic party, that has always stood by the
country, to assert that it is not the friend of
is gallant defenders.
23 That the conduct of Brigadier General
Mason the military commandant at Columbus,
and of the officer commanding the provost
guard, in preventing all appearance Of mill
tary restraint upon the proceedings Of this
Convention, show that they have just appre-
citation of the Constitution of their country
and the rights of the people-and that they
are wise and patriotic officers; and that their
conduct on this occasion is in striking contrast
with the contrary conduct of the military au
thorities upon the occasion of the late Demo-
cratic meeting at Indianapolis. And we take
pleasure in expressing our confidence in Gen.
Mason, and the officers and soldiers under his
command.