Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-16

PuuGHutgham QJl-a
guage adoised against ensments and aoor of deser
tions and resistance to Drafting, &c. aud yet in subse-
quen part Of your answer after speaking of certain dis
turbances which alleged to have occurred resistance
OF the arrest Of deseers aud OF the enrolment preparato
ny 10 the draft aud which you attribute mainly the
course Mr. Vaandgham has pursued you say that he has
made speeches against the war IN the midst OF resistance
to 1t that he has been known any instance to
counsel against such resistance and that g" is
impossible to repet the Inference that he has e0uRseled d.
rectly ia aoor Of IT," Permit to say that your iDor-
nation is most grievousy at fault The undersigned have
been in the habit of hearing Mr. Vaandigham speak be-
fore popular assembages and they appeal with confidence
to every truthful peraOn who has heard him for the
accuracy OF the declaration that be has made speech
before the people Of Ohio which he has not cOunseed
submission and obedience to the laws and the Consu
ton, and advised the peaceful remedies Of the Judicial tr
bunas and of the baobox for the redress of grievances
and for the evils which aict bleeding and suffering
country And it not foreign to the purposes OF this
communication, would undertake to establish to the
satisfaction of any candid person that the disturbances
among the people to which you aude In opposition to the
arrest of deserters and the draft have been occasoned
mainly by the measures policy and conduct Of your Ad
mnstration and the of its political friends. But
the crcumstantal evidence exists to which you aude
which makes it next to impossible to repe the inference
that Mr. Valandgham has cOunseled directly in favor of
this resistance and that the has been mainly attr
butabe to his conduct why was he not turned over TO tie
civil authorities to be tried under the late acts of Con-
gess If there be any foundation in fact for your state
mens duplicating him in resistance to the constituted
thOrlties he is liable to such prosecution And we
OF this matter before jury of his country; and respect
fully insist that fairness requires either that you retract
these charges which you make against him. that you
revoke your order OF Punishment and allow him the OppOr
tunity of an investigation before impartial jury
The committee do not deem it necessary to repel at
length the mputaon that the attitude Of themselves of
sstance to the draft and the like Suggestions of that kind
not unusual weapons in ordinary political contests
They rise readily in the minds of politicians heated with
the excitement OF partisan strife During the two years
in which the Democratic party of Ohio has been
strained to oppose the policy of the Administration and to
stand up in defence of the Constitution and of
harmless, however the feet of those whom it
tended to ipure. The committee believe 1t will do again.
II were proper to do in this paper they might suggest
that the of the Administration and its changes
of policy in the prosecution of the war; have been the
fruitful of dsc0uragng enlistments and inducing
desertons and furnish for the undenabe fact that
than demanded and that the next call for sol
ders will probably be responded to by drafted alone
The observation of the President in this connection,
that neither the COnventonn its resolutions the Com
mittee in its communication intimate that they
scOus of existing rebellion being in progress with the
avowed object of destroying the Union needs perhaps,
no reply The Democratic party of Ohio has felt keeny
the condition of the country and been stricken to the
heart by the msfortunes and which have beaen
it, that they hardly deemed necessary by solemn resou
ton when their State exhibited every where the sad
evidences of war; to remind the President that they were
aware of its existence
In the conclusion of your communication you propose
that if majority of the committee shall afx their sigma
lures to duplicate copy of it, which you have furnished
they shall stand committed to three propositions therein
at length set FORTH that he will publish the thus
signed and that this publication shall operate
ton OF the order of Punishment The committee cannot
refrain from the expression of their surprise that the Pre-
sident should make the fate of Mr. Vaandgham depend
upon the opinion Of this committee upon these PROPOSE
tons If the arrest and Punishment legal and
deserved if the President exercised power clearly dele
gated under circumstances which warranted its exercise
the order ought not to be revoked merely because the
committee hold express opinions accordant with those
of the President If the arrest and Punishment not
legal, not deserved by Mr. Vallandgham, then
surely be is entitled to immediate and unconditional
discharge.
action Of the President merely because they
ed for the personal safety convenience OF Mr. Vaan
digham but because they in his arrest and Danish
ment attack upon their personal rights and they
attach value to his discharge chiefly it will indicate an
of the claim to the power of such and
Punishment However just the undersigned might regard
the principles contained the several propositions submit
ted by the President how much they might uu
der other circumstances feel inclined to endorse the sen
ments contained therein yet they him that they
have not been authorized to enter into any bargains terms
contracts, conditions with the President Of the United
States to procure the release of Mr. Valandgham The
opinions of the undersigned touching the questions in
voved in these propositions well known have been
many times publicly expressed, aud sufficiently mani
tested in the resolutions of the Convention which they
present. and they cannot suppose that the President
poets that they will seek the discharge of Mr. Vallau
digham by pledge implying not only mputaton upon
their sincerity and fidelity citizens of the United
States and also carrying with it by implication
sion OF the Legality Of his arrest, trial. and Punishment
against which they and the Convention they represent
solemny protested And, while they have asked the
vocation of the order of Punishment not favor but
right due to the people Of Ohio, and with a view to
avoid the possibility of conflict disturbance of the pub
lie tranquility they do not do this does Mr.. Vaan
dgham desire it, at any sacrifice of their dignity and self
respect.
The idea that such pledge that asked from the I'M
dersgned would secure the public safety sufficiently to
for any mistake OF the President in dschrg
ing Mr. Vallandghsm is in their opinion mere evasion
of the grave questions involved In tins discussion and of
direct to their demand Aud this is made espe
cay apparent by the fact that this pledge s asked in
which concludes with ntimation Of
disposition the part Of the President to repeat the acts
complained Of
The undersigned therefore, having fully discharged the
duty enoined upon hem leave the responsibility with the
President r.-.
M. ORCHARD 10th Dist, Chairman.
DAVID HoDK, Sec'y, Sd Dist
GEO. BLISS, 14th Dist
L. w. hartley, 9Th Dist
w. j. GORDON, 18th Dist
JNo. ONEILL, 18th Dist.
G. A WHITE, 9th Dist
w. E. FIECK 10Th Dist.
ALEXANDER LONG, I'd Dist.
JAS. r. MORRIS, 18th Dist
GEO. 8. CONVERSE, 9TH Dist.
GEO. H. PENDLEToN LIST Dist
w A. HUTCHINs, 18th Dist.
A. l.. BACKUs 10th Dist.
j. +. MCKINNEY, 4th Dist. /
j. w. WHITE, 10th Dist
4. G. LIE BLOND, 5th Dist
LOUIS SCHEFFER, 18th Dist.
WARREN p. NOBLE, 9th Dist
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