The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-06-02
MR.. vALLANDIGHAM.

1t is reported that Lincoln proposes to send Mr.
Nahandisham South, as a punishment for his
opposition to the despotism which the abolition
administration Is engaged in trying to establish
throughout the North Now to this we must
seriously object We have all due respect.for Mr.
VallandIgham; as much respect as We can have
for any citizen of the enemys country, but for all
that we cannot forget that Mr. Vallandigham is q
citizen OF the United States and of the State of
Ohio, Government and State at war with the
Confederacy. The Confederaey is engaged in
carrying on war for the assertion aud maintain
ance of its own separate and Independent existence,
and MIR Fallandigham, pending the proceedings
which have resulted in his condemnation by
military authority, has distinctly and emphatically
stated that under no circumstances could he ever
consent to disruption of the Federal Union. In
plain terms, ne takes unmstakeable ground against
the position to which the Confederacy is irrcvoc-
ably pledged and committed. Thus in effect and
in substance Mr. Vsllandigham occupies towards
US the position Of an alien and an enemy, and if
sent here would not of course come voluntarily TO
cast his lot with US. On the contrary instead OF
coming here as a matter Of choice, he would come
as an involuntary exile. His sojourn would be q
punishment inflicted upon him by Abraham
Lincoln, who would thus presume to use the
Confederacy as penal colony to which he would
deport those of his citizens subjects who might
be SO unfortunate as to incur his arbitrary dis
pleasure or that of his mnions apd agents. That
the Confederacy could consent to occupy any such
position no one, wethink, would assert or contend
We are not going to occupy the position Of MIR
Lincoln's jailors is our territory to be made
Botany Bay for his use or convenience
But apart from all that, could doubt the
object of Mr. Lincoln in sending or ordering Mr.
Valandigham to be sent South. Vallandigham
is an able and prominent politician-the head Of
an Anti-Republican movement in the North West
He is leading and popular candidate the
anti Administration ticket for the position of
Governor Of the State Of Ohio. Who can fail 10
see the insidious character of the course which
Lincoln proposes to pursue towards him ? Let
Vallandisham be sent South and cordially received
by the South. and his influence in Ohio would be
destroyed. He would bea marked man, branded as
a traitor and the associate of traitors-as a in
league with the public enemy, as the Confederates
called at the North. This would be Lincons
object. The scheme would be cunning one,
aud would likely be crowned with q full measure
of success.
On any account or in any way we think that
policy as we'll as principle would forbid US allowing
Mr Vallandgham, as Lincoln convict, to enter
our lines, or remain among our people. Il would
be ruinous to him; it would be contrary to our
feelings of sefrespect; it would be concession
to Lincoln of the most humiliating kind, one to
which we could not accede. If Mr. Vallandigham
had come freely aud of his own accord to cast his
fate with the .Gsnfederacy, the case would be
different, and no one would extend to him a
hearticr welcome than We would, but this is not
the case. Upon the whole, however, his disposition
is doubtful in the extreme. He. will more prob
ably find his way to Fort Warren or to Fort
Lafayette Wilmington Journal.
We see it announced that Vallandigham has been
brought to lines in Tennessee and set Free
Our government ought not to receive him.