Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-23
NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA WEST,

July 18th, 1868
Arrested and confined for three weeks in the United
States prisoner of State banshed to the Confederate
States and there held alien enemy and prisoner of
though parole fairly and honorably dealt with and
given leave to depart an act possible only BY running the
blockade the hazard of being fired upon by ships flying
the flag OF my country found myself first freeman
when British soil And to-day under protection of the
British flag, here to enjoy and in part to exercise
the privileges and rights which usurpeIs nsoenty deny
ut home. .,
The shallow contrivance of the weak despots at Wash
'iDgton Bnd their advisers has been defeated Nay it has
been turned against them and l. who for two years
malgned league with the Confederates. hav
ing refused when in their midst under circumstances the
most favorable either TO identify myself with their cause
much TO remain. preferring rather exile in
foreign land, return with allegiance to my own State
and Government unbroken n word thought deed and
with every declaration and pledge to you while at home
and before stolen away, made good in spirit aud to
the very letter
Six weeks ago. when just going into Punishment
audacious but most cowardy despom caused it, ad
dressed you felow-cltizen To-day, and from the
very place then selected by me- but after wearsome and
most perous oureyiDgs for than four thousand miles
by land and upon The still in exile though almost
sight of my native State greet you your representa-
tive Grateful certainly / am for the confidence in my
integrity and patriotism implied by the unanimous nom
nation candidate for Governor of Ohio which you gave
while was yet the Confederate States. 1t not
misplaced; it shall never be abused But this is the last
of all considerations Ia times like these ask personal
sympathy for The personal wrong No. it the of
constitutional liberty and private right cruelty outraged
beyond example in free country, by the President and
his servants which gives public signfcancy to the action
OF your convention Yours indeed, act OF justice
to citizen who for his devotion TO the rights Of the States
and the liberties Of the people had been marked for de-
structon by the hand of arbitrary power But much
1t example of courage worthy of the heroic
ages Of the world and it spectacle and rebuke
the usurpng tyrants who, having broken up the Union
would strike down the Constitution subvert your pre-
sent Government, and sabsh formal and proclaimed
despotism in its stead You the REsToRERs DE-
TENDERS OF CONSTR tUTIoNAL LIBERTY, and by that
proud title history will salute you
congratulate you upon your nominations. They whom
you have placed upon the ticket with gentlemen
OF character ability integrity and tried fidelity to the
Constitution the Unon aud TO Liberty Their moral and
political coursge-a quality always rare, and the most
valuable of public virtues-s beyond question. Every
way, all these nominations fit to be made And
Jealousy, will be hushed if especially
Joce with you In the nomination OF Mr. Pugh your
ddate for Lieutenant Governor and President of the Sem
ate scholar and gentleman, solder foreign war,
aud always patriot; eminent lawyer and dsn-
guished orator aud statesmen hail his ptanc-
of the return of the better and vrtuous
days of the Republic.
endorse your noble platorm-eegaut in style admira-
bic IN sentiment You present the issue, commit
yourself TO the great mission just of the Democratic
partyto restore and make FIRST the rights and ber-
ties declared yours BY your constitutions 1t is vain
vite the States and people Of the South to return
Union without Constitution, and dshonored and polluted
by repeated and most aggravated exacons of yrannc
power 1t is base 10 yourselves and reasonable to your
posterty ID surrender these liberties and rights TO tho
creatures whom your breath created and can de.
stroy Shall there be free speech free press peaceabe
assembages OF the people, and free ballot any longer 10
right TO discuss aud condemn the principles and policy
the party the ministry the who for the time conduct
the Government-to demand Of their public servants a
reckoning OF their stewardship and to place other and
another party in power at their supreme will and plea
sure1 Shall Order Thirty-eight or the Constitution be
the supreme law Of the land And shall the citizen any
be arrested by armed soldier midnight dragged
from his wife and child and home to a military prison.
thence to mock military trial. thence condemned and
then banished feon for the of his rights
This is the Issue aud noby you have met it. 1t is the
very question of free popular itself 1t the
whole question-upon side liberty, the other des.
poiism The President as the recognised head of his
party, accepts the issue Whatever he Wills that law
Constitutions State and Federal are nothing acts of le
glation nothing; the judiciary less than nothing In time
OF war there is but will supreme, his will; but
law military necessity and he the sole Judge Military
orders supersede tho Constitution aud military commits
sions usurp the place OF the ordinary courts of justice in
the land Nor these idle claims For two years
and by they have been enforced 1t was the
mission OF the weak but pesumptuous Burnsidea
infamous forever III the of all lovers Of constitutional
ber y-to try the experiment in Ohio aided by Judge
whom not, because he has brought foul dshonor
upon the Judiciary OF my country.
10 your hands now, of Ohio, the final issue of the
experiment The party of the Administration have nc
ceped It, BY pledging support to the President they
have justified bis ourages upon liberty and the Con,tit-
on; and whoever gives his vote to he Candidates If
party commits himself to every violence and wrong
The part of the which he uphods and thus
by the law Of retaliation which is the law of might would
forfeit his own right to liberty personal and political
whatsoever other aud another party shall hold the
power Much more do the candidates themselves. Suffer
eDtreAt eVade the and by the
Judgment OF the people we will ab de-
And now finally, let ask what is the pretext for all
TIE monstrous acts and claims Of arbitrary power which
you have so noby denounced Military necessity =
But IT. indeed, all these be demanded BY military neces-
sity then believe your Liberties gone and tyranny
- perpetual For this civil 10 terminate only by
the snbugaton submission Of the South Ia force and
arns, the infant If to-day will live TO zee the end of
il No, in another way only it be brought 10 cose
Travelling thousand miles aud more through nearly one
half OF the Confederate States and iournng for time
AZ widely different points, met not man. woman or
child who not resolved to perish rather than weld to
the pressure Of in the most desperate extremity
And whatever may and be varying fortunes Of
the war; N all which recognise the hand Of Providence
P7htng veby T. the ultimate Of this great trial Of
the states aud people o America they are better pre-.
pared now every " make good their nexorable pur-
pose han az any period since the beginning Of the strR-
gle These may indeed BE- unwecome IL hs: but thev
are addressed ony 10 candid and honest men Neither
however let me add, did meet any man. whatever his
opinions or hs station, political or private who did mot
declare hrs readiness tchen This shall hare ceased md
iaradng armies been ohdyauH, consider and discuss
the question OF Reunion And who shall doubt the ssue
of the argument?
return, therefore, with my opinions and convictions az
10 peace and my faith final results from sound
policy aud wise craftsmanship, not ony unchanged but
confirmed and streng hened And may the God of Heaven
and Earth rule the hearts and minds Of Americans
every where that with Constitution maintained Union
restored and Liberty heneeforth made secure grande
and nober destiny shall yet be than that whct
blessed fathers in tue first two ages Of the republic
9. l.. VALLANDIGHAM.
CONNECTICUT
Governor BugKISGuAN &c bae ;..oad fra