Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-06-08
element T. VaIlandieham


The psrsen whose name heads Ihis article s man Of
kIed prOmineros. His name S his,OEc4L he Is man
~ posisirs ideatiiy. Psopls boih S0Eh and south,
nay DIR q 20 she wisdom Of the be has Pur-
sued during the present war. But no one fail to
accord to bin the merit Of moral 6r@ness From the
aepier cy of the pending revolution to the present
tme be has occupied neutral ground. In the midst
Of terrorism which would have appalled, any ordinary
mar he has stood up and denounced the tyranny aud
=surpalon Of Lincoln in language which admitted OF
10 double meaning. &c has employed no ambiguous
Pbraseo.ogy in publishing his sentiments.
Being thus a prominent scor in the violent,
troublous times through which passing and
teing nov upon the soil Of Safe, brief bio
graphical notice Of him, may BE- read with interest
The acss which We give may be relied upon, Wehave
taken some trouble ascertain them. We publish
these facts with additional interest," because Ue have
seen many contradictory statements respecting Mr. Val
l.ntirhauls uativ ~, bis early surroundings, &c
Clemcn. Laird vallaudigham Vas born in New Lis.
bon, Co.uubi.ua county, Ohio, IL iS22. is, ere
fore, in the full prime OF life. lie is descended from
Haguenot family aud akes his second name, which is
purely French from his mother H.s father was man
Of bundle means. From his earliest boybOOd he mani
tested a strong Inclination for intellectual improve
nents This ambition for educational distinction was
50 marked that his father resolved TO afford him every
possible facility for Ire improvement: OF bis niad.-
Young VaandigbGn therefore after the usual pre- n
Zar, preparations vas m1trieulated at Jefferson Col
l. Psuasylyania At this institution he remained fer
one wear lie was then compelled 10 leave college
hom the want Of pecuuiary means without graduating
Having row attained n age Us Year, at which be
a. G. him sff h. m
MARYLAND, where be became principal Of an Academy.
Tar institution became very furnishing one, aud
quite p.odta5le, peouuiariy, TO Mr. Yalandgham. Az
the END Of TO years lie returned 10 Ohio, With his
pockets ccrs 3eIaby repeuished and h mind greatly
improved ia classical learning. This vas in lS4e. He
next spped himself 70 the law, aud at the age Of q
years was admitted TO tae bar.
Nr. Yalan6is5am nov removed to Dayton, Mont
geometry county, TO- where he has resided ever since.
Applying himself diligently to his profession he Oh
tanned large practice a1d high reputation. In 1915
his career as an active politician commenced In that
year be "a, elected to the Ohio Legislature from bis
adopted county, In lot7 he became editor Of the
Dayton Empire, a daily democratic Journal, which lie
conducted for two years Ia 1919 he retired from his
position as editor tor the purpose Of devoting himself
more assiduOusy TO the aS. lie did not however,
eea,e to Re an active politician.
In 1852 he beclme candidate for Congress. His
competitor was Lewis D. Campbell, Wing, who Was
Yery popular, personally and politically The district
vas largely Wing and Mr.. YalLandigham failed Of an
election though be ran far ahead OF his pty strength
Inls5i he wassgan a candidate for Congress against
Mr. Campbell In that year he also failed of an cleo
ZION. He ran sgain in 1856 5ainst Mr. Campbell. The
md fka agult
close Mr. Campbell obtained the return. But Nc,
Yallandgham Immediately served upon Mr.. Campbell
notce that he should contest his right to seat AZ
eOrdugly when 90 gress met in December, 1857, the
House dscid d in favor Of Nc. VaIandigham The pO
silion maintained by Mr. Valandgbam in the Congress
Of ls57-s Is well know. l. thereto reGu res no fur
Their comment here than the observation that he was
most uaeOmpromisng enemy Of the sectional and ruin
ous tendencies Of the Abolition party.
lie was a candidate for Congress again in 1850. In
The canvass of that year be laid the foundation Of
the troubles which have resulted to himself since the
var commenced. In that contest as a national man,
he took the ground tat the Union could not survive
che elscon Of man 10 the Presidency upon sectional
platform, such as the one which Mr.. Lincoln had
been made to endorse. BE said that the South had
given formal notice thai in toe event Of Northern
sectional faction getting possession Of Government
she would withdraw from the Union The South having
given this far notice. be demanded 70 know Of the
Black Republicans What they would 90 in case the Re
pablicAns should elect lincoln and the South should
withdraw Would the Republicans attempt to prevent
the withdraWal Of the South by force Of arms Tha
was the practical question.
For himself he took the ground that in the contin-
gency supposed, be would never vote dollar in favor
Of 4 war upOa the South This vas bold position for
aNOrihern man. It produced much excitement in N :.
VAland CHAINS district and throughout The North. His
Black Republican competitor certain Of election.
But in this he was mistaken. In October 1860, Mr..
VAlanoisb ham vas elected by handsome majority.
Mr.. Yallandigham'- record since The war commenced
il well known He has opposed Lincoln He has voted
ap.iust an bis war measures Thus far he has been
consistent With the position he assumed before hOsti
ties commenced.
I, $ perhaps, proper 10 observe that object is
not 70 show tina. Mr. Yalandgham, in proclaming him
self an enemy TO Lincoln is necessarily friend to the
Confederate states He has taken any such posi-
ton He has nevec, so far as we know, taken the
round that Southern secession is proper remedy for
tee grievances which suffered, likely to suf
fer, at the hands of the Northern AboliiOniss. He
thought we ought have batled for rights in the
Union Bu. as practical statesman he maintained that
the South after having resOrted the remedy Of
sessoD, would never be brought back by force Of
arms
We hope that what we have thus hastily written will
enable the intelligent ader to form correct opinion
OF the character and position Of manwhO just at this
TINE, 6ls very large space in the public view.