The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-30
Vallandlngham.

~ g =
Mr.. Vallandingham, pursuant to the or
der of the President, was taken from Gins
cinnati to Louisville on a gunboat, and
thence, under heavy guard, to Murfres-
boro, whence, under an escort provided
bv Gen. Rosencrans he was conveyed to
the rebel lines. On arriving there, and
announcing their mission, the rebel Colo
| mel to whom they were referred declined
at first to receive the prisoner. The state
msnt of the case being reiterated, and an
urgent appeal being again made by the
Federal officers, the reb-l Colonel finally
consented. The carriage was then driven
forward and passed within the enemy,s
lines, and the prisoner was delivered to
the rebel guards
Mr.. Vallandingham, on being transfer
red to the enemy, said to the guards tax
ing him under charge, and asked the Fed
eral officers surrendering him to mark his
words, IL am citizen of the State of Ohio,
the United States of America. I am sent
within your lines contrary to my will and
wish. TASK that you receive me as your
prisoner" He then repeated the words,
that they might be more firmly impressed,
and babe adeu to the officers who brought
him.
Nr. V. was next conveyed to the Head
quarters of Gen. Bragg at Shelbyyille, and
thence Immediately forwarded to Rich
mond. The probability is, that the rebels
will keep him a close prisoner, regarding
him as quite as dangerous to them as
Burnside affected to believe him to be TO
the federal cause
And thus has been consummated an act
of tyranny which in future years will rank
lish tyranny. One of the worst phases of
it is that it is in violation of law passed
by the last Congress expressly to prevent
just such acts. 1t will be remembered
that, simultaneously with the Proclanna-
ten of Emancipation il September, 1862,
the President issued another proclama-
ton suspendins the writ Of habcas corpus in
certain cases and authorizing these arbi
trary military arrests which caused such
excitement last fall. These events hav-
ing led to the ignominious defeat of the
republican party at the polls, the leaders
CT that party in Congress resolved to pre-
vent another such mishap, and therefore
passed strong enactment, March 3, 1868,
in which the Presidents right to suspend
If b1k- III la l.
ton is ignored, and the second section
secures all perso rs arrested by tho Presi-
dents authority a trial, or q discharge
without trial, by the civil courts. 1t does
this because, if the grand jury find a bill
the prisoner is necessarily tried on that by
the civil courts If no bill is found he is
then necessarily discharged by the civil
courts according to the act.
The President signed that law and is
sworn to obey it; yet it is violated every
day. When it was pleaded in Valland
insham's case before Judge Leavitt at
Cincinnati, his only remark was, that be
had not seen it.
As we have often said before, we repeat
again, we have no sympathy politically
with Mr.. "; but the treatment of his case
involves such . high handed disregard of
law as to justify alarm. No people ever
lost their liberties at once, but step by ster {,
disregarding a law here, violating a sacred
right there, like deadly disease stealing
upon the system, he fountains of life are
slowly but surely sappcd; and of all pleas
to justify these entertainments, none are
more dangerous, because none are more
specious and deceptive, than those OF
general good or military necessity