The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-07-22
e. l., Nallnndig HAMS Address 60 the
Democracy of Ohio.
NIAGARA FbLts, CANADA wEsrl

Arrested and confined ior three weeks in the
United States, prisoner ot state baniShcd
thence to the Confederate States and there held as
an alien enemy and prisoner ot war, though on
parole, fairly and honOrably dealt with and given
leave TO depart, an act possible only by running
the blockade at the hazard Of being fired upon by
ships flying the tag of my own country, ! found
myself first freeman when on British soil Aud
to-day. under the protection of the British flag. |
am here to enjoy and, in part, to exercise the
privileges and rights which usurpcrs insolen,ly
deny me at home. The shallow contrivance Of
the weak despOtS at Washington and their advisers
has been defeated. Nav, uhaS been turned against
them and |, who for two years was maligncd as
in secret league with the Cunfederatss having re-
fused when in their midst, under circumstances the
most favorable, either tu identity myself with their
cause, or even 81 much as to remain, prcfcrring
rather exile in foreign land, return now with al
legance 50 my own State and Government, uubrukeu
in word, thought or deed, aud with every dcclara-
tiou and pledge to you while at home, and before
was stolen away, made good in spirit and to the
very letter.
Six weeks ago, when Just going into bapishment
because an audacous but most cowwdly despot-
ism caused 1t. addressed you as n fellow citizen.
To-day, and from the very place then selected
10y me, but after wearlsOme and most perlouS
journcyings for more than four thousand miles by
land and upon sea; still in exile, though almost in
sight Of my native State, greet you as your rep
rescutatiyc. Grateful, certainly am for the con
hdeuce in my integrity and patriotism, implied by
the unanimous nomination as u candidate for Gov
ernor Of Ohio, which you gave me while was in
the Confederate States. IL was not misplaced il
shall never be abused But this is the last of all
considerations in times like these | ask no per
sonal sympathy for tho personal wrong. No; 1t
is the cause OF Constitutional liberty and private
right cruelty outraged beyond example in free
country by the President aud his servants, which
gives public sgnfcancy to the action Of your con
vuntion Yours was, indeed, an act of justice to a
citizen, who, for his devotion 10 the rights Of the
States and liberties Of the people, has been marked
for destruction at the hand of arbitrary power.
But il was muc' more. Ii WAS an example of cour-
age worthy Of the heroic ages of the world and 1t
was a spectacle and rebuke to tho usurpinC ty-
rants who having broken up the Cuion would now
strike down the Constitution, subvert your present
government and establish II formal and proclaimed
dCSpotlsm in its stead. You are the REsroRERS
AND DEFENDERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL lIRERrY and
by that proud title history will salute you.
congratulate you uron your nominations. They
whom you have placed upon the ticket with me,
are gentlemen Of character ability integrity, and
tried fidelity to the Constitution, the Union and to
Liberty. Their moral and political couragc-a
quality always rare, and now the most valuable of
public yirtucS-is beyond question. Every way
all these were nominations tit 10 be made. And
even jealousy, am sure, will now be hushcd, if
especially rejoice with you in the nomination of Mr..
Pugh as your candidate for Lieutenant Governor
and President of the Senate 4 scholar and II
gentleman; soldier in foreign war and always
patriot eminent as Il lawyer, and distinguished
crater and statesman, hail his acceptance
as an omen of the return of the better and more
virtuOus days the kepHbhc.
indOrse your noble pattnrm-cegant in style
admirable in sentiment. You present the true issue
and commit yourselves to the great mission lust
now of the Democratic par;y-to restore and make
sure FIRST the rights and liberties declared yours
by constitutions 1t is vain to invite the States
and people ofthe South to return to the Union with
out Constitution, and dshonored and polluted by
repeated and most aggravated cNactions of tyrannic
power. 1t is base in yourselves, and reasonable
to your pOsterity, to surrender these liberties and
rights to the creatures whom your own breath ore
ated and can destroy. Shall there bo troe speech,
Il free press, peaceablc aSScmblages of the people
and free ballot any longer in Ohio?
Shall the people hereafter, as hitherto. have the
right to discuss and condemn the principles and
policy of the party-the mnistrythc men who
for the time, conduct the Goyernment-to demand
oftheir public servants areckoning of their steward
ship, and to place other men and another party in
power at their supreme will and pleasure Shall
Order Thirty eight or the Constitution be the SUI
prcmc law of the land And shall the citizens any
more be arrested by armed sOldiery Mt mid
night, dragged from wife and child and home, to II
military prison thence toa mock military trial ;
thence condemned and then banished as telon, for
the exercise of his rights This is the issue; and
nobly you have met it. 1t is the very question of
free popular government itself. 1t is the whole
question; upon tho side, liberty; ON the other
despotsm. The President as the recognized head
oil ms party, ACCeUtS te lSlAe W hnteEer he wills
that Is law. Constitutions, State and Federal, are
nothing acts of legislation nothing; the judiciary
less than nothing. In time of war, there is but one
will suprcme-his will but one law-miltary ne
cessity, and he tho sole Judge. Milary orders su-
percede the Constitution, aud military commissions
usurpt the place OF the ordinary courts of Justice in
the land Nor are these mere idle claims. For two
years and more, by arms, they have been enforced.
1t was the mis5iGn OF tho weak bat pTeSumptOus
Burnside-a name Infamous forever in the ears of
oil Of IN 10
pertinent in Ohio-aided by Judge whom [
name not, because he has brought foul dishonor
upon the Judiciary of my country, IN your hands
now, men OF ONO, Is the nnal issue Of the expert
ment. The party of the Administration have ac-
cepted it.
BY plcdging support to the President, they have
justified his outragcs upon liberty and the CoEst-
tuition and whoever gives his vote TO the candidates
of that party, commits himself to every act Of vo
lence and wrong on the part of the Administrations
which he upholds; and thus, by the law of retaia-
ton, which is the law Of might would forfeit
! his own right to liberty, personal and political,
whensoever other men and another party shall hold
the pOWer. Much more DO the candidates them
selves. Suffer them not, entroat you, to evade
the issue; and by the judgment of the people we
will abide
And now finally, let me ask, what is the pretc xt
for all the mOnstrOus acts and claims of arbitrary
power which you have so noby denounced? "Mil
itary necessity" Bat it, indeed, all these be de
manded by military necessity then, believe me,
your liberties are gone, and tyranny is perpetual.
For if this civil war is to terminate only by the sub
ugaton or submission of the South to force and
arms, the infant of to-day will not live to see he
end OF 1t, No, IA anothe, way II be brought to
a close. Travelling a thousand miles and more,
through nearly one-haf of the Confederate States
and soiourning for time at widely different points,
| met not one man, woman or child, who was not
resolved to perish rather than yield TO the pressure
of arms even in the most desperate extremity.
And whatever may and must be the varying for
tune of the war iE all which recognize the hand
Of Providence pointing visby to the ultimate issue
Of this great trial Of the States and people of Amer
lea, they are better prepared now every way to
make good their incXorable purpose, than at any
period since the beginning Of the struggle These
may indeed be unwecome truths but they are ad-
dressed to candid and honest men. Neither, how
ever let ne add, did meet any one, whatever his
opinions or his station political or private who did
not declare his readiness, icie he ,Car shaiI hare
erased and incadmy armies been toihdraWn, to con-
slider and discuss the question of re-unon. And
who shall doubt the issue of the argument ] re
turn, therefore, with my opinions and convictions
as to war or peace, and my faith as to final result-
from sound policy and wise statesmaughip not only
unchanged, but confirmed and strengthened. And
may the God Of Heaven and Earth so rule the hearts
and minds Of Americans everywhere, that with
Constitution maintained, Union restored aud Lib
erty hGncelOrth made secure, grand and nobler
destiny shall yet be ours, than that even which
blessed our fathers in the first two ages of the
Republic.
c. l.. VALLANDIGHAM.
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