The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1863-09-17
i. READ! READ!!

SOnleoeracy--EXp OF his
Falsehoods--Letter from General
Garfield, judd.
HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE CUM !
BERLAND, WINCHESTER, Tenn,
Aug. II, 1868. }
Hon. Wm. Dennison, Chairman Union
State Central Committee, Columbus (.
Ohio:
DEAR SIR: In the add ress of @. l..
Vallandigham to the Democracy of
Ohio, dated, Niagara Falls, July 18th,
1868, the following passage occurs:
Travelling a thousand miles and
more, through nearly one. half the Con-
federate States, aud sojourning for a
time at widely different points, I met
not one mar, woman or child, who was
not resolved to perish rather than yield
to the pressure of arms even in the most
desperate extremities. And whatever
may and must be the varying fortune of
the war, in which l recognize the hand
of Providence pointing visibly to the
ultimate issue of this great trial of the
States and people of America, they are
better prepared now every way to make
good their inevitable purpose, than at
any period since the beginning of the
struggle. These may indeed be unwel
come truths; but they are addressed to
candid and honest men. Neither, how.
ever, let me add, did meet any one
whatever his opinions or his station,
political or private who did not declare
his readiness, when the war shall have
ceased and invading armies been with
drawn, to consider and discuss the ques
ton of reunion. And who shal
doubt the issue of the argument?"
The substance of this extract is clear
ly this:
lst. That the South is unit on the
question of resisting the Federal Gov
ernment to the last extremity, and the
unanimity is SO great that he saw not
ono ma', woman or child that dissented.
I'd. That the Confederate States are
better prepared than ever before to cary
out their inexorable purposes of rebel
lion.
Sd. That the people of the robellious
States, with great unanimity, declare
their readiness to discuss terms of re.un.
ion, on the cessation of hostilities and
the withdrawal of our armies.
1t is strange that Mr.. Vallandigh am
had the temerity to make the first
these statements, when it is notorious
that no precinct in this State, not even
in East Tennessee, has so large q per
cent. of Union men as Bedford county
and Shelbyville, its county seat, Mr.
Vallandigham's frst resting place af-
ter he left our lines. That village eav
three hundred and fifty Union votes to
fifty for Secession at the beginning of
the war, and it has retained its reputa. .
tion for loyalty untarnished during the
struggle thus far. IF Mr.. Vallandig.
ham had attempted to ascertain the sen
timents ofits citizens, he toou1d have
found that nine out ofeUery ten uoere in
favor Of immediate Submission to the Fed
erat Government.
would be glad to believe it possible
that these facts escaped his notice, but
having recently visited Shelbyville, and
convsrs ed with large mum Der of citi-
zens who saw and conversed with Mr..
Vallandigham during his stay there, I
am forced to the conviction that he
knew the statement quoted above to be
false.
The second statement is not less wild
and singular than the first. He must
have known that at the time of his visit,
and before the late heavy disasters had
fallen upon the rebellion, the CONNER
cial affairs of the South were in a most
ruinous condition. Prices current stood
as follows; Boots were selling from $50
to $40 per pair; soldiers brogaus at S45
per pair; common felt hats from $40 to
500 apiece; bacon, 81 so per pound;
-four, Doc per pound; corn, SO per bush
cl' and other commodities in proportion
He could hardly have failed to notice
that nearly the whole available force of
the Confederacy was already in TIE field.
that barely enough citizers were left at
home to oversee t.ae slaves and manage
the Plantations; that the Confsderacv
WGs a shell, which though made of iron
when once pierced must collapse into
ruin.
His faith in the strength and militia.
ry virtue Of the Southern Confederacy
greatly surpaSses that of largo mum.
Der of his friends who are officers and