Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-11-07
from the Chicago rmes,l
VALLANDIGnAM IN ILLINOIS.
..t i.----------
His Views Of Secret Political
Organizations.
The Remote aud Immediate q
Causes Of the war.
Mr.. LiBcOln's Failure 90 Restore tn
.a Union by Force,

Mr.. LiHcOln's Failure 90 Restore the
Union by Force,
Reconstruction of the Union Under
Democratic Policy
speech OF ZION, 9. l.. valiandlshsm, at
Peoria, IttinOis, October "a, Is04.
After some Introductory remarks Mr.. VAL
IASDluHAM said that he was rot present 10
speak of anything be had done or
suffered 10 the cause Of constitutional liberty;
not even 10 defend himself, except inciden-
tally, from assault. know not why, said he,
| should have been selected as the specinl oh
set OF misrepresentation and caumny. Be
ginning public speaking a. twenty years OF age,
| made il a fixed rule then, aud have adhered
TO It ever siuce, 10 refrain from oil language
of personal ,invective indeed rarely to spenl
OF persons nj all, contenting myself with the
discussion OF great questions Of principle
and policies, Yet, for some years past es-
peeIslly, have been so made the subject Of
detrActon aud assault, that they, even Of
my own party, who knew me not, were almost
persuaded that | was, il not false TO my coun.
Try, at least a violent, most unsafe, indeed
very dangerous public lender while my en-
em,es we're taught TO believe me the worst of
men. II this have borne with calmness,
with patience and lortitude, full OF an abiding
faith that time at least would set all things
even So ! have waited the honr and to
day, thank my God that know of nothing
which have done, and nau, b ! have said
whereof need DO a,hamed. Voices, God
bless you Vallsndgbam Even my petson-
| al appearance has been made the subject Of
Misrepresentation, though rojoce that my
| personal character has escaped the envenom.
ell arrows Of malice and the fiery trial OF per
secution unscalhed Ladies' pretend not to
be an Apollo, but, surely, am not the hom-
lest man that ever lived Applause and
laughter Certainly at least, am not mon.
sirOus; aud bear no especial resemblance to
the ogre or the gorilla; though like Richard
the lion.hearted your republican mothers may
have bushed the cries OF their children by the
mention OF my terrible name. Laughter. I
But truce to nll tha | am mere to sneak
not OF men, but things, aud with candor and
hodness, yet with deconcy, as from the begin
ning, to discuss public affairs | indulge in
| no inycctve, in no personal denunciatiou, in
no foul or offensive epithels 10 very truth
have said less in such style aud language,
even against Abraham Lincoln totally as he
deserves il, than any democratic speaker in
the United States
| Aud nov, frat, men OF Illinois, word "a
to secret societies, of which so much recently
has been said, aud with which my name has
been connected by telegraph and tho abolition
press Charges OF dark conspiracy are daily
heraded, and even democratic newspapers
are, under the present suicidal arrangement
obliged TO make public whatever Of lalaehood
or forgery their political enemies, who control
the 81 esociRted press, may choose 10 trans
nit Every conceivable organization within
the democratic pAriy,-your clubs, your read
Ing rooms, yonr associations, even your com
mittees,-havo been denounced audaciously,
yes, by men high in power, as reasonable
combinations, to overthrow the government
Men Of Illinois, ! am here 20 speak plainly
aud boldly to-day, upon this as upon every
other question Great applause How
dare the Judge Advocate General, upon the
! eve Of Presidential election, lend himselfto
the office OF destinations or open charges of
I reasonable conspiracy against more than
million and halt olmen who love the union,
revere decentralization, adore tho flag, and
mean TO defend their own personal lib, rites
aud the liberties OF the country To the last ex-
tremiiJP Immense applause In ordinary,
peaceable times, when we had constitution
and law in tue land as the cole rule Of action
for our public servants, and when arbitrary
power was unknown ia America, when peace
and security spread their gentle pnions over
every household, and there we're none TO make
US afraid, was hostile 10 every form Of secret
political society Ten years ago | fought
boldly against just such an organization, call
ed the Know Nolings," made up of the yery
men who nov libel us, but who then erept
through alley and around corner with dark
lanterns IN their hands, seeking their dusky
haunts aud deus under cover OF The nighi.
though The constitution Was in that day The
supreme law OF the land, aud military arrests
aud military commissions we're alike nm
known. aud trial under the common law and
by Jury was the acknowledged hifthright OF
every citizen But times change, and our
rights and duties, subject always 10 the eter.
, nal aud immutabe laws Of Justice and right.
change with them. Tho expediency. nav. the
necessity Of secret organization depends
upou tho exigeuciss Of the times When con.
siilutions ara deted aud splt upon, aud laws
sst at naughl, apd courts Of justice supplanted
by military commissions aud military arrests
take the place OF due process of law" aud
free speech, free press, free assemblages of
3 the people, aud, above ALL free elections ara
subyoHedi when the whole power and patron.
age OF the administration, the Joint power OF
{ the purse and the sword, are employed by the
, party 10 authority 10 perpeluate It's domipa.
ton, aud when other secret, oath bound. arm.
ed aud disciplined societies-armed secrstly.
but by men 10 pdice, aud al the public ex
pense, and working Ia the interest OF that par
ty-exist aud are iosisred aud encouraged
everywhere, 10 overaWe aud intmidate. yes
even TO assaIl aud beat down the political 90