The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-07-01

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fed endorsement and hearty ap-a
proval: 4
MIR. yALLANDIGHAM DEAD.
When one>who has very consid-
erably occupied public attention
dies, and goes where his moral ac-
counts are audited by the Supreme
Judge, his friends at once make an
inventory Of his virtues, and even
his severest critics are inclined, as
Tar as possible, to condone the Of
lenses of his life. No one wishes
wantonly to strike fallen foe, es.
pecially If his fall has been atrenc-
ed with circumstances calculated
to excite human sympathy. i
Mr.. Vallandigham, now that he
is dead by the magic mishap of his
own hands, will undoubtedly re-
-ceive a warm tribute from many, at
least, Of his Democratic friends
One paper has already spoken of
"his superb intrepidity," "his ex-
qusite clearness." "his unsectional
patriotism" and "his Spartan vir
tues of life and labor" These are
certainly very high compliments to
pay to any one, whether living or
dead. They commend the man,
and imply an approval of his pub
lie record. The Republican and
religious press will not and cannot,
without the grossest inconsistency,
speak of Mr.. Vallandigham in any
such laudatory terms. Those who
SO severely condemned his course
both during and since the war
must entirely reverse their previous
judgment in order thus to deal with
his name. The fact that he is
dead does not make one hair white
or black in respect to what he did
when living. His record is no bet
ter and no worse because finished.
That stands just as he himself has
made it.
Whatever may have been the
personal qualities Of Mr.. Vallan-
digham in the private relations Of
life. there is no escaping the con
.clusion that, il he was right in the
course which he pursued during
the war, then the nation was mon.
,strously and wickedly wrong in its
course. He took sides with the
Rebellion, gave it all his sympa-
thies, opposed all the war measures
OF the Government. and did eve-
rything in his power, except actual
fighting, to make the Rebellion q
success and the War for the Union
q failure. In short, he was a rebel
in feeling as strictly as Jefferson
Davis or General Lee. His con
duct leaves not the slightest room
for doubt upon this point. No
sympathy fJr him, sleeping in his
grave, can ever change the fact, or
modify it's moral features, that he
placed himself practically with the
enemies OF his country in the hour
when it most needed friends
Those who eulogize the man dead
must, Of course, approve of the
man living. In word, commen-
dation Of Mr.. Vallandigham,
whether living or dead, is necessa-
rily condemnation of the Govern
.ment and the people for putting
down the Rebellion by the force OF
arms.
Passing by his private life. and
speaking only Of his public career,
we have repeatedly and severely
.censured the record Of Mr.. Val
landigham and we now see nc
occasion to take back q single
word. The motto of burying ones
faults with him, and remembering
only his virtues. is hardly applica.
BILE in such Q case. History will
not and should not deal thus leni.
emily with his name. The Rebel
lion, with which he sympathized
was one of the greatest crime.
known in the annals of the world
1t had not the slightest justifica
tion in any injuries either inflict-
ed or threatened by the Genera
Government. Its great purpose
As admitted by Alexander H. Ste
phens, was to perpetuate SLAYER.
and extend its area-a system
which John Wesley described a
"the vilest system upon which tn
sun ever shOne" It WAS arma,
treason against the sreest, purcst
and mildest republican govern
ment under which any people eve
lived. 1t proposed, as the mean
to it's end, the dissolution of tn
Union, with all the prosperity
damages and dangers certain t
arise thsrefrom in the event of il
success. 1t was patriotic an
religious duty, when all means G
conciliation had failed, to crus
this rebellion by the sword. N
other course was left. The natio
must die, or the Rebellion must b
conquered. For four long year
the Nor thern people, at a val
expenditure of treasure and BLOOD
fought this armed treason, and .
last overwhelmed it. Were the
right in 80 dOing2 If not, then
is never right to suppress q rebe
lion. Then civil government is