The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-06-23
Deatb bofcL vs1lsndigbam,

One of those events which occa-
sionally take place, and produce
such startling effects upon commu-
nity, transpired on Thursday of last
week, by which the Hon. c. L. Val
landigham met his death. Particu- /
lars of the tragic event are given in
another column. We clip the fol-
lowing sketch of his life and eharac
ter from the Toledo Commercial:
Mr.. Yallandigham was of the old Huguenot
French stock, his father being Presbyterian
clergyman. At the time of the birth of the
deceased, in 1922, the family resided at New
Lisbon, Columbiana County, in this State,
where he received the public school education
of that time, which was by no means liberal.
He spent one year in college. While yet Gin
his teens" he went to Snow Hill, Maryland,
having charge of an academy in that town.
When IS years of age he returned to New
Lisbon, and entered upon the study OF the
law. and was admitted to the practice In 1872.
His marked ability early attracted the at1en-
ton of the people, and when but % years old
he was elected by the Democrats to the state
House of Representatives, and was reelected
the next year. Here he took position OF
special prominence considering his young
wears. It was at time when more than the
usual amount Of talent and legislative expert
ence were in that body, he acting with the
minority. In lS47 he went to Dayton to as
sumo editorial charge of the Empire, the Dem
ocratic paper in that city, which he continued
until lS49, when he resumed his legal profess
sion, but continuing active in politics. He
was first elected to Congress in 1858, gaining
his seat over Lew Campbell, by a contest in
the House. In 1868 he was reelected, his
last term, losing on the 4th March, 1868.
Mr.. VaIlandigham's national reputation
may be said to date from the second session Of
the S5th Congress the winter of 1S6O-6l,)
growing out of his connection and action in
regard to the organization of the Southern
Confederacy and the subsequent rebellion and
war. His first noticeable act in that connec-
ton, was his speech at Cooper Institute, New
York, in November, 1860, when he avowed
his sympathy with the movements, then well
known, looking towards secession. During
the following session of Congress his utter
ances became more and more Outspoken, as
they continued to be until the close of his
second term. Probably the most prominent Of
his speeches in Congress, as it certainly is the
most able, was that of January IA, 1868. Nc
one hearing that could doubt either the ear
nestness or the boldness of the speaker, what
ever might be thought of his judgment or his
motives.
One of the remarkable incidents Of the Ohio
election of 1862 was the fact that while the
Democrats gained in nearly every other sec
ton of the State, eleoting several Congress-
men in Republican districts, Mr. vallandig-
ham was beaten by Gen. Schenck, result due
chiefly to the formers course on the question
of the war, which had come to be regarded
as undisguisedly hostile to all efforts for the
suppression of the rebellion. Continuing the
same course after leaving Congress, in March,
'63, he specially interested himself in efforts
to prevent volunteering for the army, and in
May, 1868, was arrested by order of General
Burnside, then in military command of Ohio,
for violation of the following order:
"All persons found within our line who
commit acts for the benefit of the enemies of
our country will be tried as spies and traitors,
and if convicted will suffer death. The habit
of declaring sympathy for the enemy will
/ roF ha a1Ior-od in thfc
committing such offenses will be at once ar
rested, with a view Of being tried, as above
stated, OF sent beyond our lines into the lines
of their friends. It must be distinctly under
stood that treason expressed or implied, will
not be tolerated in this department"
Mr.. Vallandigham was tried by Military
Court, and sentenced to close confinement un-
til the close of the war; but President Lincoln
SO far modified this sentence, as to send him
within the rebel lines, conditioned on the en-
forcement of the sentence if he were found
within the Union lines. After brief stop
in the South, he took passage in a blockade
runner for Nassau, from which place he
passed to Canada, stopping few days at the
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, and several
weeks at Windsor, opposite Detroit. While
at the latter place, he was nominated as the
Democratic candidate for Governor, against
John Brough, and was defeated by majority
of l00,O99 votes.
The following year 1S64) the deceased was
prominent insthe Chicago Convention, where
be was supposed to be the author of the anti
war plank of the Democratic platform, de-
manding unconditional suspension of the war,
which aided very largely in the overwhelming
defeat of Mcclellan. For the past six years
he has devoted himself mainly to his profes-
sion In 1868 he was a candidate for Congress
and again beaten by General Schenck; and in
/ Il - IL
Democratic National Convention at New
York. He was prominent candidate for U
S, Senator In the winter of 1869, when
Judge Thurman was elected. Though by nc
means Withdrawn from political life he has
taken comparatively little active part therein
} for the past two years, until the presentation
in May last to the Democratic Convention Of
Montgomery county of what is krown as his
departure" policy, which was subsequently
adopted substantially by the State Convention
of that party, and which greatly revived hi
prominence in political affairs
1t may now be too early-especially for {
political opponent-to do justice to Mr. Val
landigham's life and character That he wa.
man Of marked ability, none deny. His in
domitable will, aided by much tact, gave hin
} great power, especially with those sympathiz
ing with his views. As partizan, he was al
ultraist, and sought influence and persona
success cneuy Dy extreme acuon-though hi
last political move indicated a change OF pol
icy In this respect. While finding very Ittlr
In his public life to commend, and much t.
condemn, the fact of his death and the spec
tally sad circumstances attending the event
forbid anything like critism in this place. Al
must deplore the casualty, and unite in sym
pathy with those so dear to him, nov left Il
mourn their sudden and irreparable loss.
1.
NEWS ITEMS.