The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-07-05
ValIandigham.


The taking off of no man, since the
murder of Abraham Lincoln, has crea-
ted as much sensation rs the death OF
Mr.. Vallandigham. Twice in his life
he was fore figure in the presence of
the American people. There used to
be joke among printers about the
middle of the year 1868, when Vicks-
burg and Eailandigham furnished the
principal topics of newspaper disquisi-
ton, that the box in the compositor's
case which contained the letter "V"
was quite exhausted. Undoubtedly,
within the last few weeks, the name of
Vallandigham has been more frequent
" used than the name of any other
American; yet it's owner was plain,
transformations citizen, living in a ru-
raj town, and enjoying no official place,
distinction or patronage. What
was it?
Mr.. Vallandig CHAM was rarely acute.
seif-possessed and cultivated man. He
wrote well he spoke well; and if need
be he fought well. He was man of
nerve and Judgment, of grit and sagac-
ity. In exterior cold, in manner sell
fish, in spirit certainly self-wil.ed, he
had strong, a vehement nature and
signal gifts of intrepidity and forecast.
He made Notwithstanding he
had the peculiar gift of making even
his mistakes rebound to his advantage.
IN spite Of the cry of "mad dog" which
was raised against him during the war,
he stood well with the Republicans,
and, in our Judgment, was the strong
est Democrat in Ohio. 1t is absurd to
speak of him as an impracticable man.
He was most practicable man, and,
by this very agency, allied to his force
of character, he has controlled the ma
tiOnal Democracy for ten years. He
made Seymour the nominee in 1868,
after he had failed with Chase, his first
and wisest choice. He would have
made the nominee in 1872 had he lived,
and he has made the platform. His
Dayton resolutions will be the ground
work of our next campaign, and,
though Vallandis ham did not originate
the idea, he proved himself the first
politician who possessed the courage
and acnmen to formulize the idea into
a distinct and definite plan of action.
1t was this quality-this exceptional
union of pluck aud forecast-which
made VailandigEam-a country lawyer
"a retired Congressman-th the foremost
politician of his day.
In his person, Mr.. allandigham was
mick and nervous, yet ungushing He
vas no quack or pretender. He wrote
is he spoke, with great plainness and
ack of mere display. But he was at
lines an eloquent, as he was always
III intense, actor, writer, thinker and
speaker, and made his mark upon
everybody with whom he came in con-
tact.
When he was sent assam exile across
he line into the South he was put to a
severe test. The act was in every way
Unjust and calculated to upset the most
'qual temperament. 1t did not :jostle
he equilibrium of Mr.. Vallandig CHAM.
lie bore himself in the Confederate
bore himself in. Southern
households where he was guest-with |
xceeding dignity and tact. Nothing
ould more clearly demonstrate his I
lain to respect as n clever man-we
will not say sincere one-than his I'M
ommon delicacy of bearing under
hese adverse circumstances his mod
ration; his non committalism; his
borough manliness and gentleman
God. He impressed every one with
ut sacrificing one iota of his character
Or integrity as Union man, as a pa
riot, as an American, as q hero, as an
stute partisan.
In his private life Mr.. Vallandigham
as student, u worker, who had no
icious habits, and labored 'unceasing-
7. In appearance he was striking ra-
Ter than handsome or prepossessing.
either sloven nor a fop, he realized
&c idea of the middle class. represen-
ltive American, with muscle and
rains, and, had he lived, would have
layed conspicuous figure in our pol
les for many years to come.
His death, and the unhappy circum-
ances attending it, are, perhaps, for
mate for his memory. He could not
ave died at more fortunate time or
lected more suspicious surroundings.
he occasion, like his own tempera-
ent, is intensely dramatic. The de-
ills imbed themselves upon the popu-
7 Imagination. VaHandigham has
zen for years household word in this
untry. 1t will be, in a sense, a
'usehold m emory Courier-Jour ,
Il.