Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-08
yALLANDIGHAM'S SUCCESSORS.
How Abraham Lincoln Dealt With
Sedition Tkirty-SiX Years Ago.

From the Chicago Inter-O Ocean.
There is today much loose talk about
freedom of speech and freedom Of the press.
1t comes uniformly from men of unbridled
tongues and evil influences. 1t is the plea
of the anarchist, the outlaw and the trail
tor, and the excuse and shelter of thous-
ands who indulge in incendlary speech and
in the same breath protest against being
regarded as outlaws or traitors. AS with
one voice, all men of these classes are ar
guing just now that free speech means Jaw
less speech, yet they know full well that
there il such thing as free speech eX-
cept within the limits of constitutional and
statute laws; that there is no freedom or
the press except within the limits OF the
law of libel No man, no newspaper, is at
liberty to destroy character or undermine
the government in violation of the laws pro-
tecting all citizens, or of the constitutional
provisions and statutes defining treason.
Thirty-six years ago yesterday Clement
l.. Nallandlgman, prominent politician OF
Ohio was arrested upon the charge OF
publicly expressing sympathy for those
in arms against the government of the
United States, and declaring disloyal senti-
ments and opinions with the object and
purpose of weakening the powers of the
government in its efforts to suppress an
unlawful rebellion" He was found guilty
and sentenced to close confinement in u
fortress during the continuance of the war.
President Lincoln modified the sentence by
directing that Mr.. Vallandgham be sent
south into the enemy's lines with an order
that in case of his return he should serve
out the sentence.
A few residents of Ohio sent formal re-
monstrance TO President Lincoln In reply
the President said: Mr.. ValIandigham's
views are hostile to the war on the part of
the Union, and his arrest was made because
he was laboring with some effect to prevent
the raising of troops, to encourage deser-
tons from the army and to leave the re-
M.
to suppress it.
No man disputes today the fiagrancy of
Vallandighams treason the justice of
his punishment Let the reader then ap-
ply the charge against him and Mr. Lin
coins explanation of it to the men who
addressed the Central Music Hall meeting
last Sunday, and draw the Inevitable in
ference of their guilt. Vallandigham did
not go far Edward Atkinson and
others of the Anti-Imperialistic League OF
Boston and their imitators in Chicago. He
even denied that 1t was his purpose to pre-
vent the raising of troops or to encourage
desertion from the army, but Mr. Atkin-
son and his followers, in whose interest
the Central Music Hall meeting was held
openly declare their purpose to prevent the
suppression of the rebellion in the Philip
pines. They avow and boast of sentiments
and opinions declared with the object and
purpose of weakening the powers of the
government in its efforts to suppress an
unlawful rebellion" They go further than
Nallandigham and the copperheads of 1863,
and threaten to appeal to the people.
Mr.. Nallandigham after his Punishment
beyond the Union lines ran the blockade
made his way to Canada and from that
point appealed to the people of Ohio to
elect him governor. He invited the people
of the state to sit in judgment the case
between him and President Lincoln There
happened then what is happening now.
Loyal democrats left their party to join
with republicans to rebuke this copperhead
and traitor. There were only two parties
those who sustained the government and
those who did not-and Mr.. Vallandigham
was defeated at the polls by majority of
101, GOO.
The answer conclusive. Mr.. Vallan-
digham retired from politics and was ever
after that regarded with suspicion by his
own party and detestation by the great ma
jority of the American people. If it were
possible for Mr.. Edward Atkinson and his
abettors and allies in Chicago to appeal to
the people today for a vote of confidence,
there would be measured out to them a
more singing rebuke than was given to the
most distinguished copperhead of 1863, for
they are more openly, more boastfully and
more shamelessly guilty than was their
prototype to whom punishment was melted
out just thirtysix years ago.