Year: 1863

time OF war, there Is but one will su-
preme--his will bat one law--Milita-
ry necessity, and be the sole Judge
Military orders supersede the CoIsti-
tuition, and military commissions usurp
the place Of the ordinary courts Of JUS
tice in the land. Nor are these mere
idle claims. For two years and more,
by arms they have been enforced. II
was the mission Of the weak but pre-
sumptuous Burnside--a name Infamous
forever in the ears of all lovers Of con-
stitutional liberty-to try the expert
ment in Ohio-aided by Judge whom
l name not-because he has brought
foul dishonor upon the judiciary ofmy
country. In your hands now, men Of
Ohio, is the final issue of the expert
ment. The party Of the Administra-
ton have accepted it, By pledging
support to the President, they have JUS
tilted his outrages upon liberty and
the Constitution; and whoever gives
his vote to the candidates of that party
commits himselfto every act ofviolence
and wrong on the part of the Admin
istration which he upholds; and thus,
by the law liberalization, which is the
law Of might, would forfeit his own
right to liberty, personal and political,
whatsoever other men and another
party shall hold the power. Much
more do the candidates themselves
Suffer them not, | entreat you, to E.
wade the issue; and by the judgement
of the people will we abide.


And now, finally. let me ask, what
is the pretext for all the monstrous acts
and claims Of arbitrary power which
you have SO nobly denounced? "Mili-
tary necessity" But if, indeed, all
these be demanded by military neces-
sity, then, believe me, your liberties
are gone and tyranny is perpetual
For if this civil war is to terminate
only by the subjugation or submission
of the South to force and arms, the in
fant of to day will not live to see the
end Of it. No, in another way only can
it be brought to a close. Travelling a
thousand miles and more, through
nearly one-half of the Confederate
States, and sojourning for a time at
widely different points, l met not one
man, woman or child, who was not re-
solved to perish rather than yield to the
pressure Of arms even in the most des-
perate extremity. And whatever may
and must be the varying fortune Of the
war, in all which I recognize the hand
of Providence pointing visibly to the
ultimate issue Of this great trial Of the
States and people Of America, they are
better prepared now every wayto make
good their inexorable purpose, than at
any period since the beginning Of the
struggle. These mayindeed be unwel-
come truths; but they are addressed
only to candid and honest men.-
Neither, however, let me add, did L
meet any one, whatever his opinions
or his station, political or private, who
did not declare his readiness, uhen the
,cdr shall hare ceased and invading
armies been withdrawn, to consider and
discuss the question of reunion. And
who shall doubt the issue of the argu-
ment? l return, therefore, with my
opinions and convictions as to war or
peace, and my faith as to final results
from sound policy and wise stateman-
ship, not only unchanged, but confirm
ed and strengthened And may the
God of Heavens and Earth SO rule the
hearts and minds of Americans every
where, that with a Constitution main
tanned, q Union restored and Liberty
henceforth made secure, a grander and
nobler destiny shall yet be ours,
than that even which blessed our ia
theirs in the first two ages of the Re-
public. C. L. VALLANDIGHAM.