During the American Civil War, Clement L. Vallandigham was a passionate critic of Abraham Lincoln's policies and he insisted that no circumstance, not even war, could deprive a citizen of his right to oppose governmental policy. This volume studies and reassesses Vallandigham's Civil War career.
the Montreal Gazette about rumors of an invasion plot in the United States. He was fully aware that the New York Herald had engaged in fist-shaking at Canada and that the United States seemed to be in an unusual hurry 31Ouebec Morning Chronicle, 20 August 1863; Toronto Daily Leader, 20 August 1863; report, Charles S. Ogden to William H. Seward, 19 August 1863, Consulate Records. Page 226 to complete Fortress Montgomery at Rouse's Point, only forty-five miles south of Montreal. McGee's letter to
too waved the banner inscribed "Patriotism" at every rally. "Bluff Ben" Wade, still incensed because Vallandigham had once called him a liar on the floor of the House of Representatives, left his desk in the Senate to define treason, indict Vallandigham, and advocate Brough's 19 Quoted in the Dayton Daily Journal, 6 July 1863; Ohio Daily Statesman (Columbus), 9 September 1863. Page 239 election. Even Salmon P. Chases secretary of the treasury, left his busy office in the nation's capital to
citizens to vindicate their state's honor. Even Zachariah Chandler of Michigan came down to recite a patriotic piece. And there were others, criss-crossing the state and singing the same tune. All in all, it was a rare array of oratorical talent which invaded Ohio for a single purposeto keep Vallandigham out of the governor's mansion.22 Ohio's Republican editors also made a major contribution to 20Dayton Daily Journal, 27 August 1863. John Sherman's Delaware, Ohio, speech appeared as a pamphlet
Dayton Daily Empire, 20, 27 April 1855. The judge, George B. Holt, had led the bolt which brought defeat to Vallandigham in his first bid for a seat in Congress. 19 Newton D. Mereness, "John Van Lear McMahon," in Dictionary of American Biography, ed. Dumas Malone (20 vols., New York, 1933), 12: 137-38, characterized C.L.V.'s brother-in-law as a person possessed of "uncouth manners, unbridled temper and proud spirit." He was a great student of the law and a widely-known orator who repeatedly
residence and sent up a chant for Pendleton. The distinguished visitor, with his smiling host at his side, appeared at the front door. Pendleton spoke briefly, thanking the serenaders for their "sentiment" and "hospitality." Pendleton then called upon his host to speak, giving the author of the peace plank a chance to profess publicly his loyalty to the party and its official nominees. It was a rather awkward situation for Vallandigham. Some in the audience had heard him condemn McClellan several