Ohio History Journal

THREE VALLANDIGHAM LETTERS, 1865

 

CONTRIBUTED BY CHARLES H. COLEMAN

Associate Professor of History, The Eastern Illinois

State Teachers College, at Charleston

 

The two letters from Clement L. Vallandigham to

Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, are

from the Greeley Papers in the New York City Public

Library. The letter to James W. Wall, prominent New

Jersey "Peace Democrat," is from the manuscript col-

lection of the library of the New York Historical So-

ciety.

The first letter to Greeley, written in the interval

between Lee's surrender and the death of Lincoln, is of

interest as showing the turmoil in the mind of Vallan-

digham, leader of the "Peace Democrats" in Ohio and

in the nation. The Peace Democrats' thesis that the

South could not be conquered by force of arms was

rudely disproved by the collapse of the Army of North-

ern Virginia. In this letter Vallandigham is rationaliz-

ing the situation.

The second letter to Greeley, written shortly after

the death of Lincoln, is of interest as showing his fears

of a reign of terror directed against all opponents of the

Lincoln administration, Peace Democrats and "rebels"

alike. As a way out, he proposes to take a position

strikingly similar to the position he advocated in his

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462       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

famous "New Departure" policy for the Democrats in

1871, the year of his death.

The letter to Wall, who like Vallandigham had been

subjected to persecution for his advanced position

against the Administration during the war, shows Val-

landigham whistling to keep up his courage.

Professor Coleman is writing a biography of Vallan-

digham, and is anxious to learn of the location of any

unpublished Vallandigham letters.

ALS Clement L. Vallandigham, Dayton, Ohio, to James W.

Wall, Burlington, N. J., dated Dayton, November 26, 1865.

"The accumulation of obloquy, persecution and wrong, heaped

upon me, and [the] persistency [with] which they are kept up,

would assuredly crush any man of less nerve and fortitude than

myself. I have never seen and do not remember to have read of

anything to equal it. But I still bear it all calmly, bravely, I

hope, and with an unfaltering trust in a Divine Providence work-

ing out justice even here on earth. I am well aware also that one

cause of this ceaseless and embittered crusade which pursues me

everywhere, in public and in private, in politics, in business and

in social life, is that in all trials and through every strait, I

have come off victor, compelling even Lincoln, whom they now

deify, to yield. Had I been conquered and broken down, suing

for pardon, they might have been content. And besides, like all

other guilty spirits, they have, as to all of us who have suffered--

and the whole country will have suffered before the end--'a fear-

ful looking of [for?] a judgment to come.' Meantime, all that

remains to us is to make up the record of the times, truly, fully

and accurately, and in the day of account, mete out punishment,

not, indeed, with blind fury of revenge, but in the spirit of justice,

thus guarding the future generations of Americans against ty-

ranny and wrong. I am patient, very patient, and with an un-

faltering faith do 'bide my time.'

"As to politics I have now room for but a word: In Ohio we

have done better than in any other State. because we came nearer

to the true standard. Encouraged, we are already arming for the

next battle. I regret that we lost New Jersey: yet one had but

to look over the field, to forsee [sic] the result. As to the New

York election, defeat was deserved, and it came heavy upon the

[miserable?] contrivers and tricksters who make politics a trade.

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Three Vallandigham Letters, 1865         463

 

We have now but one course left to pursue towards them: offer

to act harmoniously with them, upon equal terms and on sound old

fashioned Democratic principles, and if they refuse this, then fight

them openly and to the death. The West and the South will be

with us.

"With the very highest regards, I am truly your friend

C. L. Vallandigham."

(In New York Historical Society Library, Miscellaneous

Mss.)

ALS Clement L. Vallandigham, Dayton, Ohio, to Horace

Greeley, New York City, dated Dayton, April 11, 1865. Marked

"Private."

"Now is the accepted time. For God Almighty's sake and

the country's sake, try, yourself and they who think and feel with

you, to get control. Desperate as their case now is, remember

that the South even yet can give great resistance, holding out for

a long time if driven to desperation. Such things have happened

often in history, and the worst may yet insue. And in any event,

concilliation [sic] and pacification are essential. If conquest and

subjugation--confiscation, etc.--are insisted upon, along with exe-

cutions, the present war even, is by no means over, and ages of

mischief and agitation must follow.

"If the President takes the proper course, he can have the

strongest support from masses of men who have hitherto opposed

him.

"Very truly,

C. L. Vallandigham."

(In New York City Public Library, Manuscripts Division,

Greeley Papers.)

ALS Clement L. Vallandigham, Dayton, Ohio, to Horace

Greeley, New York City, dated Dayton, April 20, 1865.

"A horrible event and prodigious change have indeed occurred

since I wrote you, but our duty is only made the more plain.

The very evil which for four years, I have most dreaded--the

worst evil of force, of co-ercion among a violent and vengeful

people, a terrible people like ours, has at last come--the first step

towards anarchy--assassination and under circumstances pecu-

liar[ly] appalling: the worse because the murderer had no private

wrongs to avenge. I have trembled for years at its approach.

We must, must, MUST secure the speediest possible pacification

of the country, if we would avert this fell spirit. In a little while,

with hundreds of thousands made homeless and desperate, no

public man's life will be safe for an hour. One point has not

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464       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

yet been reached. Had Booth when upon the stage just after

the fatal shot, plunged the dagger into his own bosom, we should

have been where we soon may be. Let us labor day and night to

hush mad passions and bring about peace. Your article enclosed

to me is emphatically correct, but alas! above the temper of the

times. No matter, hold on.

". . . I regard the events of the last three weeks, as inaugu-

rating a new era, and requiring of all true patriots and wise men,

new positions and duties. The time has come--not for giving up

party--but for new associations of men upon the new questions

just arising. It will be done: it must be done, and I think no

time should be lost. In fact there ought to be a consultation

speedily, so that we may take the right start. We must lay aside,

for a time, both past and future differences, and associate upon

the pressing questions of the moment. My own desire, is, if pos-

sible, to support the new President, if his course shall be at all con-

sistent with what my judgment and conscience can approve. I

have written to Forney today upon public affairs, and hope for the

best. The man who cannot get out of old ruts now, had better

not attempt to travel.

"But amid the universal horror at the assassination of the

President and the alternations of hope and apprehension, I have

been rudely jarred by Stanton's threat of trying those who may

harbor the assassins, by a 'Military Commission.' My God! are

we never to be done with these things so repugnant to nearly two

millions of voters, every one of whom would himself have stricken

the murderer dead upon the spot! For my part, I had a thousand

time rather the man or men should be killed when first arrested,

than put through the abominable mockery of a military com-

mission. For Heaven's sake do open up against them in the

Tribune. If these things are not to stop, we shall have nothing

but horrors. I do trust President Johnson will put an end to them.

"McLean, Pendleton and I expect to be in New York in a few

days.

"Very truly,

C. L. Vallandigham."

"P. S. Let us not make the mistake that the war is abso-

lutely over. That depends wholly on the policy which may be

pursued."

(In New York City Public Library, Manuscripts Division.

Greeley Papers.)

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