on
of Vallandigham. The letters of the President in reply to Governor
Seymour, and to the meeting in Ohio, are among the most interesting
productions of Mr. Lincoln. He doubted the legality of the arrest.
He quoted the provision of the constitution that the privilege of
the writ of habeas corpus "should not be suspended unless, in cases
of invasion or rebellion, the public safety may require it." He
had suspended the privileges of that writ upon the happening of
contingencies stated in the constitution and, therefore, the
commanding officer was justified in making the arrest, and he did
not deem it proper to interfere with the order of the commanding
officer.

This incident was made more important when, on the 11th of June,
the Democratic convention of the State of Ohio met at Columbus and
there formally nominated Vallandigham as the candidate of that
party for Governor of Ohio. This presented directly to the people
of that state the question of the legality and propriety of the
arrest of Vallandigham. The Republican party subsequently met and
nominated for governor John Brough, a lifelong Democrat, but in
through sympathy with the Union cause.

It is difficult, now, to describe the intense excitement in Ohio
over the issue thus made--at times breaking into violence.
Vallandigham was received with great favor in the different cities
of the south, and finally, embarking on board of a vessel which
ran the blockade at Wilmington, he arrived at Bermuda on the 22nd
of June, from which place he took passage to Canada, arriving at
Niagara Falls about the middle of July.

The feeling of anger and excitement among the loyal people of Ohio
increased, so that it was manifest that if Vallandigham entered
the state he would be in great danger, and a quasi civil war might
have arisen. I heard men of character and influence say distinctly
that if Vallandigham came into the state he would be killed, and
they, if necessary, would kill him. It was then understood that
Mr. Lincoln was disposed to allow him to enter the state. Senator
Wade and I met at Washington and had a conversation with Mr. Lincoln.
We told him the condition of feeling in Ohio, and of our confident
belief that if his order of banishment was revoked, it would result
in riots and violence, in which Vallandigham would be the first
victim. He gave us no positive assurance, but turned the conversation
by saying that he thought Vallandigham was safer under Brit