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Letter to Editor
October 8, 1863
Holmes County Farmer
Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio
What is this article about?
A Republican voter from Ohio explains his decision to leave the party and support Democrats due to the arrests of Dr. Olds and Clement Vallandigham, which he sees as violations of free speech and citizen rights during the Civil War era.
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OCR Quality
95%
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Full Text
From the Ohio Statesman.
Why I Leave the Republican Party.
I have always been a Republican, and belonged to any other party that opposed the Democrats, and voted accordingly. The first thing that startled me in regard to the principles and policy of my party was the arrest of Dr. Olds. At first I disbelieved it. I could not believe that my party which preached free speech, a free press, and free soil, could be guilty of sending a man to prison without trial for making a speech. I still passed along hoping for light and satisfactory information. But instead of this I found my party in the Legislature, in their papers and speeches not only defending such practices, but even making light and trifling remarks about taking a man from his bed at night, from his business and family, and sending him to a military prison in a distant State.
When Mr. Vallandigham was arrested and sent South in exile, I felt as tho' I could stand it no longer, and am resolved not only to vote for Mr. Vallandigham but the whole Democratic ticket. I hope all my old friends who love free speech and freedom of the citizen will do as I intend to do, and free themselves as well as their neighbors from a despotism which is evidently being prepared for us if not arrested.
JOSHUA CLOVER
Prairie Tp., Franklin Co., Sep. 10, '63.
Why I Leave the Republican Party.
I have always been a Republican, and belonged to any other party that opposed the Democrats, and voted accordingly. The first thing that startled me in regard to the principles and policy of my party was the arrest of Dr. Olds. At first I disbelieved it. I could not believe that my party which preached free speech, a free press, and free soil, could be guilty of sending a man to prison without trial for making a speech. I still passed along hoping for light and satisfactory information. But instead of this I found my party in the Legislature, in their papers and speeches not only defending such practices, but even making light and trifling remarks about taking a man from his bed at night, from his business and family, and sending him to a military prison in a distant State.
When Mr. Vallandigham was arrested and sent South in exile, I felt as tho' I could stand it no longer, and am resolved not only to vote for Mr. Vallandigham but the whole Democratic ticket. I hope all my old friends who love free speech and freedom of the citizen will do as I intend to do, and free themselves as well as their neighbors from a despotism which is evidently being prepared for us if not arrested.
JOSHUA CLOVER
Prairie Tp., Franklin Co., Sep. 10, '63.
What sub-type of article is it?
Political
Persuasive
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Constitutional Rights
What keywords are associated?
Republican Party
Vallandigham Arrest
Free Speech
Dr Olds Arrest
Democratic Ticket
Civil War Politics
What entities or persons were involved?
Joshua Clover
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Joshua Clover
Main Argument
the author, a lifelong republican, leaves the party due to its hypocrisy in arresting dr. olds and exiling vallandigham without trial, violating free speech principles, and resolves to vote for the democratic ticket to oppose emerging despotism.
Notable Details
Arrest Of Dr. Olds Without Trial For A Speech
Vallandigham Arrested And Exiled South
Party Defending Military Arrests And Making Light Of Them