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Vallandigham, a sympathizer with the South, who in 1863 had been expelled from Federal territory to the Confederacy.
He managed, however, to make his way to Canada, and now resided at Windsor.
The prominence of his attitude against the further prosecution of the war led to his receiving the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Ohio, and, braving rearrest, he returned home in June, 1864, ostensibly to begin the campaign, but with a far deeper purpose in view.
In brief, Vallandigham purposed by a bold, vigorous, and concerted action, engineered by the Sons of Liberty, to detach the States of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio from the Union, if the Confederate authorities would, at the same time, move sufficient forces into Kentucky and Missouri to hold those lukewarm Federal States.
The five commonwealths would thereupon organize the Northwestern Confederacy upon the basis of State sovereignty, and the former Federal Union would now be in three parts, and compelled, perforce, to end the contest with the South.
The date for the general uprising was several times postponed, but finally settled for the 16th of August.
Confederate officers were sent to various cities to direct the movement.
Escaped Confederate prisoners were enlisted in the cause.
Thompson furnished funds for perfecting county organizations.
Arms were purchased in New York and secreted in Chicago.
Peace meetings were announced in various cities to prepare the public mind for the coming revolution.
The first one, held in Peoria, was a decided success, but the interest it aroused had barely subsided when the publication of the Greeley correspondence marked the new Confederacy as doomed to stillbirth.
The peace party in the Union was won over to the idea of letting the ballot-box in the coming presidential election decide the question of war or peace.
The Sons of Liberty, none too careful as to who were admitted to membership, inadvertently elected a number of Federal spies to their ranks.
Prominent members were arrested.
The garrison at Camp
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