The arrest and exile of
Vallandigham was prompted by the idea that he was the bright particular star of the opposition in the
Northwest, and to extinguish him would leave the opposition sky in darkness.
Thus far the calculation is not disappointed.
There has been no light in the Heaven in that quarter since he was banished, save one brief display in
Indianapolis, which did not exhibit the deliberation and force of unterrified freemen aroused by a sense of outrage.
With this specimen of what he can do, the tyrant may follow the plan of simply waiting to see what those who oppose him may do. If Voorbees,
Merrick, and others in the
Northwest and
Seymour,
Hunt,
Brooks, and others in the
East, content themselves with words merely he can let them subside.
Vallandigham and his case will in that way disappear like something beneath the water, the disturbance on the surface soon terminating in a smooth sea!
This calculation would certainly be not unpractical or opposed to good judgment; for have not the
Northern people submitted to every sort of outrage upon the
Constitution and personal liberty, and arbitrary arrests without number?
Have they not complained and submitted, threatened and acquiesced, time and again?
All their clamors have terminated in supplying
Lincoln with all the men, all the money, all the authority, that he waned.
What reason has he to fear them now?
The arrest of
Vallandigham is evidently intended to crush the spirit of opposition in the
Northwest.
It is determined that
Ohio shall not have a Governor opposed to the Administration, and, if it is necessary, the casting of a vote for him next fall will be prohibited.
So that
Lincoln has three courses before him. He can yield to the New York remonstrances and pardon
Vallandigham, or he can, pursuing the policy of arbitrary arrests, seize the persons of those leaders who have reprobated the proceedings in
Vallandigham's case, or he may, just for the present, be content with having put out of the way a dangerous foe, and await to see the commotion occasioned by his capture spend itself.
We now think it probable that he will pursue the last mentioned policy.
If the party who, with
Governor Seymour, think that the case of
Vallandigham proves the existence of a grinding military despotism at the
North, should take any steps with the view of resisting that despotism, then
Lincoln will have to make another swoop amongst them.
Will they make any movement with that view?
It remains to be seen.
We doubt it.
