Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-15
Calling OFT the Militia.

There is one point of President Fillmore's
explanatory message which will he remein-
bered long after his ridiculouslv husiy proc
lamition is forgotten. II must have been put
into the message when his chief constitution
nj adviser was in condition of artificial
| paralysis, aud il shows that Our Northern
President is n soulless tool of the sluvehold-
ers. II is, in fact, nothing less than propo-
sition 10 place the whole country in state
of siege, or under martial law.
BY the Act of Congress of 1895 the Presi-
dent is authorized TO call out the militia 10
suppress insurreciions or combinations
against the laws of the United States. But
on doing so he mtst issue his proclamation
commanding the insurgents TO disperse.-
The President now calls upon Congress TO
modify this act and allow him TO dispense
with this proclamation. Attend TO bis Ian
guage on this point.
Such proclamation, in mid of the civil
authority, would often defeat the whole OBJ
Jcct, by giving such notice to tie persons in
tended TO he arrested that they would be
enabled TO fly or secrete themselves. The
force may be wanted sometimes TO make the
arrest, aud also sometimes to protect the
officer after il is made, aud TO prevent res.
cue. | would, therefore, suggest, that the
oNN'lbH ut iiouIltu, bN utCNiIUH lnuI nOln-
lug therein contained shall be construed to
require any previous proclamation when the
militia are called forth, either to repel inva-
SION, TO execute the laws, or suppress COM
blnaiions against them.
This recommendation is historical Ii will
60 down 10 future generations. II the fame
of the elder Adams was damaged by his
signing the Alien and Sediiou Law, whut
will become of the President WHO not only
signed the Fugitive Slave Bill, but called ior
the absolute aud unlimited control Of the
military power of the country to enforce il ?
President Fillmore asks Congress 10 let him
shoot down his fellow citizens without warn
ing, whenever they may assemble 10 make
any demonstration which he mny consider in
opposition TO this law. lie IN fact demands
II state of perpetual martial law"
We put IL to our fellow citizens who have
any manhood, not TO say humanity, left in
them, whether such monstrolIs demand is
not of itself enough TO damn the Fugitive
slave LAW aud arouse against il their TN
niiigated adherence. This wide country
has lived through great number of local
excitcmcnts against particular Federal laws. |
Even sacred treaties have repeatedly been
set at open defiance hy bodies of our fellow
citizens, and yet no President has ever 'liint- |
ed ut dispensing with proclamation before
using the military force. In every country
of Europe, through the months OF tan thou
sand uayeicrs we have boastcd OI a govern
ment efficient wiiliont an onilipresent militia
ry; of people to whom consciemces within
supplied the place Of bay0nets Without
Aud with righteous law or any where near
righteous, would il not continue so to the
end Of the chapter?
To justify the lumliating adoption of the
practice of despotic governments which tue
President demands, either the people must
have become exceedingly profiguic or the
laws intoernbly tyrannical. How is it?-
Are the people who are opposing this Eugi-
tive Slave Act more unrIIy aud wicked Than
the men who invaded Texas aud Cuba! or
the men who on many occasions have mob-
bed and even murdered their fellow citizens
for exercising their Constitutional freedom of
speech II cannot he so. The only reason
for this arbitrary military power, which a
sane mind can for q moment entertain is,
that the law TO be supported is so wicked
that the best of men are irresistibly tempted
TO violate it.-Bost. Commonwealth.