Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-10-12
W HOLE NO. 2S17.

ca Of constructive treason They knew wcll that the
usual rules ef legal construction Ia regard 70 common
crimes should not be applied 70 political niauers IN when
conscience and the freedom Of opinion Is involved, be
cause justice 10 one might become oppression and yran-
ny IN the other But these constitutions safe-
guards appeared 80 insufficient TO the people Of those
days that IN the amendments the Constitution they
surrounded the fundamental rights and liberties Of the
citizen with new bulwak Of emphatic deoaraiions-
Hence this fierce indignant Incorporating opposition
TO every tending give latitude the power Of
the Government over individual rights.
Judge Douglas seems to have no conception Of The
groundwork upon which the safety Of popular liberty
rests Let him not pretend to say that he intended ne
law Tor the prevention of political oenses, for he ought
10 know, every wellinformcd knows, that Of all
Che laws iu the world which fascn the chains NJ desrot
ism upon mankind there is hardly which does not
rest upon iho petext that political ohense must be pre-
vented. Prevention of mischief the snnre with
which people in all ages and All countries have been pre-
Ntule0 rom asserting their liberties. IrcVenuNe laNs
are the poison with which Freedom Is killed IL - said
mat years ago an American citizen met Prince Meter
nich IN the City OF Brussels You remember who Prince
MettcniCh The history of the world hardly knows
the minister who had 20 answer for tears and crr
sos Of crushed nations. The American showed him tbs
Constitution NJ the United Stos and asked his opinion
Of This Constitution said the Prince " lacks but
one thing and can govern The Empire of Austria vita
a." What is that :" asked the American with aston
hmcnt II Is the power uf the central Government 90
' pass preventive lave" What pity Prince MciternieA
Is dead. In Judge Douglas he would have found tas
man of his heart Put the Judges ConspraS Bill up
90 our statute book. aud declare t constitutional and the
deficiency is supplied Prince Metternch is WILING =
Austria. after his fashion, with the Const.shoa
o the United States Place the power to indic and pua-
sh for combinations and for criminal intent in political
matters into the hands Of our Federal Judges thoee per
~ pro-consus who feel big when they show ther
power and we shall have little Star Chambst m
every little judicial district little Fouquicr Tinvire q
act As prosecuting attorney and little Jcres u pa
the sentences of the Court there will be Government
spy TO smell out reasonable combinations wherever three
or four u them assembled and the cells Of your P
ons nicd with men who have the spirit to thsk and
speak about slavery Washington, Jefferson, Madison
aud franklin thought and spoke.
And there those who dare call the who prs
posed 90 inaugratc such system Of pelicy " great
statesman To the honor Of Southern men be 1t said !.
both cases. when he proposed to confer the making
power upon the President as when he introduced thu
Ncw sediuon Law he had the modification Of being put
down by Stakeholder II was in both cases Jed,nson
Davis the leader Of the FrceAters who had the patriot
ic spirit TO vndicate Republican Institutions agAnst
the disgusting schemes of Northern demagcguos.
but Northern man also listening with indignant
astnnishment to Douglass speech in favor Of the New
Sediuon Law that was the brave John Hickman. Of
Pennsylvania the Anti Lccompion Democrat, who be-
ieved what he said And when he lef the Senate Cham
her hc broke in the words, On thy belly shalt
thou and dust shalt thou eRt all the days Of thy life
And well might he say so for the proposition whisper
ed into the firest Of kind by the serpent Of Para
disc was hardly infamous and Internal than tho
proposition Douglas whispered in the ears Of the present
generation
Where did Mr. Douglas learn these dootrinesi He has
been in Europe Unable 10 comprehend the means by
which liberty to be preserved in this country he
TO have studied the means by which the people
shaved there Not in England, but in France and Rus
sia he found much 10 admire. II don't know whether he
Nal,cu Austria and Naples lie basked IN the sunshine
Of the smiles of the Gar Nicholas. The smiles Of "a
dSspot sank deeply into his heart and this conspiracy
bill grew out Of it.
And this Is your "greatest Of living statesmen" II
his Is the ruling statesmanshp Of our days then good
night dearly bought liberties good night bright Amer
ican Republic goodnight great beacon Of struggling
humanity If 1t Is craftsmanship to subvcrt the princi
pies Of the Constitution undermine the liberties Of tho
people 20 place the security Of the individual at the
mercy Of the centralized Government, then, indeed he
is one Of the greatest, and his statue deserves TO be
erected side by side with that Of the lustrous Caaine
OF Rome, and the patriotic Straf0rd Of England do
not fear that the who made the infamous attempt
will be elevated To the highest trust in this Republic for
Just fate has already rrcvocably decreed against him
but do fear that there may be thousands Of who
will not have spirit enough to stigmatize him whh their
reputation appeal to you American freemen. Your
hearts cannot harbor the sincere feeling Of gratitude for
the heroes and sages who gave liberty TO this land II
YOU do not barber a for the man who attempts 20
destroy II with his insidious schemes.