Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-12-25

ever SOY When were the invaded and re-
strloted rights Of people ever restored TO
ineir exact position except 10y the sword ?
Wheh was liberty, once surrendered, ever
restored except 10y blood For the wills
iul surrender Of their rights no nation ey.
or resumed them only through the agonies
OF revolution, and you cannot make a
nation sensible of its rights that in time of
danger possesses no rights. You cannot
increase and strengthen Virtue, and corrs
age, and patience, in a people by teaching
them that in times of great public calami-
| ty and danger to the State, they must re-
| ly Tor their safety, not on their own virtue,
apd Courage, and constancy, but on the
power and good will of their rulers. no
tree nation ought ever to listen for mo-
ment TO the argument of State necessity.
The history OF those people who have been
SO deceived is written in the wreck of free
Institutions. 1t is marked with wrongs,
with high hopes destroyed, and noble as,
plrations violated and trampled upon. If
we look over the pathway of desolation
! thus exposed so view, we may easily imag-
inc that we see the spirit OF AmericaD in-
dependence and American freedom hover
ing over this day, tearfuliy praying it, too,
may not be added to the long list of vic
tins inundated on tbs altar of state ne.
| cessity.
This argument of state necessity always
proceeds from the executive power. 1t is
the voice which issues from the throne
itself, and unless speedily answer ed-un>
less answered now ere iorg comes the
mandate to surrender 10 military power.
An imperial throne rises on the ruins of
an overthrow republic; oaths are viola.
ted; Liberties swept away rights trampled
on, and nation is Frustrated in the dust,
This is but the familiar picture which pre-,
sents the dire effect of a people submitting
to the plea Of state necessity. We are
further told that in times of great public
danger the people ought to sustain the
hands of their rulers by coniiding in their
integrity OF motives and disinterestedness
of action. Yes, sir, would sustain with
the public confidence while they adhered
to the provisions and principles Of the
Constitution bat would paraIyze them,
sn, with distrust, whenever they COM
mence the work of usurpation. II was
Demosthenes, in his divine philippe, who
told the Athenians that the surest dc fence
OF free people against tyranny was dis.
trust. The Athenians did not heed his
warning and from that hour to this Gre
clan independence and Grecian liber'y
have been but a name. William, Prince
of Orange, wisely taught the same lesson
to the | utch, when Philip OF Spain asked
their confidence in his administration, and
they wisely needed the lesson, ard the
immortal plOr;ps which clustnral for t,vn
hundred years around the Dutch republic
testifies to the trUthfulness of the axiom.
|, sir, speak not in behalf of the memoirs
alists upright and honest men as they
are, and Lnjustly deprived oi their liberty
as know them to bel speak in behalf
of the Constitution, | speak in behalf Of
the liberties of the nation, speak in be.
halt OF my constituents, | speak in behalf
OF myself and in behalf of you, my col
leagues on this floor. And say here hat
the proposition that the President has The
power to suspend the writ of haJeaS corpus,
ana without reason, without
regard to the principles and provisions
and process Of law to detain the citizens
OF any portion of this country, is utterly
and entirely indetensihle. Aud further
say, that it becomes every member of this
House, in virtue Of his oath taken here
before the tribune of the people, to sup
port and preserve the Constitution. and
in virtue of the position we hold here 10
supper. the framework OF the Govern.
ment, and as representatives of the peo-
pie, solemnly in the face of heaven and
OF our responsibilities to protest against it.