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

ever 81 Nnen were the invaded and re-
strioted rights of q people ever restored TO
their exact position except by the sword ?
When was liberty once surrendered, ever
restored except by blood For the wills
tul surrender of their rights no nation ev-
er resumed them only through the agonieS
of a revolution. and you cannot make a
nation sersibla its rights that in time of
danger possesses no rights. You cannot
increase and strengthen Virtue, and cocro
age, and patience, in 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,
and courage, and constancy, but on the
power and good will of their rulers. NO
tree ration 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, apd noble as
pirations violated and trampled upon. II
we look over the pathway of desolation
thus exposed to view, we may easily imag-
inc that we see the spirit of Americap ia
dependence and American freedom hover.
ing over this day, tearfully praying it, too
may not be added to the long list of VIC
! Tins inundated on ths altar of state ne
cessity.
This argument of state necessity always
proceeds from the executive power. 1t i.
the voice which issues from the throne
ITSELF and unless speedily answer dun.
less answered now -ere lorg comes the
mandate to surrender TO military power
An imperial throne rises on the ruins o
an overthrown republic; oaths are viola
ted; liberties swept away rights trampled
on, and a nation is prostrated in the dust,
This is but the familiar picture which pre-
sents the dire effect of 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 coniidiug III thei
integrity of motives and disiuterestednes
of action. Yes, sir, | would sustain will
the public confidence while they adhered
to the provisions and principles Of The
Constitution bat would paralyze them
sn, with dislrust, whenever they com
mence the work Of usurpation. II was
Demosthenes, in his divine philippe, who
! told the Athenians that the surcst defence
OF free people against tyranny was dis
! trust. The Athenians did not heed hit
warning, and from that hour to this Gre,
clan independence and Grecian liber'y
have been but name. William, Prince
of Orange, wisely taught the same lesson
to the utch, when Philip Of Spain asked
their confidence in his administration, anC
4 they wisely needed tho loooon, aud tn,
Immortal glOr!es which clustered for two
] hnnIral nrDnnI tbn nr,ph nn,,n1, 1 4,
testifies to the trUthfulne;s Of the axiom
|, sir, speak not in behalf of the memoir,
alists upright and honest men as they
are, and dnjustly deprived oI their liberty
as know them to bel speak in behal
of the Constitution, | speak in behalf o.
the liberties of the nation, speak in be.
half of my constituents, speak in behal
Of myself and in behalf of you, my col
leagues on this floor. And say here that
the proposition that the President has the
power to suspend the writ of haJeaS corpus
al rbitrari'y and without reason, without
regard to the principles and provisions
and process of law to detan the citizen,
Of any portion of this country, is utterly
and entirely indefensihle. And 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 tc
! support 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.
| WHERE ARE YOU WoUNpEpP-It had be