The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-05-23
KenOSha, Thursdy, May 23, 1851.

g We warn all against such dangerous en-
croachments of Federal power having no pre-
tended sanction of law, and believe sincerely
that unless speedily arrested, it will overthrow
free government annihilate the liberty of the
people, and fasten on US central despotsm and
tyranny as unbearable as any of the old world. 7"
We clip the above from the Democrat of last
week, not to comment upon our neighbor for
the idea is not his. 1t is the argument just
now made by the men who are warning against
the Constitution-the argument of the seces-
sionists, who have commenced this most unnat-
ural war against the Government, because the
Free States were bound to sustain the Consti-
tuition. The friends of secession are just now
loud in their warnings against these ''encroach-
ments of Federal power" and the Cotton States
themselves pretend to be very much alarmed
about this " central despotism and tyranny"
Their ally and advocate here in Kenosha coun-
ty, who is indebted to this same Constitution
for the opportunity of scattering his treasona-
bic slang in free and loyal community, of
course takes up the argument his principals
have suggested.
This pretended fear of central despotism"
and humiliation of the liberty of the people"
comes with a mighty bad grace from the Sc
cessionists and their northern sympathizers and
allies, The first act in the drama of secession
was the humiliation of the liberties of the peo-
pie, and the usurpation Of despotic power by
ambitious, reckless politicians, who would not
yield to the voice Of the people. President Lin
coin was elected by the people, fairly and con-
stitutionally, and the most crazy secessioList
has never limited against the perfect constitu-
tionality of that election. 1t was the will of the
people constitutionally expressed But did
these sticklers for law and order acquiesce By
no means. They made this constitutional act
of the people an excuse for the subversion OF
all law and the destruction of the Constitution.
/ few disappointed politicians of South Caro-
lima, uader pretended election for a conven-
yenton, assembled, and passed a secession or
dInance, declaring the Union dissolved, land the
people of South Carolina absolved from all ale.
glance to the Constitution and Government Of
the United States. Was there no assumption
Of despotic power in that? Were the rights OF
the liberties of the people especially regarded
The returns of the election for delegates to the
secession convention were suppressed and ig
nored by the despotc traitors who had deter
mined beforehand to destroy the Constitution
they had all sworn to preserve, protect, and de-
fend. The election was 8 sham. They neither
knew nor cared what the vote of the people
might be,
i The same despotic course was pursued il
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana
L There was the form of an election in each State
though the returns were suppressed, if there
was probability of a vote against the secession
schene of the traitors. In Louisiana it wal
we'll known that the voice of the people wa
against it, and the returns Of the sham election
were suppressed, and the traitors went on witt
their work. The result OF that election ha
since been made public, ard it is now know
, that there was large majority against the Sc
eession Convention.
In each of those States, Conventions wer
held and an ordinance of secession passed b.
each. But the Conventions did not stop there
4 Without any consultation or reference to th
: people, these Conventions appointed member
to a Confederate Congress. That Congres form
Constitution and appointed President ant
other officers under it, ana the Confederate
} Constitution was adopted by the several Con
ventons of the States, but in no instance wa
it referred to the people. Thus the whole thinG
from first to last was a usurpation Of deSpOti
power. The whole machinery Of what purport
to be Constitutional Government is perfected
and set to work with all the necessary officers
and the people have never yet had an opportu
nifty fvoting,or in any way expressing an opin
ion either for or against it.
And yet the men who have done these thing
and those who aid and abet them here at tn
North, have the hardihood to pirate in sanctimo
NOUS phrase about the " dangerous and alarm
ing usurpation by the Fedora! Government,
and whine about the Federal power overthrow
ing Free Government and annihilating e''lib
erty of the people"
But we need not conine ourselves to the Sc
coded States for examples of the way in which
the friends of secession defer to the will of tn,
people. In North Carolina, Virginia, Tenne
see, Kentucky, and Arkansas, the people voted
against secession and even against holding &
convention to take such subject into conside
ration. But in spite of such a decisive vote
by the people, the few office holders in each O
those States have plunged them into this con
fict against the Constitution and the Govern
ment that guarantees to them all the rights and
Il privileges of Freemen. A state of violence and
anarchy is inaugurated for the express purpose
of drowning and suppressing the voice of the
people, and thus compel them to aceuiesce in
the despotic and reasonable acts of the usurp
erS. 1t is we'll known to all that the people Of
Missouri are unanimously in favor of the Union
and that II they were allowed to vote upon the
question without the fear of violence. the whole
damnable secession scheme would be voted
down by an overwhelming majority, and the
voice of the people would be for the Constitu
ton, the Union and the laws Yet the Govern.
or and the Legislature in secret session pass an
act OF secession and declare war against the
United States, and appropriate the school mon.
ey and the interest money on the State debt tc
the purpose of arming traitors against the Con
stitution of the Unit I'd States And vet these
very men and their abettors in Kenosha CRY
loud and long against the " encroachments o.
Federal Power" and the humiliation of the
liberty of the people! Oh, consistency tbor
art jewel
Liberty would be at an end in Missouri i
the Legislature there could succeed in partici
patinS the State into Secession The Military
Bill under consideration, compels every able
bodied citizen, between the ages OF eighteen
and forty-eight, to do military duty, or nav q
| fine of 215O 1n,boJ -. =.