Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-07-23
The Danger.

A)n1SCAs
One Of the worst evils to ts appreheuded
from this terrible civil war that is deyasta-
ting and running our country is, the spirit
OF intolerance and anarchy which is spring
ing up everywhere. Little Brigadier Gen
erals, like Hurlburt and Pope Of Illinois,
and Lyon of Missouri, as may be seen by
their recent proclamations, have already
defed the constitution and civil laws and
usurped despotic power over the people
The proclamation Of Gen Pope we give
in to>day's paper, and beautiful document
it is to go before the people Of free coun.
try. 1t is an insult to the intelligence of
the age and in direct violation of the con-
stitution Of our State which declares that
''the military shall be in strict subordina.
ton to the civil power" Il gravely tells
the people who may be charged with Of
fence against the laws, shat they will be
dea 1t with in summary manner" which
of course, means that they will be shot or
hung as any Of the little military officers
may direct
We have been fearful ever since the
commencement of our troubles that 1t
n0nld cdme to this, yet We did not think it
would show itself so soon. The war has
lasted scarcely four months. and the mill
tary has usurped the civil power. The
Hurlburts, the Popes, the Lyons and mill
tary commanders of lower grade have pro-
claimed officially. their determination to
dispense with courts, and judges, and lu-
ries, in their dealings with those susr ected
Of disloyalty to the Government. Thus the
laws and liberties of American citizens are
to be placed at the disposal of irresponsible
and ignorant military officers.
Surely, if these acts of usurpation are
sustained and authorized by the Admins
tration, the great cause and object for
which We have rrofessedly drawn the sword
the preservation of constitutional govern
ment and personal rights ard liberty, are
in quite as much danger from the Govern
ment Itself as from those arrayod in open
rebellion against it. We see the command.
ers of our militia assuming powers which
belong only to the judiciary. They profess
to support the constitution and the laws,
| yet defy, override and override them.
If the Administration tolerates these
outrages, the sovereign people will not, our
rulers may rely on this. The attempt to
carry the Government beyond its legitimate
sphere must be put down, or the people
will rise up and demand that the provisions
of the constitution be faithfully enforced.
Our Union is of no value. our Govern
ment is not worth fighting for, if the vita
principles of the constitution are to be dis
regarded and trampled upon by the very
men who are sworn to support it. The
people of the North without distinction oil
party, are uniting in the determination tc
support the Government, and are literally
expanding their money, periling theiI
lives, and sacrificing their present prosper
ity in the effort to maintain the Union and
| constitution against rebellion. Therefore
every thing which looks like subjugation Oh
resorting to military despotism, will h
viewed with the greatest Indignation.
President Lincoln should be careful les,
our free republic be changed into despot
ism. Let him remember that we have
drawn the sword for the preservation Of
constitutional government, and not for the
purpose of crush ing out the individual lib
critics of the people and State rights. The
people of this country have an eternal en-
nifty to tyranny-to military despotism-
and advances in that direction will arouse
a feeling of indignation that neither threatl
or the presence of large armies can quell