Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-11-22

self-defence, and stood ready at any mo-
ment to withdraw simultaneously with
the Federal forces. To say that the Wash
ington Government had right to invade
the State, is to say that you had no right
to be neutral, and to submit to the inva-
sion from power which has effaced ev-
cry vestige of the Constitution, would be
to bow in the dust and surrender to a
simple despotism.
1t is not necessary to say much about
the Legislature. A majority of them,
instead Of protecting the rights and per-
s5ns Of ahe citizens, have either volun.
tarily or under duress been engaged in
sustaining the usurpations of the Federal
Government, in passing bills of pains and
penalties to terrify spirited people into
seryitude, in depriving the Governor Of
his just constitutional authority and in
abdicating their share Of the Government
by formally inviting a Federal military
force to take possession Of the State, well
knowing as they did that this military
force would supersede the State Govern
ment. OF that body nearly one Fourth
have retired because of the military oe-
cupaton Of the State and the seizure,
imprisonment, pursuit and exile Of many
Of the most eminent and patriotic eiti-
zens of the State by that military force
The voice of these members can no lon
ger be heard in the councils Of the State,
nor their votes be taken. The Legisla-
ture is thus, to say the least of it, mu-
tilated department Of the State Govern
ment.
1t is true that there remains a sufficient
number for a quorum, but are they free
For when the Federal Government takes
military possession Of State its Legis-
lature must conform to the will of the
the military chief or be suppressed, as VIC
have recently seen in the case of Mis-
souri,, whose State Government was dis
persed and martial law proclaimed; and
still later, in the case of Maryland, when
thirty-eight members of the Legislature
were seized aud imprisoned on the mere
suspicion Of intending to legislate at va
rance with the will Of the military Co
yernment. We cannot, therefore, know
that the public resolutions, Or pretended
laws Of the two bodies, arc the declara-
items Of their active will, because we have
the strongest reason to believe, that. il
not IN accordance with the will Of the
Government at Washington, they would
meet the fate of the Legislatures of Mis-
souri, and Maryland. On the other hand
we know that these resolutions and lnHs
are in conflict with their public pledge,
and with the expectations of the people.
IL is more charitable to believe that
the members at Frankfort, or a majority
of them, are actuatcd by fear Of a mil
itary force, rather than by perverse de-
sign to violate the will of their constitu-
ents, aud degrade the State to the con
dition to which it is attempted to bring
down Missouri and Maryland. If any
thing were wanting to strengthen this
view, it will be found in attendant events.
The resolutions they adopted on the 8th
Of September, sanctioning the entrance
Of Gen. Anderson's forces, we're accom-
panied by one declaring that no person
should be touched in his life, liberty OF
property on account Of his political opin-
ions. Yet, on the very day, | believe,
that these resolutions passed, the agents
Of the Federal Government seized the
printing establishment Of the Louisville
1 Courier, the only offence Of whose pro-
prietor was, that be criticised with free
dom the usurpations Of the Government
at Washington. At the same time, and
ever since, citizens Of Kentucky have
been imprisoned or compelled to fly from
their homes and families, against whom
there was no accusation but Of holding
opinions either unfriendly to MIR. Lin.
coins Government or friendly to neu.
trality. It's impossible to suppose that
a free Kentucky Legislature, in view Of
recent proceedings in other States, would
have turned this State over to the posses
sion Of a Federal military force, or be.
troyod tho people by throwing the State
into the arms Of Mr.. Lincoln, to be USED
for Southern subjugation, or consented
to the suppression Of the press, Or suffered
without an cutlery that would have pierced
the skies, the indignities aud outrages
which have been inflicted upon the poo-
pie by Federal soldiers.
Follow-citizens, you have to 10 now,
not with this fragment Of a Legislature,
with its treason bills and tax bills, with
its woeful subseryiency to every demand
Of the Federal dcspotism, and its woeful
neglect Of every right Of the Kentucky
citizen; but you have TO deal With power
which respects neither Constitution nor
laws, and which, if successful, will re-
duce you to the condition Of PROSTATE
and bleeding Maryland. Gen. ABdor-
son, the military dictator Of Kentucky,
announces in one Of bis proclamations
that he will arrest no one who does not
act, write or speoh in opposition to Mr.
Lincoln's Government. 1t would have
completed the idea If he had added, or
hipk in opposition to it. Look at the
condition Of our State under the rule Of
our new protectors. They have sup.
pressed the freedom Of speech and Of
the press. They seize people by military
force upon mere suspicion, and impose
on them oalhs unknown to the laws
Other citizens they imrrison without