Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-25

Fr0n he EeF Orleans PiclT a


There seems 10 be no limit to tie despotic Is
sumption Of absolute authority on the part Of the
Black Republican incumbent Of the Presidential
chair at Washington nor of the abjsct Submissive.
ness Of th0se who, By THAR votes have snfjscte
themselves to his rule. Every day brings accounts
Of fresh -iolltions Of his sworn Obligations. Of his
dtsregard Of the Constitution and The laws be took
an oath to maintain and administer and OF his com
mission Of acts that, committed By European mon
archs would produce q revolution, and bring the
perpetrators head to the block
The latest attempt Of Lincoln uDou the rislts a..
liberties Of the people was the most fsgrant Of ali
On the 17th inst, the Maryland Legislafra were 10
meet in adjourned session. By the direction of the
Federal Administration, the polic1 of Baltimore
arrested those Of the members who were known o.
suspected to be opposed to the war; as fast as tby
reached Baltimore. on their way hi Fredenek. to
take their seats. Enough, at latest accounts had
been arrested 70 prevent the possibility Of quorum
and there still remainsd fifteen members Of the
Senate, to be arrested Some Of these are said to
have fed from the State.
Two hundred years ago Oliver Cromwell ct the
head Of file Of soldiers, entered the British House
Of Commons, and pointing 70 the mace, the emblem
OF the Speakers authority, that lay on the "a bic
before him, babe his minions stake away that bku-
ble,D and then drove the members themselves frbm
the ball. and closed the doors. Our modern usurber
improves upon the example. He arrests and I'M
prisons the representatives Of the people on their
way TO take their seats IN the Legislature. And
this, in sovereign State Of constituted eonfcde-
racy, and in oontraTention Of isW that was enact
ed to protect members Of legislative bodies rpm
arrest on their way to or from the place Of m9et-
ing. And this, moreover, not for any overt act OF
for any actual offence against tho laws but upon
suspicion of entertaining opinions against the policy
Of the administration
Can there be a mora absolute despotism THAI
thiss
The ingenuity Of Lincoln and his advisers civil
and military, in inventing new and altogether I'M
preeedented ways Of invading the rights and pzivi-
leges Of the people who hare made him their ruler,
IS truly amazing. 'He not only hmprisoEs the
bodies but ne seeks TO fetter the minds OF his Sub
iects, he not only violates the privacy Of their
houses, institutng understandable searches for pa
pers and other evidences of their disasction to his
government, and posses himself OF their private
and confidential correspondence, by mail and BY
telegraph, but ne assumes their guilt, upon the
slightest and weakest grounds, or upon no grounds
at al, and pgnishes it upon suppOsti0n, as il bad
been made clearly manifest The Spanish InQuisi-
ton IN the height OF its terrible power No more
reckless IN the display Of a irresponsible authority
than this government Of 4 Constitutional republic
The right even Of the worst ana most malignant
traitor TO be tried BY his peers and 70 have the ben
eat Of counsel, was not denied him in the DAYS
when Jefreys "the worst Judge" as Nscaulsy
says, "Who ever disgrsced Westminster Hall = was
on the British bench. but here, in free America.
in the nineteenth century. have the spectacle Of
government that not only arrests and imprisons,
without warrant or accusation, but that seizes up
on the person Of the solicitor whom such prisoner
lave retained 70 act So COUNSEL for them Anin-s
stance Of this kind occurred day last We Ell in
New York, where GF. Sullivan, couns ellor IF the
bar Of that city, arrested and thrown into the
Bastle Lafayette, for prssuming to act il his pre-
fessional capacity for the privstesr prisoners
held in duress. Tbs crime anedgei agsinst HIM was
treason
Such is the nature Of the tenure BY which atore
Abraham Lincoln maintains bis III gotten p0iTer,
Gan it be believed that he can maintain it long BY
such means: We think not; but, however this may
be with those States which stroVsi and successfully
to place il his hands this mighty power for mis-
chief, we will not doubt that these which had nc
part IN his elevation, and that arc only held by the
strong arm Of military power in temporary subiee-
ton to his rule, will ct no distant day, rise up IN
their majesty, and free themselves from the CALLING
yoke.