The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-03
The Protest of the Democratic Members Of
the New Hampshire Legislature agains,
Apprc riatiOnk for ar aRainst The Sau1h

The Protest of the Democratic Members Of
the New Hampshire Legislature again.,
appropriations fer War against the South.
During the session of the New Hamp.
shire Legislature, in June last, nine ty one
members OF that boo protes ted against the
passage of the dill making appropriations for
war against the south. The circumstance
was noticed at the time "a favorable indtca-
ton, though 1t had no effect upon the bloody
minded Black Republicans of the North. We
append the protest CT these ninety-one true
men, which is as eloquent in language as
truthful in ointment:
The undersigned claim their constitutional
1iEht of entering upon the journal of the
House this their protest against the pr sage
OF bill entitled an "act to aid in the defence
OF the country with the following, their rea-
sons therefor
!. Because the bill Compels MS to approve
rattfy and confirm 'all payments matte by
the Governor and Council or BY their an.
thority and dirah ton, IN order to furnish
troops from this State for the defeuCe of the
United Stdtes, or enlisting, arming equip
ping disciphninG, maintaining or transporting
SAID troops, or In any way cOflnectf there
WITH :; OF the nature, extent, validity and
equity OF which we know SO little as to bn
entirely unable to form any definite Judgment
relative thereto, and because from any int0r.
mation communicated 20 this House, we can
not assure ourselves or our constituents that
it would be safe aud proper for us thus to ap-
prove, ratity and confirm.
>. Because by the provisions of this hill the
power to consider and determine what appro.
prationS are necessary, and what disposition
has been, and shall be, me he of the money of
the people, how and by what agents disburs-
cd, and in what manner ACCOUNTED for. are
taken from the representatives of the people,
TO whom such power COnstitutionaIly be
longs, and surrendered to the Executive
branch of the Government
). Because cannot permit transactions
of any branch OF the Government to be sealed
up from the eyes OF the people, or to be placed
beyond their power to examine, inspect and
Judge.
this House in the rejection Of the amendments
proposed TO the bill other than the assur-
ance that the present war may be waged by
nnla means, for conquest, subjugation,
national COnsollda ton and the extinguishmaut
of State soyeregn;ies and We are unutterably
opposed to the attainment, by any means, of
such objects.
u savoHing all considerations and motives
OF partizrn character, we enter our protest
against this bill, because OF its loose irrespou-
sibla, extravagant provisions, and also because
We desire to put upon the record our earnest
viii to protect the State against the exerciga
OF a decree OF executive power, such the
Constitution never cont 'mpiated and the
people never before dreamed of. When such
an extraordinary appropriation was submit
ted to our sanction, we had a right to
distinctly and specifically, where their money
to go, for what purposes it had been and
to be applied, and by what suitable checks
its disbursements had been and was to be
guarded. We cannot consent to give the idle
catch phrases of the day the weigh due alone
to reason atis argument. The political party
10 which we belong has, fortunately, no occa-
sion for new and extraordinary demonstra-
lions OF devotion to the flag of our country
They have never heapsd malediGt ton upon it,
or upon the Constitution They have not only
loved and honored it, bnt they have uphe Id
aud defended IL at home and abroad on ga
and land, at all times and in all places. They
have striyan to main tain the Government as
il descended to them, and in the spirit which
animal d their fathers-not n " consolidated'
Government such as is now occasionally fore
shaioWed, but a Government composed of
iudep endent sovereign States, united for the
purposes expressed, and clothed with the
powers deiegat I'll by the States and the peo-
pie, and with no other. This Union, which
has been our pride and delight had It's birth in
the adoption of the Constitution. Upon that
instrument, as its firm foundation, warmed
and streng thened by glorious memories of
the dangers, trials and privatiOns of seve
years conflict for Independence, hedged f'I
around by the forces of mutual affection aud
interest, 1t stood tor The first fitCy years, il
calm dignity, assuring ira ernal regard amorC
all It's members, safety for the rights of
cry aitizen of every latitude throughout the
bread extent of our land, an amount OF midi
vIdual and social freedom and prosperity
speCt throughout the world. 1t was only
when the provisions OF the Constitution itself
relating to domestic servitnde came to be de-
nounced and boldly repudia ted, that all
these great interests and precious blessings
were seriously imperiled.
We are really to make any appropriation
reasonable in itself, aud properly guarded,
which looks prac tically 10 re tored respect
for constitn iional rights, and consequently to
restored fraternity, unity, peace ant prosper
ity. Nay, more, for these objects we are ready
10 pledge Tour ltves, our fortunes and our
sacred honor Bat we enter our solemn
protest erainst making this the occasion for
inaugurating IN New Hampshire leei Station
lik. that OF which the bill inst passei is q
type. We wili not sanction appropriations
of the peoples hard earning, nnieard of in
amount, without figures, without facts, with
ont sound reason rs n basis. This leg isation,
in oDr Judgment, does little less than To in
wife speculation. 1t is immaterial that this
great debt is to re funded, and that the bonds
are not 10 be redeemed this year, the next, or
the year after. They are to be paid some
time, by us or by our children. 1t is vain to
remind US of the old Latin maxim so often
reproduced of late, that In the midst of arms
the laws are sileut. II we go hack to the
origin of that maxim, we shall find that
in the midst OF arrs the best institu-
tons have been overthrown, and, upon
the tyrants plea Of necessity, great
liberties have been crushed under the iron
heel OF military despotism. However i'm
portant may be other objects contemplated,
or 10 be achieved by this war, nothing can be
more important than for the people to hold
In their own hands, with firm grasp, all the
rights which our fathers delivered to us
among these, and above all, the sacred per-
sonal security OF the AabsaS corpus, the free.
dom Of opinion and freedom OF utterance.
We have demanded specific ltioh Of the oh.
jects for which this unparalleled call upon
ths industry and income of our Ssnstitu ents
IL pYed!eated. We have asksd wAethsr this
war bankruptcies resauion, end fsa, Ia vhat
manner srrns ars TO achisys tbs abiuct. We
ksy. asked whether Il a,saak lbs Assyia,;on
s 2, ,nsi an. s ii. d..us :, - snr
owr RAGS tasfs. We have dsmssdsi ncft
peyjsai sacari,s Tor ihs economical, islthfgl,
legitimate application OF this vest H,n6au. oi
slosey, aud ths result is Tint va are turned
rcund aeon tho privilege which ws arc