Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-04
The Right OF Peti,i IN what we are
GTT Coming TO. PIT

We clip the following from the Journal of
Commerce:
SEEING COMPROMISE PETITION Detectives
Eustsce and Farley, by direction of the police
authorities, on Friday seized, at an Office In
Wall street, two copies Of the following peti
tion, which we're, together, signed by more than
700 names:
To HIS Ercslleney Abraham Lincola, President
of the United States: ce.
The undersigned citizens of New York, beg
leave to present 10 you, most respectfully and
earnestly, the following considerations:
While they hold themselves ready TO sustain
and defend their Government, and you 90 its
legal head, they respectfully suggest that the
only remaining honorable position for you 70
prevent the horrors of civil war and preserve
the Union, 10 TO adopt the policy Of an immedi'
ate General Convention Of all the States, as
suggested in your Inaugural. lga ast
q This course would secure peaceful solution
of our national difficulties; and if any State re-
fused 10 join said Convention 10 amend the Con-
stitution, or adjust PEACEFUL separation, IL
would stand unanimonsly condemned before the
civilized world.
Earnestly deprecating civil war among breth-
rem, we implore and beseech you to adopt this
course, which, you may rest assured, 10 the real
voice of the people.
We confess we are led to ask where will these
things stop. Police officers, directed by the po.
lice authorities to seize petitions from the people
which were prepared in respectful terms to the
President of the United States! 20 37'7i7f p
!, Article first Of the Constitution says "Con-
gress shall make no law 50" prohibit.
Ing the people" petitiouing the Government for
redress Of grievances" @
No matter what the people may think are
their grievances, they have the right to petition
for redress. We are certainly coming to q
pretty pass, when police officers are to be toier-
stsd In taking from the people tbei: petitions to
their President or Congress. sa. Il.
We may pause and reflect upon these things
with profit. -,'.--....
The New York World reprOves this Infamous
aot ss follows:
The chief Of police has again distinguished
himself BY an indiscreet display Of official zeal.
He has pounced upon petition to which an In.
considerable number of names are affixed, pray.
ing his excellency Abraham Lincoln 70 do o
good many utterly impracticable things, with
the purpose of "avertiDg the horrors Of civil
war;
IL Mr.. Kennedy yet to be informed that the
right Of petition is sacred and inalienable7 II
80, IL would be veil for him to experience that
access Of much needed intelligence. The fact
that the pstition, seized by his orders, embodied
prayer from which the public mind, in its pres.
| ent mood, revolts with unspeakable indigna-
zion, does not In any degree mitigate the Absur-
dity and injustice Of Ice seizure. Mr.. Guion
has right TO put his hand 10 any petition
Whatsoever. He may petition that all houses
shall hereafter be built with gables, and the
gables turned to the street. He may petition
thst members Of Congress shall wear secession
cockades on their shoulder blades and 70 bare
foot IN the summer time. Who cares7 As to
the good sense or patriotism Of the invocation
which they are moved to put up, the general
public and the petitioned are at liberty 10 Judge.
The plea that the seizure was made for the pur-
pose Of allowing those who had signed the pc.
tltion in ignorance Of its character 10 expose
the fraud is simply speeious. Few men, In
times like the present, dribble their signatures
about carelessly. The truth is, Mr.. Kennedy
has displayed more zeal than Judgment We
give him credit for the former. The lack Of
the later which he has Displayed in this matter
lis worthy OF the eeverest repfobation. sssq