Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-08

1lth j. + MCDOWELL.
Political Arrests-Their object.
Within lev weeks past there have been quite
number Of arrests. which seem to be without
Justification, and in clear violation of Constitu-
tional rights Ii the people of this State and this
country desire to preserve Constitutional liberty,
il is high time that their attention should be d.
rected to this arbitrary exercise of power. Let
u examine what are the rights OF the citizen un-
der both State and Federal Governments In the
bill OF rights guaranteed by the Constitution of
Indiana We find the following:
Art /. zee g. No law shall be passed restrain
ing the free interchange of thought AID opinion,
restricting the right To speak, write. or print
freely on any subject whatever but for the abuse
of that right any person shall be responsible.
Sec. 81. No law shalt restrain any OF the in
habitants of the State from assembling together
In peace,ble manner % consult tor their com
mon good. nor from instructing their Representa-
tives. nor from applying 10 the General Assembly
for redress Of grievances.
In the amendments to the Constitution of the
United States, Article l.. We find the following
Congress shall make no law sbriJ;;lrg the free
dom OF speech. or of the press; e. he ri hit of
tue Vtoplt ptatctDiE I'd d,stinDie, 10 ptutiOD
the Government for redress OF grievances.
1t thus appears that neither Congress nor the
Legislature of the State have any right to abridge
the freedom Of speech or of the press nor to re-
strain the citizens OF the State from assembling
together in peaceable manner. to consult for the
common good. And if neither Congress nor the
Legislature have the power to restrict the people
in those regards. certainly no Federal officer, or
State officer, military or civil has any right TO
exercise power from which the legislative au-
thorties are restrained.
From personal malice, or to avenge personal or
political prejudices and hos,ilties, inofiendng
citizens have been arrested in various parts of the
State. in clear violation of law brought to this
city, aud. in many cases. imprisoned or else com
PEELED to submit to personal indignities and in
conveniences. Shoulda just Government permit
the commission of such gross outrages 7 The
object Of the Constitution is not only to define,
but protect the rights Of the humbest citizen. Has
the Government fulfilled its mission in this re
spect Not only are citizens arrested for polti-
cal purposes within the State. by State authority,
but citizens of Indiana have been arrested by the
svuthorties of another State, carried out of it, i'm
psisoned-all without the intervention. not even
the protest of our public authorities. What claim
can such representatives OF the Government have
upon the respect and confidence OF the people?
To illustrate the partisan character OF these ar.
rests, refer to that of JASON B. BRowS. Esq.
of Jackson county. on Frld-y last Mr.. Brown
is the Democratic candidate for Representative
in that county. and such has canvassed it with
his compel tor. one JoHS +. CARR Mr.. BRowN
has not uttered expression in his speeches
which could be tortured into Unreasonable Ian
guage in public against the Government" as
charged While speaking ut Seymour on Friday,
man in military clothes interrupted him and
said he must change the tenor of his remarks.
Mr.. BRowN told him he must hear him through TO
judge whether he did or not. He went on with
his speech ia the same spirit as he had elsewhere
Another military man then directed to arrest
him. but he was told b, Mr. b. if he attempted
to do so while lie was speaking IT would be at his
peril. Mr. BEowN then finished his speech, after
which he waived all technicaties MS to authority
and by agreement met The officer at the cars aud
cane with him here but there Was no attempt 20
restrain him OF his liberty. So frivolous were the
charges against Mr.. BRowN that the Deputy
United States Marshal refused to entertain them
and dismissed him upon the condition he should
report himself here in case the Marshal, upon his
return from Washington, should desire 20 nves-
tigste the matter. That the public NAV see the
way that arrests are made. We COPY the charge
and authority upon which Mr. BRowS was taken
from home and brought TO this city:
JOSEPH Bosier
SEYMOUR lSp Sept 9th 1859
To the Adju,ant General of the State of Indiana
Jason Il Brown of Brownstown jackson
county Indiana did this day use reasonable Ian
euase in Public against the Government of the
United States OF America
This q Seymour Jackson County Indiana this
5th dry OF September ls62
Lr JosEpH BosIrR
Recruiting Officer IL h Ind
Noluntee.s kenon Ind
Witnesses:
S W Smith John Hcarton Thomas l. Ewing
Capt Suodgrass 3D. Ind Vol William Salmon d.
A II Smith john + Carr
What authority tor such an arrest? Where the
tight thus To stridge freedom of speech to dis
turb a meeting of citizens, assembled in a peace
ae!e manner, to consult Tor the common good.
Mr. JONI + CARR We notice is a willing wit
ness against his competitor. What sncrifce Of
all msnliness. Can any oae imagine an act
meaner. lower more dispicable than thus to
attempt to harrass and injure political oppo-
Deat7
We have referred to this arrest Of Mr. BBowx
and the frivolous charge upon which il was made,
to sho~ the desperation OF the party in power and
the infamous measures To which it is ready TO re
sort to in''m'date aud injure its political oppo-
nents. IL has been minated to u from re