Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-17


the Constitution and the success of party
above the integrity Of the Republic, should
thus rear its head in high places and seek to
dictate the conduct of the war.
s. That while We would mete out mcritod
and legal punishment to the plottcrs Of, aud
leaders in, the rebellion, We are opposed to
the contemplated sweeping and indiscrimin-
ate acts OF confscation and emancipation, ny
congressional legislation or Executive proc
lamation because;
/. We do not believe such acts would DO
constitutional.
thc South into rebels, they would have tho
effect to indefinitely prolong tho war, afford
potcxt for foreign Intervention, anC render
the restoration of the Union next to, or quite
impossible.
! D. Because, If practicable and carried out
they would cngcnder feeling of bitterness
between the different sections of the Union
tnat would not be allayed for generations to
come, and that would be an ever. present
cause of danger and disturbance to the pub.
lie peace, source of perpetual weakness in
tn he Government and an ever present ncen-
tive to foreign powers to interfere in our do.
nestle concerns. and to promote disruption
and overthrow of the republic.
4. Because they would destroy, in a great
degree, if not entirely, for many years to
come, the industrial interests of large Sec
tion of the country, and most iniuliously
effect the interests OF tho whole people.
B. Because the immediate and indiscrimi-
nate emancipation of the slaves would be an
act Of inhumanty to them.
6. Because such an emancipation would
throw upon the border free States and es-
recially upon Ohio, an immense number Of
negroes to compete with, and underworld, the
white laboIcrs of the State, and to constitute,
in various ways, an almost, or quite, unbcar-
able nuisance, il suffered to remain among
us. And we would deem it most unjust to
our gallant soldiers to see them compelled to
free the negroes of the South and thereby fill
Ohio with degraded population to compete
with these same soldiers upon their return to
the pcaccabc avocatons of life.
g. That, entertaining these views, VIC can
not too strongly condemn the refusal of our
General Assembly to prohibit by law, tue
emigration of negroes into this state.
I. That VIC arc opposed to being taxed to
, purchase the freedom of negro slaves. With
all due respect for the opinions of others
. we think that such amcasure would be uncon
tutonal, impolitic and unjust.
g. That tho unparalleled frauds and pccu-
lltions upon the government, revealed by the
investigating committees, and otherwise, dc.
mand the stcrncst condemnation OF every
honest man and friend of the country, and
call for the scvercst punishment prescribed
E by the laws.
$ 0. That tho patriotism, courage and skill
manifested by our armies has never been cX.
ccedcd in the history of the world, and de-
serves and receives our highest admiration
and gratitude.
10. That the refusal of the General Assem-
bly, to permit our gallant soldiers in the field
the right to vote, was a great and unustifablc
wrong to them, that ought not to have been
committed.
IL. That while we will, as heretofore, dis
courage all mere factious opposition to the
: Administration, and will continue to give our
earnest support to all proper measures to put
down the rebellion, and will make all the al
lowances that tho necessities of the case re-
quirc of good citizens, we protest against all
violations of the Constitution.
II. That we hold sacred, as we do all other
parts Of that instrument, the following pro
visions OF tho Constitution Of the United
States:
"The trial of crimes, except in cases of
Impeachment, shalt be by jury and such trial
shall be held in tho State where the said
crimes shall have been commttcd."
"Congrcss shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridgng the free.
dom of speech, or Of tho press; or the right
OF the people peaccably to assemble, and tC
petition the government for redress o.
grievances"
"Tho powers not delegated to the United
/, , States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by
it TO the States, are reserved to the States re-
spcctivcly, or to the people,"
"Tbo right of people to be secure in their
persons, houses, papers and effects against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
be violated, and no warrant shall issue but
upon probable cause, suppoatcd by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the
place to be searched and the person and things
to be seized"
"No person shall be held to answer for a
capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless
on prescntimcnt or indictment of grand
jury, except in cases arising in the land and
naval forces, or in the MALTA, when in actual
service, in time Of war and public danger nor
to be deprived of life, liberty, or property
without due process Of law; nor shall private
property be taken for public use withou just
compensation"
"ln all criminol prosecutions the accused
shall enjoy the rights to speedy and public
! trial by an impartial jury of tho State and
! District wherein the crime shall have been
committed, which District shall have been
previously ascertained by law; and TO be in
formed OF the nature and cause OF the accu-
SotlOn; 10 DC COnlfOnlcu WltH INC WltneSScS
against him; to have ompulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have
tho assistance OF counsel for his defense"
And we utterly condemn and dcnounce the
repeated and gross violation by the Executive
Of the United States, Of the said right thus
secured by tho Constitution; and we also ut
tcrly rcpudiatc aud condemn the monstrous
dogma that in time OF war the Constitution is |
suspended, or its powers in any respect en-
lurged beyond the letter and true meaning OF
that instrument.
| Is. That wo view with indignation and
alarm the illegal and unconstitution al seizure
and imprisonment, for alleged political Of
fonccs, of our citizens without judicial pro-
cess in States where such process is unob-
structed, but by Executive ordor by telegraph
or otherwise, and call upon all who uphold
tho Union, the Constitution and the laws to
unite with us in dcnouncing and repeling
such lagrant violation of the State and Fed |
cral Constitutions and tyrannical iniractons
of the rights aud liberties Of American cities;
and that the people of this State cannot safely
and will not submit to have tho freedom OF
speech and freedom OF tho press, tho two
great and essential brlwarl,s OF civil liberty,
put down by unwarranted and dcspotic cXcr-
/ ton of power.