The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-10-01

augural address, declared that the "arraign-
ment of all abuses at the bar of public rea-
son freedom of religion, freedom OF the
press. and freedom OF person, under the pro-
lection OF the habeds corpus, and trial by jur-
les impartialIy selected, were among ''the
essential principles Of our government, and
consequently among those which ought 10
shape It's administration"
And speaking further of the true princi-
Piles of the government, Gncluding those
just recited,) he said-"These principles
from the bright constellation which has
gone before us, and guided our steps
through an age of revolution and reforma-
ton. The wisdom OF our sages and The
blood of our heroes have been devoted 10
their attainment; they should be the creed
OF our political faith, the texi of civic in
struciion. the touchstone by which TO try
the services Of those we ,rust and should
we wander from them in moments of error
or alarm let hasten 10 retrace our steps,
and 10 regain The road which alone leads
10 peace, liberty and safety"
These words of wisdom are recalled al
this time because they are as appropriate
now as they were al the time when uttered
Then, the previous administration of MIR.
Adams had been troubled by the spectre of
sedition and had had law enacted, and
set the courts in action against H. The
Democrats had been denounced as t'dsloy-
al" and as "sympa,hzers" with France,
and had been prosecuted, fined and impris-
oned for pretended offences" in speech
and in writing against the administration.
Unquestionaby, they had been persecured
in violation OF the constitution, but still
under The forms Of law and with some
prelence o. regularity |, was reserved for
the present time 10 discover that both the
form and substance of legality may be
dispensed with by party in The perse-
cuiion of its opponents.
1t would he we'll for onr administration
10 recur TO the advice of Mr. Jefferson, (lit-
tie as they may be dspC sed, ordinarily, 10
regard it.) and if they have wandered, Gin
moments OF error or alarm from true prin-
ciples, fto relrace their steps and to regain
the road which alone leads 10 peace, liber-
ty and safety"
But, perhaps, instead of appealing 10 the
administration, we had best adopt the course
pursued by our ancestors, and by eleciing a
true constitutional parry into power, secure
ourselves and our system of governmen Mt
against abuse and error in future.
We are told that necessity may justify de-
pauures from The Conslitulon-the assum-
by it. Listen TO The answer of John Nichol-
as OF Va. in 1893, 10 this the standing plea
of tvrants in all ages: 'No government can
assume power not delegated on pretence
of It's being necessary for none have right
TO Judge OF what is necessary but the max
ers OF the Constitution" and he might have
added, that this plea is usually as false in
fact as it is Unauthorized in principle.
II may be said that times of war, are not
subject to ordinary rules, or, 20 use current
praseology, that the +" life of The nation" is
OF superior importance 10 lis fundamental
law. But was the Constitution made tor
times of peace only? Is not a state OF war
contemplated by it, and full provision there
for made? The war power, whether agaInsi
external or internal foes, is vested in gov
ernment and also all subsidiary powers
necessary TO its exercise. No one can point
out specific and proper power for time
of war which has been withheld from gov
eminent.
n 4 1
il American liberty had guarantees for times
of peace only. Like other nations, we may
have frequent wars, and 10 hold that they
suspend or affect The force OF the Consiilu-
ton, is 10 pronounce its utter condemna-
ton.
Was the Constitution thought inadequate
or inconvenent in the war OF 1912, or in
the Mexican war! Was il thought necess-
ary in either OF those wars TO disregard any
OF its provisions-to infringe upon any in
dividuAl rights secured by ii? In the former
the notable disafection of New England
provoked no arbitrary act on The part OF
those 10 authority Even the actors in the
Hartford Convention went untouched la
the latter even Corwin's outspoken denun-
clation OF our cause, was LETT 10 the repro
baton of public opinion alone.
II is said that this war differs from other
examples in our history, and that il has pc
culiar necessities which require some arbi-
trary acts oil authority in the Northern States
az ainsl sediiion Bnt this assumes that the
people are worse affected toward this war
han they were toward former ones, and
hat tkeir disafection is periIous
But what are The notorious facts here in
he North 2 No Hartford Convention has
met 10 oppose the war. No Northern man
mas announced from his seat in Congress,
hat were he Soulhror he would "weIcome
our soldiers With bloody hands TO hospilabIe
,ravesw No Legislature has passed an act
40 Convention has adopted resolution, hos
lie to the prosecution OF the war. On the
official bodies and voluntary con-
1enions and assembIages OF the people