Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-23
For the Standard.
1ET THE PEOPLE BEWAREi

w
Mr.. EprroR: 1t cannot be disguised, it would be
the height of folly and madness to attempt to dis.
guise the fact-that we rapidly tending to mill
tary despotism. The premontory symptoms are al
ready upon us, and if the people do not rouse them
selves to the exercise of that vigilance and rmness
which are the safeguards of liberty, all the barriers
of Constitutional freedom will be broken down, and
the death struggle in which they are now engaged
to rid themselves of an odious tyranny from abroad
will end in nothing less than the most calling des-
pot,sm at home. If things continue ,as they now
are-if the people yield to the increasing demands of
power, they will become so familiar with the exer-
else Of des potc principles that it will be difficult to
arouse themselves to action when the fatal hour for
their enslavement bursts upon them. How absurd,
how insulting to the intelligence and virtue of our
countrymen to tell them that to achieve and secure
free government they must submit to all the de-
mands Of despotic power-that they must array
themselves in all the most odous badges of military
tyranny to prepare themselves to wear with ease
and dignity the habiliments of freedom; am no
alarmst 1 am ready and willing to concede every
thing that may be necessary to achieve our indie
penuence But is it not evident that those in power
are sporting recklessly with the great principles Of
Constitutional government? Is it their object to
test the forbearance of the people under the pretext
Of necessity, that they may the better know when
and where to strike the final blow? Necessity has
ever been the tyrants plea and there are petty ty-
rants, throughout the South, who have raised this
outcry, to advance their selfish ends. Let the
people look the danger full in the face and prepare
for the crisis, when these home tyrants will attempt
a full imitation of their prototypes from abroad
There is the system of CoNscRIPTIoN. l regard it
as palpable violation of the Constitution, direct
assault on the rights of the States, most cruel
system of military impressment- system unknown
to free governments, and the very lever by which
the most bloody military despotisms have been able
to maintain themselves. 1t was the system by
which Bonaparte built up his immense and over
shadowing tyranny.-in the exercise Of which his
own country was filled with widows and orphans,
and Europe deluged in blood. In the name Of lib
erty protest az ainst it In the name of the Con-
sttution appeal to the people to place their con-
demnation upon it. The plea of necessity urged
for its adoption is falsed BY the enthusiasm with
which volunteers were rushing in every State to the
standard Of the country.
Again: Does not every man see that the great
blrthright of every freeman-the writ of Habeas
Corpus-has become the sport and football Of those
in power to be kicked about at pleasure to crafty
the passions and prejud!ces of petty neighborhood
tyrants? Martial law-the suspension of all civil
proccss-the establishment Of military rulers to try,
convict and punish, without presentment or indict-
ment BY Grand Jury, without trial by ones
peers, without the right to appeal to higher court
for revision or the Executive Of his State for mercy,
are becoming the order Of the day. Whole
tions are thus put under the ban and are required
to come and CO. like the slaves and serfs Of Europe,
under the pass Of some hot-brained partizan, who
measures the necessities of the State and the value
of all patriotism, by his own personal maligni:y.
If this be not the rery essence of tyranny, then
what. is? We saw this illustrated few weeks
since in the attempt which was made to fix on the
people of Raleigh and its vicinity. for ten miles
around this odious system of martial law, when
there was no real necessity for it than there
was for its establishment on the top of the Pilot
mountain.
Again: The Constitution secures to every private
citizen freedom from having soldiers even in time
Of war. quartered upon him. His dwelling is his
castle-and, as was elOquently said Of the sacred
ness of that CASTLE though but howell, in England
"the winds Of heaven may whistle through it, but
the king Of England, with all his power, dare not
enter it against the will Of its owner" learn that
there have been instances Of the most gross viola
ton Of this great right of personal security: and
that even some Of our female schools are threatened
with expulsion from their buildings, to make room
for the demands of pretended military necessity.
trust that those in power will pause and reflect
before committing such act Of unparalleled, un-
necessary, wanton injustice and wrong. The plea
of necessity cannot avail them. If the Confederate
Governments able to pay for the swarm OF unne-
cessary Office holders at its beck and call, it
has ample means to erect comfortable quarters for
from their homes, and breaking up our serninaries
of education.
Again: ask are we to run the gauntlet of des-
potism from our own rulers, to reach the goal Of
freedom from foreign rule? Iappeal to the Consti-
tuition for protection.
But the end is not yet. Under the Constitution,
the people have the right to bear arms-yet Mr..
Ashe tells :hem, if they do not surrender readily
every weapon they have to defend themselves and
families against robbers and assassins, against the
Instruction and insubordinaion of daring and
bloodthrsty slaves, instgated by secret enemies to
rapine and violence he aoiU ssize those s0eapons by
force! cannot believe that such is the purpose of
any man clothed in little brief authority" If
tits, then has the coven foot of military despotism
been exhibited much earlier than was expected.
In this event. the people must take care Of them
| setoes. No other poaoer can sace hena
INDEPENDENCE.
For the Standard.