The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-12-19
Arbitrary Arrests.

1AOlLAdAy xAAAoDto' tH-.
We took occasion some time ago to en-
ter our decided protest against the act OF
the General Government in the suppress
sion of the freedom Of the press, believing
It to be antagonstic to the spirit Of true
liberty, and step towards the establish
ment Of despotism. Akin to this mea-
sure and Of paramount Importance, and
pregnent with untold evils, was the high
handed outrages perpetrated under the
sane ton OF law, in the arbitrary arrests Of
civilians for merely giving an expression
ofopinion upon some of the measures
that the Administration saw fit to adopt,
in order to suppress the rebellion. One
Of the chartered rights purchased by a.
sanguinary conflict in old England, and
which in the formation of our Govern
ment was made part Of the organic law
OF the land, was the writ Of Habeas Cor
pus, and the right of trial by Jury. These
clemens in the system of government un-
der which we live could not be trhed
with without endangering the fair struc-
ture of American Liberty itself, and yet,
the history Of the past twelve months bas
developed anew theory in governmental
authority, that has invaded these most sa-
cred rights, by suspending the one and
refusing in the most peremtory manner
the demand upon the part of those who
have been arrested and incarcerated and
refused a trial by aJury, for the crimes
alleged against them.
We know that in times of peril to the
Republic, such as surround us at this
time. that those who have been placed in
high official stations may have felt the
pressing need Of oversteping law in order
TO shield and protect the higher interests
of the state; but reckless and total disre.
gard ofall personal rights, such as has
been characteristic OF tie Administration,
for the past summer, cannot be excused
upon tho ground of expediency. In the
north, with few exceptions, the arrests
have been made upon mere hear say ties.
timony, oftentimes impaired by those
holding deep in their hearts some cmbit-
tered hatred against men who differed
with them in politics. and who in order
to wreak out their revengeful spirit,would
magnify the alledged offences. Thus men
have been torn from the bosom Of their
(, families by the mandate Of some Judicial
officer, hurried away to prison, incarceia-
ted and held in confinement until the
Z Chief Executive, or some of his satellites
would please release him. If they de-
mandsdl a hearing, and a full investigation
! Of the charge upon which they were ar
rested; they were met with a cold refusal,
and all the satisfaction they gained was
that the interest Of the country demanded
their summary arrest and imprisonment
We are not unfriendly to the Admiuislm.
ton. nor are we dsloyal, but when such
( high. handed infractions are made upon
the laws governing personal liberty, and
& when two chartered rights which we con.
ceiye undcrly the structure of our free
dom are disregarded, we think it time as
a sentinel upon the watch-tower, to cry
q, aloud aud to protect as far as in us lies,
. the Liberties and rights Of the people.
81 We are glad to note that a mandate has
gone forth from the Executive Office,
which will in the future protect the cit-
Gems Of Ohio. from arbitrary arrests and
imprisonment. Let the Government mass
her strength against rebels. Let her de.
stroy themif she please; they have gone
out from uader her protecting 1Egis, bu'
{. lot her unite the people of the North by
I, steadfast adherance to the chartered bil
a of,righn under which as a nation we have
0 grown to our present powerful proper
lions. -. g., ...f
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