The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-11-19


day may be far distant when his OWL
consent shall be given to measures
which would never be tolerated by 9
people deserving to be free.
From the Cincinnati Commercial Republican
Nov. 4th.
The administrator Destroying
Itself.
The people are rightfully jealous Of any
encroachments upon their liberties. All his,
tory shows that the tendency of power is
to increase its perogatives at the expense o
the individual, and to strengthen its claims
by the usurpation of personal rights. The
rights of the people have been conceded on
ly after long and bitter struggles--and there
is none OF them that has not been consecra
ted in blood. Having compelled an acknowl-
edgement oftheIn they seek by constitutional
guarantees and fair and equitable distribu-
ton OF po oiucal power to preserve them in q.
tact. "The spirit Of liberty" says Webster,
''is indeed bold and fearless spirit, but it is
alsa sharp sighted spirit; it is Jealous Of
power, jealous OF man. 1t demands checks;
it seeks for guards; 1t insists on securities; it
intrenches itself blind strong deienses. 1t
seeks for duration and permanence, and
building on the experience of ages that are
past, it labors diligently for the benefit OF
ages that are to come"
When the present Administration ventured
upon suspension of hobeas CORPUS in special
cases, and the declaration Of martial law in
special and temporary exigencies--a declara-
tlon that arrests the action of the courts,
the course OF law, and the right oil hoJeas COR
puS-loyal men everywhere acquiesced. The
ii. Imminent peril in which the Government
was placed, the hidden dangers which sur.
rounded II, and the treason and treachery
that pervaded all its departments and all
branches OF the service and the conScousn So
OF still greater perils that remained pe,ylu, to
thwart every attempt to assert the authority
OF the laws and the supremacy Of the Const
tuition, justified such step, and made what
at any other time, or in the presence OF less
momentous perllS, would have produced
revolution, necessary precaution and$a
hopeful display of vigor, in the effort to pres
serve the authority Of the Government and
the existence OF great nation.
Here and there some malignant spirit
tain.,d with treason and sympathizng with
traitors, was loud in denunciation of the ac
ton OF the Administration, and construed
what was but necessary act in defense OF
the national ex stence, into design to Gems
halzc power and restrict the liberties oil the
individual. The peril, however, was ex
treme, and resort to extreme measures was
conceded to be vital necessity. Men who
were covertly ano actively co operating with
the rebels were summarily seized and con.
fined IN military prisons, and the act of the
Government received the universal sanction
of all loyal people.
When, however, martial law was declared
to exist over all the adherIng States, the ne,
cesslty OF such step was not so apparent.
The expediency OF 1t was doubtful, and the
tendency full Of pernlcious consequences. 1t
seemed to us that the few bad men in the
community, who were, and still are plotting
ior the overthrow Of the Government might
safely be LETT to the waichlul care of the
State authorities and the civil courts. Still,
had this extreme stretch OF authority on the
part OF the Administration been judiciously
and care fully exercised, it might have been
to by the voice Of a majority of the
people, who, jealous as they are upon the
subject of personal rights, would bape ac.
luiesced in their abridgetnent in cases Of
hagrant offense.
This unfortunately, has not been the case.
While there has been great show Of vigor
in making arbitrary arrests, there has been
nexplicable delay in inflicting punishment.
Under whatever circumstances The citizen is |
arrested, whether by civil process or by the
exercise OF martial authority, he is entitled
to speedy and fair trial. Where has this
been granted? Men have been seized and |
hfust into military prisons. kept in confines
nent week after week, and month after
month, and without being confronted with
heir accusers, or made acquainted with the
pecitications OF their guilt. have been re
eased and permitted 10 60 out into the
with the taint OF suspicion still |
lpon them, and without the privilege OF es.
abishing their innocence. In what is this
lifierent from the proceedings of the Star
Jhamber2 |
II is repugnant to all ideas OF justice. It
S neither just to the Government nor the
1t is an arbitrary act that re
luires complete exposition Of the causes
hat demanded its exercise to gain for it the |
approval Of the people; and it should have
Jeen the first duty Of the Government to |
lee that such an exposition was had Such
! course would have sienced complaint, and |
AIKEN from those who desire nothing SO
much as to ALLEVIATE the confidence of the |
,eople in the Administration, the opportuni.
y which they are ever on the alert to seize,
II denouncing it as despotic and tyrannical
The Administration, by the course it has |
pursued, and we say it with uniegned regret
las given Its enemies just cause OF complaint
lrd enabled them to work the very mschsf
which the assumption Of power-nssumed |
from the best OF motives, and.
or the highest OF purposes-was designed to
prevent. Seeking to reduce the force and |
'itality OF baleful opposition to the asser
ion OF its constitutional authority, and ven
uring upon the assumption OF extreme pow.
.rs to do so, 1t has so mismanaged and |
Its energies, as to increase the
dissatisfaction, stimulate drstrust. multiply |
,mbarrassments, aud weaken its hold upon
he affections OF the people. II the Admin. |
of Abraham Lincoln fails, it will
not be because it is Republican, in its party
because it is anti slavery in |
ts moral and political texture--not because
If its emancipation policy-but because OF ta
for public affairs. and because 1t is
wanting In tha forecast, the sagacity, and the
ability to use wisely and discreetly the pow.
,rs vested in it by the Constitution and laws
md such other powers as the exigenciss OF
lhe times justify it in assuming. The peo
pie have looked to it with faith and hope;
they have given it hearty supporti men
and money, sympathy and good will, have
hAen lavished upon il. III IL fails. then II |