Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-01
The Balts more Arrest~-The Right OF
Petition Invaded.

The recent arrests in Baltimore Of Union citi-
zens were made by the order Of General Wool
for having petitioned for his removal. This
their only ofIense. For daring to exercise the
right Of PETITION for the redress of grievances, in
offending loyal citizens arrested and de
prved of their liberty. Thus was another con
stitutor al right stricken down by Federal Off
GER But such was the popular indignation that
the President was forced 10 order the release OF
those thus arbitrarily and unjustIy arrested. Pc
tition il the most humble form Df seeking redress
for grievances. IL is the prayer Of the inferior
70 the superior power asking relief IL is the only
mode of opening the portals OF heaven and reach
ing the ear Of the Ruler over all He does not
refuse to hear the petition Of the humblest and
most Insignificant of his creatures and shall
earthly and finite rulersY General Wool was
offended because his removal was asked from the
President. The loyalty of those who thus petit
toned is not questioned. Neither is it claimed
that the petition was without cause or that any
harm TO the Government could come from il.
But this right guaranteed by the Constitution
was invaded and citizens were arbitrarily arrested
and imprisoned. So glazing the injustice
that the President overrued the acts Of his officers
But has General Wool in this act committed
any greater infraction upon the rights and liberty
of the citizen than have his superiors. the Presi
dent and the Secretary of War; All over the
country. since the commencement OF the war.
arbitrary arrests have been made for political
offenses, even where the jurisdiction and author
ity of the courts were unrestricted. To those
persons the right OF trial by jury aud the writ OF
habeas corpus have been denied IL appears the
President respects the right of petition, but the
other more consequential rights. more essential
for the protection of The citizen from injustice are
disregarded with i'm ounity by the Chief Mngis-
tratc. The freedom of speech and the freedom
Of the press. everywhere regarded as essential to
public liberty. have been trodden under foot by
high officials in disregard of the Constitution.
Are not these rights equally worthy of respect
the right Of petitionp Their preservation is of
far higher Importance practically to the citizen
than the latter. yet those rights which give life
and vigor 10 the tree of liberty are invaded as
though the Constitution which guarantees them
was not Law To the ruler.
The only hope for the preservation Of consti
tutional liberty and a constitutional Government
Is an unequivocal and overwhelming condemna-
ton of those outrages upon the rights of the
people. Indiana. Ohio and Pennsylvania have
uttered their rebuke. Let the States which are
vet TO hold their elections add their remembrance
TO the invasons OF popular rights by those whose
highest duty IL is TO project them II is not for
the maintenance ot government that the people
are pouring out their liie's blood aud treasure
like water. That is not the object of the strug
Gle. But it is To preserve The government be.
queathed to u by patriotic ancestry. with the
rights il guarantees-ireeiom OF speech and the
press. exemption from arbitrary arrest. trial by
jury, the writ OF habeas corpus. and the right OF
petition. Unless these rights are preserved aud
secured to the citizen, the glory of our Govern.
ment will have departed