Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-08
Political Arrests-Their Object.

Within a few weeks past there have been quite
a number of arrests, which seem to be without
justification, and in clear violation of Constitu-
tional rights. If the people of this State and this
country desire to preserve Constitutional liberty,
il is high time that their attention should be d.
rected to this arbitrary exercise of power Let
u examine what are the rights of the citizen un-
der both State and Federal Governments. In the
bill of rights guaranteed by the Constitution of
Indiana We find the following:
Art. /. sec. 9. No law shall be passed restrain
ing the free interchange of thought AID opinion,
or restricting the right to speak, write. print
freely on any subject whatever; but for the abuse
of that right any person shall be responsible.
Sec. 81. No law shall restrain any of the i'm
habitants of the State from assembling together
in peaceable manner to consult for their com
mon good. nor from instructing their Representa-
tives, nor from applying to the General Assembly
for redress of grievances.
In the amendments to the Constitution of the
United States, Article L., we find the following
Congress shall make no law abridging the free
dom of speech, OF of the press; or the ri gbt of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for relress of grievances.
1t thus appears that neither Congress nor the
Legislature of the State have any right to abridge
the freedom of speech or of the press, nor to re-
strain the citizens of the State from assembling
together in peaceable manner. to consult for the
common good. And if neither Congress nor the
Legislature have the power to restrict the people
in those regards. certainly no Federal officer, or
State officer, military or civil has any right to
exercise power from which the legislative au-
t5Orities are restrained.
From personal malice, or 70 avenge personal or
political prejudices and hosti,i,ies. inoffending
citizens have been arrested in various parts of the
State. in clear violation OF NV brought to this
city, and, in many cases. Imprisoned or else com
PEELED to submit to personal indignities and in
eonveniences. Should Just Government permit
tae commission Of such gross Outrages The
object of the Constitution is not only to Define
but protect the rights of the humbIest citizen Has
the Government fulfilled its mission in this re-
spect ? Not only are citizens arrested for poiti-
cal purposes within the State. by State authority
but citizens Of Indiana have been arrested by the
authorities OF another State carried out of it, inn
prisoned-aIl without the Intervention, not even
the protest of our public authorities. What claim
can snch representatives, OF the Government have
upon the respect and confidence Of the people?
To illustrate the partisan character of these ar
rests, we refer 10 that of JASON b. BRowS, ESQ.
Of Jackson county. on Friday last. Mr.. BHowS
is the Democratic candidate for Representative
in that county, and as such has canvassed it with
his competitor, one JONI +. CARR. Mr.. BRowS
has not uttered expression in his speeches
which could be tortured into Unreasonable Ian
guage in public against the Government as
charged. While speaking at Seymour on Friday.
man in military clothes interrupted him and
said he must change the tenor Of his remarks.