East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-12-30

thouL charges eng made against \
them, were detained IT, the various forts
aud Basiilcs in thcscountry, and that
resolution was lai GU Tho table. ON
motion of Mr. I.oveioy, by similar
vote. Tho army is beiug used for the,
benefit Of the negro. This House is
being used for his benefit y Every de
partment of government is being run
for his benefit.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, have a single
Word to those who are temporarily ex.
crcislng the functions of the executive !
department of the government. | fear
they have not studied the history of tho
people of this county, or the character.
istics of the race from whom they have
descended. That history, correctly
understood, shows that in contests with
power they have ever wrenchej, even
from unwilling hands, fresh guarantees
tor their liberty. | am led to make these
remarks in view of the arrests of thous-
snds of men in loyal States, without
due process OF law, by the orders Of
ihe executive officers of this govern
Inent, at the times and places where, in
all cases, courts of justice were entirely
open, and the execution of the laws
wholly unobstructed. The most re-
markable page in the history of our
race is the fact that while these out
RACES have been committed upon the
rights OF our people, no resistance has
been offered, no violence done, and no
life has been taken as the penalty for
wrong. The desire of the people TO
pgpserve the peace in their own midst,
has restrained them thus far from the
commission of violence
Attempts have been made to intimi.
date our people at the polls. Provost
Marshals have been sent everywhere,
and yet our people have not been pro.
'vokcd to violate order But they are
in earnest. They mean to preserve
their liberties and their rights. The
result of the last elections were of no
temporary character. Such triumph
has never before been witnessed in this
country. There is not man who voted
the democratic ticket last fall, through.
out the country, who is not prepared,
when the proper time comes, to lay
dewn his life rather than sacrifice his
liberty. We may as well understand
this. Let US talk plainly about it. Let
MS not try Ia deceive ourselves or others.
We arc 10 assassns. We are no law.
breakers. Our people have endured
great deal They have submitted to
arbitrary arrests and imprisouments.
But let me say to you, in Gods name,
"pausc, stop; you cannot go any fur
thcr.' Our people are resolved that
you shall not, They are determined
Do not misunderstood them. We are
for union. We are for liberty. Our
ancestors, in all times past have vindl-
Gated it; and their descendants, after
long suffering, WILL if need be, vindi
cate it before God and the world.
j repeat, Mr.. Chairman, our people
arc in earnest. They mean all that they
have said. They love tho flag becau Sc
II represents constitution, order, law
They do not wish to be slaves, and do
not mean to be made slaves. We have
had bill passed here to-day, under
whip and spur, without debate, with.
ont inquiry, extending amnesty to
those who have thus wronged our PEG.
pie. think yeu had letter also pass a
Till extending amnesty to those of you
whom the people have condemned for
your course here, so that you can have
u political resurrection hereafter. That
is the only way you can ever have it
done. 1t is the only way in which you
can ever have forgiveness. If you ex.
poet that when tho courts come to look
at tho monstrous bill which you have
passed to-day, wiping out all the rights
of those who have been injured in
prison, they will mold it as constitution.
al, you arc greatly mistaken. No court
of justice will hold that that gives in
demnity for the wanton, reckless, tyran-
ical exercise of power. 1t is not justice
on earth. 1t is not justice before God
in heaven. My opinion about it is that
you ha better have left the courts
open to our people, ant let those mea
who had ruthlessly violated every pre-
cept, law and constitution, take the legal
consequences of their acts.
But, Mr.. Chairman, there is no. ex
cuse or paiiation for tho arrests that
have boon made. | care not whether
You take the case Of the old man, like
Mahoney, tottcring to the grave; or
tho little boy in New England, who
sells newspapers for living; or men of
high and spotless character and devoted
fidelity to the laws, like Judge Duff, of
Illinois or tho unfortunate boy who
was confined in Camp Chase, who could
not pay his washerwoman's bill, and
was, therefore, accused of disloyal prac
tices or take the men Of great intellect
like Edison b. Olds, of Ohio, or tho un
learned squirrel. huntcs from my friends
IMr Ro6inson's] district, who did not
know but that jeff. Davis and Lincoln
werc on the same side; or the intelme.
date between these extremes-there is
not one of them that could not have
hcen tried IN the place where the of
tense was said tohavc been committed
aud, if found guilty, correct public sen
timent would have seen that the penal
ties OF the law We're fully enforced up
on them. In all these cases you have