The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-12-20

The position that the great statesmen
Of mOnarchical England have always
taken on the right Of the people to petit
ton the Government, and suggest rem.
edlcs for its good, cven in times Of war
and revolution, is sad comment on the
drspotism and outragcs Of the Admins
trOtiou at Washington in sending men to
Forts Lafayette and Warren without
hearing, simply because, having the good Of
their whole country and posterity at
heart, they have entreatcd mad faction TO
pause in its career, so tyrannical and de-
Structive, before all sections are irretrcva-
bly, ruined. Political empires of the
Wade school, and fanatics of the Sumner
stamp, shape and control tho policy Of
the Administration, and arrogantly de-
clare that opposition t. such policy Is
treason TO the Government. Worse still,
they have instruments scattered through
out the country ready to enforce their
declaration at the point Of the bayonct.
Guilty Of treason every day-of treason
to their race and country these shame
less violatcrs Of the Constitution have the
insolence to denOunce every man who re-
fuses TO worship their idol, as traitor
to the Government. The shriekeTS for
fro'dnO' Of he Drcro do not hesitate to
rob white men OF their freedom. They
viii generously grant the Largest lib
erty" to white men, 50 lorg as they en-
dorsc the Chicago Platform and support
LincOln's emancipation proclamation, but
the moment they decline to do either, they
are accused OF disloya1cy 10 tie Govern
ment, arrested without warrant and i'm
prisoned without trial! This is freedom
of opinion in our country under Republi-
can rule
What is it in England? When the
right Of petition OH the part Of some of
:he subjects Of Great Britain was gain
sayed in 1897, Fox, the champion Of the
peoples liberties, used these memorable
words in a speech rcbuking the attempt
cd Interference Of the Government with
the rights of the subjects. Pity that we
have no Fox in the American Senate.
But it is said that these bills will OK
pire in few years; that they will cX-
pirc when we shall have peace and tram
guilty restored to U.S. What scnt-
ment to inculcatc! You tell the people
that when everything goes well-when
they are happy and coz. Portable then
they may meet freely TO recognize their
happiness, and pass cnlcgiums on their
Government; but that, in moment of
war and calamity-of distrust and mis-
conduct-it is not permitted to meet to-
gcther; because then, instead Of cuio-
giving, they might think proper to con-
denim Ministers. What a mOckerv is
this! What an insult TO say that this is
preserving to the people the right of pc
tition! TO tell them that they shall
have right to applaud, a right to rejoice,
a right to meet when they are happy {;
but not q right to condemn, not a right
to deplore their miSfortunes, net right
to suggest remedy"
Read this, We prosecutors Of men for
opinion sake and supprysserS of Dem
ocratic newspapers for contcnding for the
liberties Of the people, and ask yourselves
if America is as free as En-; gland, and if We
are the proper executors of Republican
form Of Government. The noble posi-
ton of the statesmen Of England is in
contrast with the tyrannital posi-
ton Of the Republican Administration.