Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-12

lTSv, is 10, sil respects similar TO the 'loyai,'
language OF the Cooper Institute meeting, aud
exactly reflects its spirit: "And whereas, our
peace, prosperity, and happiness eminently de.
pend on tue preservation of the Union, In order
60 which removable confidence in the CON
sttuted authorities is Indispensable; and where.
as, every measure calculated to weaken that
confidence has tendency TO destroy the useful
ness OF our public functionaries, and to excite
ealousies," etc., etc.; "and whereas, the Sen.
ate not perceiving that the rights Of particular
States have bsen violated, nor any uuconsttu
tional powers assumed by the general Govern
menti cannot torbear to express the anxiety and
regret with which they observe the inaamma-
tory aud pernicious sentiments and doctrines"
ETC., etc. A comparison will show that this ls ex-
actly In the vein OF the Republican resolutions
last night.
In wholesome contrast to these views, and
as an antdote to the man-worship which the
sycophants of the Administration seek to sub
atitute for devotion to the Constitution, we beg
attention to specimen Of the "lnhammatory
and pernicous sentiments" condemned by the
Alien and Sedition law Federalists, from the
pen of Jefferson. II printed by us without
naming the author it would virtually be de-
nounced as "cOpperhead treason" Intelligent
req iers will agree with us that nothing could
"
would be dangerous delusion," said Jeffor-
con, "werea confidence in the men Of our choice
to silence our fears for the safety of our rights
Confidence Ia everywhere the parent of despot-
ism free government is founded In jealousy,
aud not confidence; It is jealousy, and not con-
fdenoe, which prescribes limited Constitutions
to bind down those whom we are obliged to
trust with power our Constitution has &C
cordingly fixed the limits to which and no fur
ther, our confidence may go and let the hon.
est advocate of confidence read the Alien and
Sedition acts and cay If the Constitution has
not been wise In rxing limits to the Govern
ment it created, and whether we should be
wise in Destroying those limits let him say
what the Government is If it be not a tyranny
which the men oi our choice have conferred on
the President, and the President OF our choice
has sssented to and accepted over the friendly
strangers to whom the mild spirit Of our coun-
try and its laws had pledged hospitality and
protection. The men of our choice have more
respected the bare suspicious of the President
than the solid rights of innocence, the claims
o jus ifcltion, the sacred force of truth, and
the forms and substance of law and Justice"
The power here complained Of was a baga-
telle compared with that recently conferred on
the President; the reasons for jealousy are
thousand-iold stronger low than they we're then.
The President lie now clothed with absolute
power not over a few aliens but over twenty
millions of citizens; he can send them, not ont
OF the country--a comparatively light evil
but to any one of his numerous bastiles, and il
is Immediately after clothing him with this
dangerous authority, in addition 60 placing in
his hands the purse and sword Of the nation,
that his party ask bis political opponents to re-
pose in him submissive, unquestiuning conf
dence, Such confidence, under such oircum-
stances, would be q base abdication OF every
manly sentiment; a repudistion of that bold
and fearless spirit of liberty which, in the
language Of Webster, "is jealous OF eni
croachment, jealous of power, jealous of man.
IL demands checks; il seeks for guards; it in
ssts on securities; 1t inirenches itself with all
possible care against the assaults OF ambition
and passion. 1t does not trust the amiable
weaknesses OF haman nature, and therefore
will not permit power TO overssep its prescribed
limits, though benevOleuCe, good intent, and
patriotic purpose come along with it,"
We are panied and mortified to feel under the
necessity Of supporting by authority sentiments
which ought, everywhere in this country, to meet
q ready acceptance the moment they are utter.
ed, and which American ciiizens imbibe with
their mothers milk. IL argues iamentabie
degeneracy when the genius Of liberty is thus
Compelled 10 support itselfOn erutches, aud sup
port by prooia whSt ought to be regarded as
truisms ..r. 9,flz a.r. rl... -r.oi /