Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-24

preserve constitutional liberty and maintain
the free Government which was won by The
valor and framed by the wisdom of patriotic
ancestry.
But Il was with feelings Of sorrow, humllia.
tlon and degredation that we Witnessed the
scenes of yesterday. The people were not per
mi!ted TO peaceably assemble, discuss the poll
cy and acts OF the party 10 power and petition
for redress of grievances. The representa-
tives. the servants of the people--the Office.
holders, whose feed 10 drawn from the public
treasury attempted to overawe and pre-.
vent free expression Of those whom theI
represented One of the principal avenues o
the city was barricaded by armed soldiery, ant
the Governors Circle, In tho heart Of the town
was occupied by cavalry and infantry. And
why What apology can be offered for such ar
exhibition in what has been regarded as fret
| Governments Government which derives itl
just powers from the consent Of the governed
A few weeks ago 10 was semi-offlcially an
nounced in the Journal that none of the rightl
of the people sheud be invaded. General Car
ringt0D, the military commander OF Indiana, In
on address to the people of his department. re-
marked that open debate and on untrammeled
ballot-box marked o free people. General
HaBoall, the present commandant of this diS-
trict, In an order issued day before the assem-
bling Of the convention, gave assurance that
its deliberations should not be interrupted, and
that the constitutional rights of the people
should be respected. Upon the sssurances of
these pledges, the people assembled, In num-
bers such as never before convened In Indiana,
to discuss quietly, peaseably and respectfully,
the present condition of public affairs.
No danger whatever was to be apprehended.
There was no intention or thought Of invading
the rights of any one. The sequel proves that
such was the case. II We had been either O
civil or military officer, rather than distrust the
people, their Justice, integrity and patriotism,
We would have returned the commission which
gave position and power, to those from whence
it came. Others may think differently, but we
would never have been the instrument to sub
vert or overthrow the liberties of the people
The Convention bas assembled and ADJOURN
ed It's history is written. Citizens from oil
paris of the State have had the opportunity to
witness an exercise of arbitrary power. Indi-
ana to-day ia as completely under military
rule as France, Russia or Austria. There 10 no
necessity for such state of things. A large
portion OF the people are willingly bowing their
necks 10 receive the yoke of despotism. But
the men who yesterday, and daily are justifying
and applaudiug the assumptions of power will
yet teel the IRON Uead OF O oe6potibm winch VIII
got only deprive them of personal and coDItiiu-
lonal liberty, but will consume their substance
like a clnker. lEe
The convention and proceedings yesterday
have their lesaons for all. Never before was
more glorious spectacle witnessed than the vast
sssemblago OF freemen called together to exer.
else their constitutional rights. They met TO-
gether to peacesbly petition their Representa-
t,ves for a redress of grievances But there was
dark shadow TO the scene. Either the exhibition
Of military power yesterday was an evidence
that the Liberties of the people have departed,
or else the men and the party which instigated
and justified such proceedings will become the
by-wOrd and reprosch Of every good aud true
aud patriotic citizen, The issue Is upon the
country, and the men Of property who have let
the tiger loose may yet feel his claWa--may
learn that " curses, like chickens, often come
home 10 roost," The rule Of violence has no
respect for persons. To-day its vengeance may
be directed to one side, Tomorrow IL may turn
upon its friends Of yesterday. There is class
of people in this country who, ever learning,
are not by their own judgment able to compre-
bend knowledge OF the truth. Experience
may yet teach them their folly.