Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-02
RESOLUTIONS

nent among these guarantees al the foloWlng
Of speech or If the press or the right Of the people
peacefully to assemble and petition the Government for
and bear arms shall not be infringed
The right of the people to be secure in their persons
houses papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and
seizures shall be violated and shall issue but
upon probable supported by oath affirmation and
describing the place to be searched and the
things to be seized
"No person shall be held to for capital other
wise infamous crime unless presentment indictment
grand jury except in arising i'll the land naval
forces in the militia when in actual service in time of
or public danger.
lin all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the
right speedy aud public trial by an impartial Jury of the
med which district shall have been previously asceraned
by law
Which guarantees have each been repeatedly violated
by the Federal Administration in the exercise of arbitrary
power without sanction of law, but IN direct conflict
herewith.
3 The Federal Administration has, through its agents
and subordinate officers issued and enforced orders abrdg
ing the freedom of Speech and has assumed to limit its
exercise to those only who would savshy aud its policy
and endorse its measures.
g. 1t has sought to restrain freedom OF the press, by
making of the military power to suppress the pubca
tlon of public journals in loyal States for the only offence
of differing from the Administration measures of public
policy of vital interest to every citizen.
A. 1t has with Indifference and without rebuke the
military power attempt deny the people of loyal States
the right peaceably to assemble and petition the Govern
ment for redress of grievances
s. 1t has permitted the issuance and enforcement of
military orders preventing the people of the loyal States
from keeping and bearing arms
g. 1t has caused citizens of loyal States where courts of
justice in full and unobstruced operation to be
seized without warrant of law and for pretended Offences
transported out of the State and beyond the district
wherein such offences were charged to have been COM
mitted.
7. 1t has caused citizens who not in the land and
naval forces, the militia when actual service, to be
held to for pretended offences without Indictment
presentmen of grand jury and denied them the right
to speedy and public trial by impartial jury of the
State and district wherein the offences charged to
have been committed
1t has preence of military necessity assumed
the and asserted the right TO proclaim and extend
martial law States where does exist and has
suspended the writ of habeas corpus direct violation of
the Constitution. 1t has in loyal States pursued in gene
rail- policy the direct tendency of which is render the
civil subordinate to the military power.
D. In condemnation of these several acts of usurpatlon
adopthe language of the Ohio State Democ attic Con-
venton and declare that the arrest Imprisonment pre-
tended trial. and actual Punishment Of Clement L. Vaan-
dgham citizen of the State of Ohio not belonging to the
land or naval forces of the United States to the mi
a in actual service, by alleged military authority for
other pretended crime than that of utterng words of eg
innate criticism on the conduct of the Administration in
power and of appealing to the balotbox for change Of
policy (sad arrest and military trial taking place where
the courts of law open and unobstruced and for
act done within the sphere of active military operations in
carrying on the war; we regard papabe violation OF
the foregoing provisions of the Constitution of the United
States, and further denounce said arrest trial. and
Punishment direct insult offered to the sovereignty of
the people OF Ohio by whose organic law it is declared
that shall be transported out of the State for
offence committed within the same; and we unite with
our feowctzens of Ohio in their call upon the President
OF the United States to restore c. L. Vandgham to his
home in Ohio.
10 That the recent suppression Of the publication of
the Chicago Times should receive the rebuke of all law
abiding citizens, and will receive the condemnation Of i'm
partial history.
II. That the arrest of Hon Chas H. Constable, Judge
OF the Fourth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, for
mere Judicial opinion, expressed whilst in discharge of
his duties under the constitution of the State
daring and dangerous of arbitrary power and
persisted IN will strike down the nobest and safest de-
partment of the Government and the only shield of
the citizen from the assaults of arbitrary and despotc
power
- We in like manner, particularly denounce the arrest
aud present imprisonment of VIM. III. Carin and other
peaceful citizens of this State and demand their release
or charged with crime, their trial according to course
of civil law
13 That the numerous arrests by mere military power
OF citizens OF Illinois have been many violations of both
our Federal and State constitutions and direct insult to
the people of the State.
Ia That the right to elect public officers and decide
questions of policy at the baotbox derives it's value from
freedom OF speech and of the press that these both
natural and constitutional rights and their exercise dan
gerous to yrants only WILL duty to ourselves and
70 our country defend and maintain them against all the
demands of power.
Is Regarding the State of Illinois as sovereign power
subject only to the Constitution Of the United States,
declare that the people of this State have the sole aud
elusive right of governing themselves free, sovereign,
and independent State and do and forever shall exercise
and ENJOY every power ursdcton and right which not
or may not hereafter be- by them expressly delegated to
the United States prohibited to the States by the Fed
eral Constitution
10 That, OF the leading objects in good govern
nent the recognition and protection of individual rights
therefore we assume that person in this State can
any case be subjected to law martial any penalties
OF pains by virtue OF that law except those employed
the army or in the military in actual service
H. That the declaration Of martial law and consequent
prohibition OF all redress for wrongs the courts places
where war does not exist will not be tolerated in this
State and that martial law and ought not to be
declared except IN States parts Of States which be-
yond controversy the civil law utterly powerless either
Tor protection punishment.
- That the safety OF State depends upon the strict
confinement of each department Of our State Government
stton That any attempt the part of to WELD the
powers vested by the Constitution another of these de-
paitments revolutionary in character destructive of
representative form of government and if persisted in
productive OF anarchy and civil war
~ That we condemn the recent act Of Gov Yates on
assuming the power to dissolve the General Assembly and
dsperse the representatives of the people, highland
ca usurpaon and exercise OF arbitrary power subversive
OF liberty and destructive Of segovernmenan act pro.
ducng practical suppression Of the legislative depart
ment Of Government aud intended n concentrate in the
hands OF the executive the powers vested by the const
tuition in the Legislative branch
20 That it is the duty Of the Governor of the
State to protect her citizens in the exercise and enjoyment
OF all their constitutional rights and have beheld with
indignation not only the failure of Richard Yates Governor
Of Illinois, to perform bis duty in that respect Int his
actual participation in the violation Of those rights
81 That citizens of the United States aud the State
Of Illinois, we will obey all laws whilst they remain on
the statute book. If right in our judgment we will
endeavor to perpetuate Them if wrong will endeavor
to effect remedy in constitutional by procuring
heir repeal When doubts exist as to their validity we