The mountain Democrat., 1863-03-07
Portion Of Ksntuekx.

ne IOIOWlng preAm0Io anu reSOlutionR
embOdying the opinions Of the Democratic
members Of the Kentucky Legislature,
were introduced into the Senate by Hon.
A. P. Grover, from the county Of Owen,
and into the House by W. P. D. Bush,
Esq, of the county Of Hancock, on the
18Th ult.. and ordered to he printed and
| referred to the Committee on Federal Re
lalions:
Ia times of war, as in peace, the Con.
stitutiOn Of the United States S-the su.
prrme law Of the land. II prescribes the
powers Of the government in its executive
no less than in its other departments, and
it is the only legal bond Of union between
the States.
The Federal government. as defined by
tho Constitution, when exercising the
fiIS % :: .,s-.,s. = :s- 4, rs entitled 10 the a.
legiance Of the people; but loyalty TO the
government does not impose upon the cit
izen any obligation to support an Admin.
iStratinn in the enforcement Of policy
Unauthorized by the Constitution or for
bidder by its provisions; but il Is the duty
Of all good citizens to resist encrOach-
tDentS upon their rights, and to defend the
Constitution Of their country from Vi0.
lence.
He who upholds the executive or any
other department Of the government in
the violation Of its provisions, il disloyal
to the Constitution, and an enemy 70 The
freedom Ot his country.
The Federal government, deriving all
its Legitimate powers from the ConStitu.
tiun, is, therefore, the creature OF the Con-
su,ution, and has no power in any depart
ncnt, to suspend any of its provisions, or
throw off its restrictions under any pre-
tence whatever.
The maxim that governments derive
their just powers from the consent of the
governed" is one which we ought never
10 forget. Ii involves fundamental prin-
ciple of frreIum Que asserted by our
ancestors, ani for which they fought and
won our Independence Of the British
crown. and which we never can sCrren-
der.
1t should also be borne in mind that
governments were instituted for the pro-
lection of life, liberty and property, and
that such as fail to perform this duty,
will, sooner or later, be overthrown by
an intelligent, virtuous and courageous
people.
Tire history Of the present Administra-
ton of the Federal government is q his
tory Of repeated injuries and uSurpations,
truding di' rctly To the overthrow of State
authority aud State ms itulions, and
consolidation in the federal government
Of all political power, aud the erection
u!0u their ,uj; S of great military dcS
Fct'~::,, aS tyranu,ra' aud t:rspotic as the
wu,s; governments Of Europe, to prove
wLicD ~c refer to the Ic,.pwing fnctS:
1ac Prlsiiy"i nns, Without authority Of
Congress, .I,p.n1,h the writ Of habeaS
corpus tim, su!tins deadly blow ut
Tia, liberties Of tie people.
lie h3s caused citizens to be arrested,
transported u di>t4ut States, aud incar.
ccrated in inatFNome prisons, without
char.e or arcu>ati, against them.
lie a"S G.uitd 10 cllLens thus arrested
ana imprisoned, a TRIAL by jury, or indeed
any trIai. a'ld haS withheld from them all
knowledge or iatornatlOn as to their &C.
cI>ars OF the cau>r Of their arrest.
IL. ha> subjected his prisnnrrs thus
hri tu barbasuus and inhuman treat merit,
cu6au S~ri"! tn lie and health, and has
required hundreds Of them 80 held, aS a
condition upon which they might be re.
leased, tu takc illegal oaths arbitr arily pre-
scr.btd hy h!I>ci or his agents.
liz ha~ attempt, j to destroy the free
dcm o! tar press 10y The fOicible suppress
sion Of new papers, because they SAW
proper to cri,icI>r the measures of his Ad.
niiI>traiion; and such Ms have escaped
Suppression have been subject 10 a cen
| >ulehip wholly Incompatible with freedom
Of thuusht or expression Of opinion.
lie has attempted to destroy the free
dom of speech by arrcsting citizens who
aniInadvrrtrd upon the measures of his
| Administration.
He haS caused to be arrested persons
engaged IN circulating petitions for the
signatures Of the people, thus interfering
with the rights Of petition.
lie has wholly diSiegar5ed the light OF
the people to be "Secure in their persons,
houses, papers aud effects, against unrea.
sUnab!r searches aud Srlzures."
He has in.eriered with the adURinistra-
ton Of justice in the State courts by viO-
ie'tly forcing The judges to adjourn, and
| dispensing their grand jurleS, aud by
breaking open jailS aud releasing prison.
erS confined under regular Judicial PROCESS
for ielonies and other crimes.
tie has III some Of the States (among
which Is Kentucky iorcibly wreSted from
tie cltizcns his right TO be candidate for
utice within the gift Of the people-thus
| striking down the elective franchise anu
| emiurnt citizens Uf this State are now in
confinement beyond lis borders for no 9th
er known reason than that they present,
| themselves as candidates for offices before
the people.
He has permitted his troops to oVerrun
this State. destroying houses and fencing
OF iaruls and lots. They have sacked the
houses OF peaceful citizrns, destroying
their furniture, family pictures, carpets,
cIothing, and other articles of household
goods, and robbed them OF their silver
ware, stock and provisions.
he has quarterrd SOliers in the houses
of citizens against their will, and not in
the manner pi eScribed by law.
He has permitted his wagon masters
AMI others, with armed soldiers, 10 EeIzc
the corn, hay, oats, ETC., Of our citizens,
for the use OF the armies. without their
consent, and without just disc, i,nimation
Us to whether the farmer could spare the
articles or not-fxing their own price
upon them, and making their own esti
mate as to the value and quantity taken,
and giving no receipt or name whereby
the owner could successfully seek his pay;
and often, when vouchers were given, they
were 50 informal that no money could b.