The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-03-25
= Nr6hissh Tp:,' March 16sb, 1868. - 8
Important Position of Archbishop
Hughes on the Washington Usur-
:, p0tiOns.r - e. .Es.rs-l-4 s..5rA

- 80
/ 1t is we'll known that Archbishop HUGHEs
Of New York, has been not only friend of
the war and the Administration, but in Mr..
LINCOLN S employ from the first. He was
sent with Bishop McILvAINE, of Ohio, and
THURLow WEED, on mission to Europe, by
Mr.. LINCOLN, and up to the passage of tho
recent extraordinary acts of Congress, placed
among the most ardent friends cf the powers
that be- rf-5.- fs-f-5.,sF "a s5s,-E =
The Archbishop, however, like great many
others, was a friend. of the Government under
constitutional limits and guarantees, and not for
military and monied despotirm, worse than
ever CALLED the people of down-trodden gEu-
| rope. p" sga1gaa syis
In tie, ,METRoPoLITAR RECORD of last week
we were Informed through. the N. Y. Express,
Bishop HUGHES has an article four columns
in len 9Th, protesting in strong and open lam
guage against the recent acts of CoDgr ess,
converting this Government into a military
desPotlsm. odi aosFsad sqsasslszs =. il-igti5 .
Is Speaking of the Conscript Law, he says
aAll the citizens of New York liable to mil
itary duty under this Law can be called upon
I by the President whenever he shall deem it
aecessary, and on the refusal of any of these
| to obey The call, he "shall be deemed a deser-
| ter, be arrested By the Provost Marshall, and
sent to the nearest military post for court mar
tial,''s If this is not the establishment of a
military despotisnl, then We should like to know
+ The true meaning Of the words. We. have, no
hesitation whatever 10, saying that this law is
Unconstitutional, and, of course, not binding
+ npon any citizens of the United States, and
since the mscalled National Legislature has
so far exceeded its power, the people must, un-
der such circumstances, look for protection to
| the only authorities that can grant it, the
| n e-tlr octiv fata
allegiance as eitizeps of the State OF New York,
| to the Constitution of that and in the exercise
/ of his lawful authority we are solemnly bound
! by that obligation to sustain and support its
| Chief Magistrate, whom that Constitution de-
clares is the Commander ip-C Chief of the mill
tary and naval forces of the 8 ate. IF allcgi-
ance belongs to that regular constituted power
which, in the general community, affords pro-
| lection to life and property, then We say .our
l5y slity is pre- emiently due to the State Cow
ernnent. AS to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, that instrument no longer affords
protection to it's citizens, and the only barrier
which now ,intorpcses between the liberties
Of the people and the consolidating power of q
centralized despotism at Washington is the
Sovereignty of The State, szsts nj se-nG Is
4 -.Let not the willing tools of the recently
inflated tyranny in this country imagine that
i the Press is TO be deferred by theithreats con-
tained in this unconstitutional law against all
j who interfere with its eperation. We have
too much faith in the Executive of the Em-
lpire State 10 spppqse that be will ever allow
! an administration which isa sappihg tho very
/ foundatiois of constitutional freedom TO sc; ze
upon his fellow citizens as.the Russian autocat
| has attempted to do with the ill-fated victims
of his most fendis ish. rplc sip Poland.s The mo-
| ment such an assault is made upon citizens
rights the last links that bind the States to-
gether will be rent assunder like SO many cob