The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-01-15

Ii is dangerous and demoralizing to
show contempt for State authorities and
laws. 1t undermineS alike the foundations
of State and National government, by
breaking up the social system. If home
laws are not respected, the more general
authority will not be regarded. Our peo-
pie have, therefore, viewed with alarm
practices and pretentions on the part of
officials which violate every principle of
good order, of civil liberty, and Of consti-
tutional law. Il is claimed that, in time of
war, the President has powers as Com
mander-iu Chief Of our armies which au.
thorlze him 10 declare Martial law, not
only within the sphere of hostile move
ments, where other law cannot be enforced
but also over our whole land; that, at his
pleasure. he can disregard, not only the
statutes of Congress, but the decisions Of
the national judiciary; that. in loyal States,
the least intelligent classes Of officials may
be clothed with power no. only to act as
spies and informers, but a!so without due
process of law, to seize and imprison our
citizens AID carry them beyond the limits
Of the State. anI to hold them in prisons,
without 4 hearing and without a knowl-
edge of the oilenses with which they are
charged. Not only the passions and the
prejudices of these inferior agents lead
them to acts OF tyranny, but their interests
are advanced and their posisions secured
by promoting discomfort and discord -
Even to ask the aid of council has been
held to be an offence. 1t has been well
said that to be arrested for one knows not
what: TO be confined 70 one is entitled to
ask where; to be tried no one cansssav when,
| by law no where kown or established
or to linger out life in cell without trial
presents body of tyranny which cannot
be enlarged. The suppression of Journals
and the Imprisonment of persons have
been glaringly partisan, allowing to some
the utmost licentiousness OF criticism, and
punIshing others for the fair exercise oi
The tight of discussion.
Conscious Of these gross abuses, an at
tempt has been MADE to shield the viola
tors of law and suppress inquiry into theil
! Il
fail. Unconstitutional acts cannot be
shielded by unconstitutional laws Sucl
attempts will rot save the guilty, whilt
they will bring just condemnation upon
those who try TO pervert the powers o
Legislation to the purposes Of oppression
To justify such actiou by prccedsnts drawn
from the practice Of governments where
there il no restr- int upon legislative pow
er. will be Of o avail under our system
which reStrains the government and pro
tects the citizens by written constitutions
shall not inquire what rights States IL
rebellion have forfeited; bu. deny thai
this rebellion can suspend a single righ
of loyal States. | denounce the doctrine
that civil war in the South takes ava,
from the loyal North the benefits Of on'
principle of civil liberty. 1t is a higl
crime to abduct ii citiz N OF this State.
is made my duty by the constitution t'
see that the laws are enforced. l shal
investigate every alleged violation OF on
statutes, and see that the offenders an
brought to justice. Sherills and Dislric
Attorney are admonished that 1t is thei
duty to take care that no persons withii
their respective counties are imprisoned o
carried by force beyond their limits, with
out due process or legal authority. Th
removal to England of persons charged
with offences, away from their friends
their witnesses, and means Of defence, wa
one OF the ac;s of tyranny for which w
asserted our independence. The abIuc
ton OF citizens from this State for offence
charged to have been done here, and carry
f ins them many hundreds of miles 10 dis
tant prisons in other States or Territori 5
, is an outrage OF the same character, upol
every principle OF rights and jnstice.
1 The general government las ample po "
2 er TO establish courts to appoint officers L
, arret, and Commissioners TO hear com
{ laints. and to imp ison upon reasonabl
S grounds of suspicion. 1t has a judicia
f. syiem in full and undis:urbed operation
! Its own courts. held at convenient point
f IN this and other loyal States are open 70
n the hearing of all complaints. If its law
= are not ample for the punishment of Offer
ces, it Is due to the neglect Of those in POW
4 er. Government is rot strengthened b
S the exercise of doubtful powers, but b
S wise and energetic exercise OF thos
i hich are incontestible. The forme
i course never fails to produce dscord sus