Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-03

sad OF II applles IN principle With the same iuIce
to the case Of the honorable gentleman from Hi
nois, Mr.. Allen. Both are representatives Of
the people on this floor. and both have been sub
jected % punishment due alone TO criminals by
the arbitrary and lswlcss edict Of one man for the
exercise Of their opinions. Sir, do VIC live in
republic or an absolute monarchy Is this an
American Congress or n Roman Senate IN the
most ahject DAYS Of the Roman empire! l. this
an assembly of frccmen or a French assembly in
the days Of Louis Xivf How much more are
We expected to bears What deeper degradation
Is 10 be inflicted on u.s. IL one member of this
body can be arrested for his opinions and made
TO feed on the damp vapors Of living tomb dur
inc the pleasure of the Executive, 50 can all tho
rest Of us who do not with bated breath aud
words Of whispered humbleness, bow ourselves
with eastern adulafion at the footstool of power
Ii these things are TO be borne, the hour for n
Cromwell has arrived, and these walls will never
again resound with the voice of liberty. Let the
lictors advance and bind with cords and seourgc
Us in the open marketplaces as the unworthy
successors Of nobler aud prouder racc. Let the
pilgrim Of future times visit not this dishonored
Hall, but 90 and lingcr in the old and deserted
one and draw inspiration from the glorious mem
orics which hover over IL. The voices of the
mighty dead. in behalf of freedom Of opinion,
freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the
supremacy of the Constitution, vet seem 20 echo
from is venerable walls: and lis place in the his
tory of the progress Of liberty Is as secure rs the
battlefield of Bunker Hill
Sir. am | TO be told that there was cause for
the arrest and imprisonment of these gentlemenl
Who dares 20 saw SOL Why were they not tried
for their oiIcnses, and Il guilty. punished Who
will assert ihat the thousands who have been
imprisoned without authority Of law and dis.
charged without trial were criminals Ii they
were n double infamy awaits the Executive and
the agents of his uSurpntions for libcrating upon
society unprosecuicd and UNPUBLISHED offenders
against the laws. If they are the dangerous
criminals which they are daily described 10 be.
then this Administration has corruptly COM
pounded with felony, and made itself party To
treason by refusing 90 bring them 20 Justice, even
when the criminals themselves protested against
being liberated without trial But. sir. deny
their guilt IN every instance: aud in doing so, |
plant myself on The pnin prercpts of the laws Of
God and man. have but little indulgence for
this constant assumption of guilt against citizens
who have courtcd trials and whom You have not
dared 10 try. The prcsumptions are all in favor
of innocence where just laws prevail. They are
in favor of guilt before trial only in The minds of
tyrants. But. whether guilty or innocent not
one single provision of the Constitution has NJ
any time or place been complied with IN the
treatment of citizens arrested by Government
officials.
In violation of the Constitution American cii-
zens have been ~ rested for using the freedom of
speech.
In violation OF the Constitution their houses
have been iorcibly entered
In violation of the Constitution, their papers
have been searched.
In violation of the Constitution, their persons
have been seized with armed violence.
In violation of the Constitution, they have
been deprived of liberty without due process of
law.
In violation of the Constitution, they have
been held Co answer infamous accusations
without preScntmcnt or indictment of % grand
jury.
In violation of the Constitution. they have
been denied the right Ia speedy and public
trial by an impartial jury.
In violation of the Constitution. they have
been carried out Of the State and district in
which their oncnscs If any. were committed.
In violation of the Constitution, they have
been kept in Ignorance of the nature and cause
of the accusations against them.
Ia violation Of the Constitution, they have
not been confronted with the witnesses against
them.
And. In most supreme and wicked violation
of the Constitution they have been denied coun.
sci for their defense, and informed, in oil the
insolcnce of ianatica disregard Of every prin.
That tho General Government viii not recognize an,
one ~ All attorney Tor political prisoners, and will look
with disifu upon all applications for release through
gnrlcd additional fcaspp, for declining a. release such
persons.
Sir, challenge the worst ages of tho most
proIligatc and corrupt dcspots for more intol
orahlc picture of personal Outrage than IL here
presented, In prisons, IN dungeons. In cells, In
solitude and dcsola,ion of heart citizens of this
al.
ishmcnt II they resort 10 the only possible mode
of approaching those in power 10 obtain iniorma.
ton or trial with view 10 liberty. Many new
oilcnses, unknown Ia the Constitution and IN,
laws. have been created by the proclamation oi
the Executive, andto these II must bo added that
IL l. n crime for an innocent man. oycrpowcrcd
by unlawful force. and wearing away his life IN
prison, 10 employ counsel % secure for him the
benefit OF the laws of the land. Sir, posicriy
will hold In remembrance the authors of these
outrages-the President and his Cabinct--r
order 10 cxccrnte the prostitution which they
have made of their high offices tn the overthrow
of the Constitution, When they retire from
their exalted positions. and descend to the quiet
walks of private liic where the voice of partisan
applause and interested ilattery will no longer
reach their ears and shut out truth from their
consccnccs. let them spend tho evening oi
their days IN bordering over the wrctchcdncs.
they have So nccdlcssly and wantonly caused
Let them recall the tears of bitter grief bcrcayc
mcnt. and shame. which they have caused deli
cate and tender women to weep as they mplorc
their iailors IN vain for relief against outragcs
which the pen bushes to record. Let them visit
the mad-house. and listen Ia the shricks and cries
of their inmates. they pour forth their wailings
from the shattered dome of thought and in thai
saddcst sight which earth can pfcscnt--n mind in
ruins--hciold portion of their hnndwofk
which viii accompany their names into history
And IL dreams come to them in their slumbcrs
let them dream of the poor suicide, who com
muncd in solitude with his sad heart until hi.
room became tiled with shadows and impalpa
bic forms, which Knocked his agony and despair
and who 20 escape from his unlawful imprison
mcnt. launched his naked soul into the mvstcr
on, realms OF the infinite. and appeared for trial
before a compassionate God. Let them awaken
Ia hear The heartbrokcn sobs of the widow, aud
the pitiig lamentations of the iathcrless. lie,
them mako some aionemont for the grief they
have Indicted by looking into all the detailed
horrors which their system of Internal outrage
has brought on unoiiending men and women
speak not in malice, i wish evil TO no man on
earth. | fesl pain to know that infict il. But
III could iorbear to speak with indignant empha
sis on this subject, would feel that the bond o.
sympathy which binds me 10 NV suffering fellow
men had been broken asunder | would fee
that my heart was an outlaw from the sacred pre-
cepts of the divine Nazarenc. who pronounced
the merciful blessed because they showed
mercy.
But il is said that this system of open disre
gard of the Constitution and the arrests which