Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-02
The u amp or 10 civil Liberty.

Just now the Democratic party assume
zto be '.ne special guardians of Civil Lib.
Aer.s, the peculiarly chosen advocates of
\ Free Speech, freedom of the Press and
EIabeas Corpus. Although il is but few
Years since this party occupied radically
s different position, and We're the persecu-
q Tors of al who claimed unlimited freedom
q of discussion, vet the sudden. transiorma-
N non IS not at all wonderful, II finds an
4 abundance of precedents in our own and
4 English political history. II is the party
3 NJ the "outs" which generally assumes
the championship Of the largest liberty"
A5oetrine, until successful opposition convert
/, into the party of the Gins, The re-
ssnonsihihties of the Office have a wonder
I'm effect in limiting the practical interpre-
,auon Of platforms and resolutions adopt
III Us a basis of opposition.
Al If our noisest democratic demagogues
Mere to-day obliged to take the places of
the present administration, they would
noon be obliged to modify or entirely
4hange their present views, and in face of
ihe stern, unyeding facts confronting
Sthem, would have TO acknowledge that il
requires something more than a supersti-
ious reverence for the mere forms of civil
liberty, to meet the real and gigantic per-
which threatens the total destruction of
lis very existence.
For no sane man can deny the one great
Danger which besets us is that which pre-
snts itself in the shape of armed rebellion.
z this rebellion should succeed, while the
PEOPLE of the loyal states are fercely
grangling over the arrest of a few politi
cal Adventures in the search of Martyr
dom, then, what will remain of Constitu-
yonal Rights will be little worth fighting
for, If the peace of the country was un-
broken, if the bitterest political strife
could only result in change of office
holders, cheerfully acquesced in by all, if
pc had leisure for the contest and no 9TH
b means of excitement, there might he no |
great harm in the prosecution of a relent- !
ess political campaign, and we certainly |
would NOT o 0GGiieect to a democratic campaign |
n behalf of free principles-if only for !
Pc extreme novelty of the thing Nor
~ W. opJ'SN " a iatl HOItSts DdbilOlIC |
EXPOSITION to the measures of the Admin
stration, wn5a restrained within proper
limits. If an evil, it is one which all free
tountries have demonstrated to be neces-
barry one.
When, however, this opposition is
known to be largely directed by men in
sympathy with our enemies and hostile to
81 measures likely to end in the re-estab-
Alshment of the Union, when its fruits are
seen IN the shape of combinations to resist |
lhe laws and officers of the Government,
encourage assertions, to check enlist
nents and in all possible ways to give
aid and comfort" to the rebellion,
ben 1T become the duty of all patriotic
atizens who may be IN the ranks of the
opposition to forsake their partzen lead
rs and rally to the unconditional support
t the Government. If we can but escape
he overwhelming perils, not only to our
lot only to our civil liberty but our very
Pauonal existence, which now environ ms,
'Asre is sufficient intelligence and patri-
otlSm IN the American people to guard
against all lesser dangers, when psace and
national unity shall have been restored
AiJUaukie Sentinel.