Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-05-26
voice from Indiana

"PsAAo VI tue ZUt q INST, seventy hve
thousand strong, and adopted the following
patriotic resolutions:
Whereas, 1t was declared by our fathers
that, to secure certain inalienabIe rights.
among which are life liberty and the pur. |
suit OF happiness" governments are ini |
stituted among men, deriving their Just !
powers from the consent Of the govern
ed" and
Whereas, In obedience 10 the principle
in the constitution of the United States,
establish justice and SEIZURE the blessings
Of liberty TO ourselves and our pOsterity,"
they divided the power of the government
into three departments-LegisIative, TX.
ecutive, and Judicial-and declared that
all the legislative power therein granted
should be vested in Congress Of the Uni
ted States; and
Whereas, Legislation is "law-making"
power, and law is the rule of action by
which men shall be governed and
HhereGS, The people Of Indiana, in their
constitution reafhrmed such division of gov
ernmeutal power, and ito the end that
justice be established, public order main
tanned, and liberty perpetuated," they de-
clare that "all power is inherent in the
people," and that 1.-The military shall be
kept in strict su5ordination to the civil
power" and
Whereas, The constitution of the United
Ststes provides that Congress shall make
no law abridging the free
dom Of speech or Of the press or the right
Of the people peacefully to assemble and 20
petition the government for a redress of
/ grievances ;" and
| Whereas, In accordance with this declar
| ed right and congratulated usage, we
have this day assembled respectfully and
/ earnestly, as becomes freemen, TO present
! our views to those in authority; therefore,
ReSOlred, l. That the people are the
source Of all political power; that officers
provided by the fundamental and statute law
are their servants, to carry out their will
as expressed in those laws; and that when
any one Of said servants assumes to act
without the previous sanction of authority,
he ceases 10 be the servant Of the people
and is striving to become their master
by making his mere behest a law unto
them.
2. That it is the duty of every good citi
zen to obey the constitution If the United
States and Of this State, and laws passed
in accordance Herewith, whilst they re
main in force but it is their right-not al
a mere privilege, but a RIGHT-to temper
ately, candidly, and freely discuss, not on
~ the laws, but the acts Of those of thei
servants who may have passed, or may b,
in the administration Of those laws.
3. This is the necessary result of tn
fact that the people are the source of al
power. They must freely discuss, that the
may properly determine whether a law
bad one and ought to be changed, o
whether it is right. but wrested ON II
meaning and wrongfully administered /,
those in authority, and therefore sue
unfaithful servants should be legally So
aside.
. 4. Whilst constitutional guarantees
among others the right of free discussion
: OF appeal 10 the courts, as agains. uncnn
, ssitusOnal laws and illegal acts: of resor
TO the legislative power to abrvgata bat
! lIws, Of removal of ohp,x Gus official
: through an untrammtle1, uncorruI ted bal
lot boX-rsmaIn iDviYlate, II is the DUTY {
? the citizens to aid those who are rirhtful!
IN authority IN oil lawful proceeding; bu
: if these rights q; set at Taught by thei
official servants. the people may assert tbei
t inherent sovereignty, and resume the Dow
: ers thus being abused.
e 5. To uphold these great and inaliena
5 bic principles OF liberty, one general rul
thpuld govern those who fame laws, thus
who are int listed with their administrf
ton, and the great body of The people, be-
ing those upon whom they operate, namely
the gnl'en rule of RIGHT
6. Tie violation Of this rule. hy disc
b6dicnce to properly enacted laws, sbouI,
! be punished; its disregard, By tie fiagran
5 assumption OF unauth. rizsd pnwer ant
performance Of unjustifa:l, acts by tn,
servants Of the people, should meet will
their stern r0buke.
/ 4. lD view Of these great truths, "
, hereby proclaim our fixed and irrivocabl
Condemnation Of every attempt 20 uak
laws 10y the executive authority alone, o
by me;e orders of those representing IN
f mlisar the subordinate arm uf the gov
emmett And We Indignantly denuunc
the result of such fagrInt usurpations a
the act of miiitIry y amy, to wi; the ar
rest 4 citizens OF lIdau and cur .ist,
, S;a e. that are IN obedience to the con
, stitutIon.
8. That the day has arrived when on
othc'al servants are setting them selves u
above their employers, the p .Ople, and hav
, two "ars UPON their hands-pne aGains
the rebels of the South, ard the o,be
Ii
: attempt 20 uphold IL IN the Nor,h. In m
, first named. the democracy have poure
out their blood and treasure at the call q
the administration in the second, thew ar
upon the eide Of the constitution, ard ,r
beirg prosecuted by illegal nrrest and inn
prisonment far opinions sako, ~ n unit
strange cities" and loathsome Bas,iIes
9. Martial law is no law but the vii
, of the military officer proclaiming il, UitbiI
the limits in which he has q sufficient fore
TO maiuta;n absolute power. In State 0
district Of country where the public encm,
has - footing. the people are not in re
bellion, nc an armed insurrection prevail
ing. there is no iega! authority in any mil
, itary officer, high or w, to Substitute hi
will for the civil laws and the operatt;;"a
of the three co ordinate departments of tn
government.
10. That the attempt to suspend civi
rlghts-amnng the right to make inuuir-
as to the cause OF arrests and imprisonmen
by the writ of hGJeas cOrpus-in territor,
loyal to the government, Is such an act o
usurpation az demands and receives Gu
merited condemnation.
IL That the democratic party Of Indi
ana are now as they ever have been. at
tached to the constitution, and are willin,
to male almost any sacrifice to maintaiI
the Ermer and preserve the latter. We b, l
that there can be no treason in submission
TO the constitution and laws made pursuant
tbereunto, until they are Constitutional,
repealed or judicially declared void anc
people, who do this and cannot Or dare
not exercise the right of advocating the re
peal of tad lave sDi the change Of T olicy
which they believe to be wrong. are slaves
and, If the idea of treason and slavery il
right, we are resolved neither to be traitors
or stdces. We will submit to every Law
passed pursuant to the constitution, as long
as all constitutional means Of redress are
lett open to our free exercise, including
! frna b liz e.