M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-03-19

practically suppressed when a col
sorship over speech ard the press WI
assumed and frequently practiced
when the terrible doctrine (utterly d,
structive Oi freedom aud free :nstitu
ltions,) thar the Government, in time
like these, may do whatever II deem
necessary, however, in so dong,
may violate tho Constitution, wa
boldly proclaimed when rights 9
property guaranteed by the OOnstitu
tion were openly Invaded and sough
to be Overthrown by an Executiv
proclamation when these and lik
examples OF disregard OF our laws ant
Constitutions, OF our rights and liber
ties, were Set by the officers Of Gov.
ernmeDt themselves, it is not singular
that rash aud nRthinking men should
he found ready TO follow snch exam
pies. And when in addition to all
this, the Republican press and pOliti,
clans, in violation OF truth, deeency,
dvlicy and patriotism, and for the
merest and basest partisan purposes,
were daily charging one-hall, if not
more, of the Northern people, With
treason or sympathy with treason ;
when even Governors of States. iK
public speeches, cast such impu&
tions upon Il maj rity Of their own
constituents when every artifice that
malice could invent and industry
apply was being resorted to, in order
to mislead and prejudice the army
against the Democratic party; when,
for that purpose, Democratic news
papers were excluded from its lines
and camps, while Abolition papers
were freely admitted when secret,
irresponsible, oath-bound and armed
societies were forming to suppress the
voice Of Democracy and trampled upon
the puhlie will; when all the machi
merry to produce a reign Of terror was
being prepared and set in motion it
ls net wonderful that ignorance, pass
ion and prejudice should bid defiance
to the laws,
We note these things, not to excite
wrath, but to warn every man who
desires to preserve the peace of society
the liberties and property of the peo.
pie, the laws and constitutions oI
the land, that it behooves him tt
set his face against all aggressiont
upon either. Constitutions and law
make free government respect for
them preserves it disregard OF them
bring despot;sm and anarchy. The
Democratic party has ever been, and
yet is, a law abiding party. 1t asks
nothing but its rights under the Con
stitution and the laws. 1t resorts to
no violation OF either; it countcnan
ces no violation Of either. 1t has .
right to ali the guarantees of public
aud privste liberty, and of property,
CONTAINED in our fundameRa lawsand
It will surrender not one OF them. 1t
has the right TO discnss public meas
ures, and will discuss them. 1t has
the right to propose and advocate that
policy which it deems best for the
nation, and it will exercise that right
1t has right to have it's policy passed
upon by the people at peaoeable and
un.rammelled elections, and it will
maintain that right. II found In the
minority il yields obedience to all
lawful rule or the majority; if it BE-
the majority itself it claims that its
lawful will be respected. Whether in
majority or minority, it obeys all
laws that are in force. Those that it
dislikes, it seeks to overthrow, not by
violence, but by a Legitimate repeal.
Those that it proposes it seeks to
carry, not by force, but by legal en-.
actment. And what it does in all
these respects, it demands, and has a
right to demand, that all others shall
do. They owe the same obedience to
the Constitution and the laws that
Democrats owe. They have the same
interest to maintain free government,
to protect liberty, to be secure in their
houses, persons and property, that
Democrats have. IL is neither their
interest nor ours that despotism or
anarchy should prevail and it they
wish to avert both, let them see to it
in time that they give no occasion ior
either. We will 90 our duty, let them
remember to do theirs.
In view of the circumstances that
have brought US together, we herely
reeoIvo,
Il. That the will of the people is
the foundation of all free government.
That to give effect to this will, free
thought, free speech and free press