The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-02-05
Position OF Kentucky.

!
P. Grover, from the county of Owen, and
into the House BY w. P. D. Bush, E'q.,
of the county of Hancock. on the 18Th
inst, and ordered to be printed, ADD refer
red 10 the COMMITTEES ee OH Federal Rela-
tons:
''In times Of war, as in peace, the con-
stitulion of tho United States is the su-
preme law of the land. 1t prescribes the
powers of the government in its executive
no les, than in its other departments. and
i, is the only legal bond Of union betSe
the States.
The Federal Government, as defined by
the constitution. when exercising the pow
ers granted TO it, is entitled to the allegi.
ance of the people; but loyalty to the gov
ernment does not impose upon the citizen
any obligation to support an administra-
tion in The enforcement of policy unau-
thorized by the constitution or forbidden
by its provisions; but it is the duty OF all
good citizens 10 resist encroachments up.
on their rights, and to defend the consti-
tuition of their country from violence. He
who upholds the executive or any other
department of the government, IN the vio-
lation OF it provisions. is disloyal 10 the
constitution, and an enemy TO the freedom
Of his country.
The Federal Government, deriving all
It's legitimate powers from the constitution
is. therefore, the creature of the consttu-
ton, and has no power in any department
to suspend any of its provisions, or throw
OFF its restrictions under any prelence
whatever.
The maxim that Governments derive
,heir just powers from the consent OF the
governed, is ons which We ought never
to forget 1t involves fundamental prin-
ciple OF Ieedom-one asserted by our
ancestors, and for which they fought and
won our Independence from The British
crown, anil which W. can never surrender.
1t should also lie borne IN mind that gov
ernmen'S were Instituted for the protection
Of lie, Liberty and property, and that such
As ta.l tO perform thi dus., viii sp"ner
or later, be overlhrown by an intciii gent.
virtuous and courageous people.
Tie Ii story Of the present admlnisra
ton Of Tie Federal governn ent is a history
of repeated Injuries and usurpaIons, tend
ins 1re,tly to The overthrow OF State au-
thoriiy and Strte institutions, and con-
,oi.dat on in the Federal government oi all
polilic; power, aud The erection upon their
ruins of a great military despotism, az ~
ranics and thoroughly despotic as the
worst government of Europe, to substan
liate which We refer TO the following
facts:
The Presiden. has. without authority of
Congress. suspended the writ of hcJeas
corpus tins striking deadly blow at the
I1iber'ies Of tie people.
He has eau ea citizens TO be arrested
transported To distant states, and incared
Rated in loail.some pfi,ons without charge
or accusation against them.
| Ii has denLed To c.t.zeus thus arrested
and imprisoned trial by jury, or indeed
any trial, and has Withdrawn from them
all kno Wedge or information AS TO their
accusers Or The cause of their arrest.
He has subjected his prisoners thus
held To- barbarous aud uhuman treatment,
sndangering both life and health, and has
required hundreds o: them So held, as a
condition upon which they might be re-
leased, to take illegal oaths arbitrarily
pre- -crbed by himself OF his agents.
He has attempted to destroy the free.
dom of the press BY the forcbIe suppress
sion Of newspapers, because :hey saw
proper to criticise the measures of his adj
ministralion, and such as have escaped
suppression have been subject to a censor
ship wholly Incompatible with freedom Of
thought or expression of opinion.
IL, has attempted to destroy the free
dom of speech by arresting citizens who
animadverted Upon the measures of his
administration.
He has caused to be arrested persons
engaged in circulating petitions tor the sig
natures of the people e-thus interfering
wirh the right Of petition.
He has wholly dieregarded the rights
of the people to be ''secure in their per-
SONS, houses. papers, and effects, ag ainst
unreasonable search and seizures"
He has interfered wi the administra-
ton of justice in the tate courts by vio-
lently forcing the idges to adjourn, and
Dispensing the grand juries, and by break
ing open jais and RELEASING prisoners con-
fined under regular judicial process for
/ g. MI thor