Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-01-22
A Democra. o. the Opposition.


We have alluded already to the speech made
in the United States Senate on the 9th inst,
by Senator Wright, of Indiana. Ex-Govern-
or Wright was Buchanan's Minister to Prussia,
but on his return, after the breaking out of the
rebellion, he placed himself squarely on the
side of the Union He is one of the ablest, as
well as most popular, men of his State. He
is a man whose warm patriotism,-love of
country,-true democracy sufficient to
overcome all partisan prejudices and affiliations.
The speech referred to, shows, among other
Things, that the most energetic efforts of the
Administration againt the rebellion-those par
ticularly clamored against by the Wood democ-
racv-are in strict accordance with the past
acts and principles of the true Democratic
party.
The source from whence it comes-a life
long and honored Democrat-renders it a most
powerful rebuke to the factious opposition
which is dividing the North, threatening to
PROSTATE its power and yield up the Union a
Sacrhce TO Southern treason.
Because it shows the views of an earnestly
loyal Democrat upon the duties of all men in
this time of our national convusion and threat
ened destruction, we make such extracts as we
have room for from this speech, while we
would, at the same time, urge the perusal of
the whole speech upon all. Let all who would
conscientiously discharge their duty to their
mperilled country, listen to those who merge
partisanship in patriotism.
The isolated extracts below will give but a
faint idea of the whole speech, but will, we
we believe, prove acceptable to those who may
not have immediate access to it.
FIRST, as to arbitrary arrests" Mr. Wright
said:
Men do not seem to realize the condition of
things in the country, and the most improper
appeals are made to the ignorant and unsuspec-
ting, which alarm their fears on this subject -
After quoting from letter of Gen. Lee written
in 1916, and saying that occasions arise when
arrests become a necessity which cannot be
disregarded without an impeachment of fideli-
ty to the best interests of the commonwealth,
he continued: am not disposed TO yield tie
credit to the Republican party Of originating
q poIjcy as bold as 1t as necessary, for in the
deSD0ndeU days Of our infant struggle for lib
erty it aoaS justifed. jefferson and Jackson
subsequently demonstrated that it had their
sanction, and it erer has had The GppropaI Of
tie old fashioned democrGcy General Jackson
suspended the liberty of the press IN New
Orleans, and he kept the entire city and sub
urb5 under martial law after the British b; d
left the coast. He arrested JuIge Hall for is
suing a writ of hnbeCs corpus in favor of
the French subject who had been seized by
GENERAL JackSous orders and recent Con-
gress of the United States, by its legislation,
commended that exercise of authority.
Alr. Jefferson sustained General Wilkinson
for srtspendng tie h1JeGy corpus in New Or
leans on the occasion of certain military arrests
of persons who were suspected of completely
in Burr's expedition thus Justifying the set
ting up of military authority over the iursdic-
ton Of the courts in times Of public danger
AS late as the Sd Of February, 1907, in let
ter to Governor Claiborne respecting Burr's
conspiracy he wrote:
On great occasions every good officer must be ready
risk himself going beyond the strict line of law
when the public preservation requires it. His motives
will ho Justification far there any dscrotien in
his Ultra legal ,eedngs and indulgence of private
fec ings.'
call the attention OF senators to this Ian
guage, and to the time and circum stances ua-
der which it was used. That was not rebel
lion of one third of the entire republic against
It's government. The straits ofthe Union were
not then SO desperate On tha. occasion
mere handful Of men, starting on a distant eX-
pedito9, We're arrested and brought to trial
Now the conspiracy is more extended, the in
terests AT stake are more vital, and the emer-
gency more imperions. ...
Mr. Wright makes another quotation from
the letter of jefferson, and paraphrases it as
follows:
May not, Mr.. President, slightly alter the
language OF Jefferson of that day, and by a
ptraphrase adapt it to the present, and say
that those who think more of party than of
country, who seek to make political capital
out of every act of the government, may try
to make something out of the political arrests
that have been made, but if IT does not go be-
yond such offenders as Governor Moorhead,
Buckner, Wallis, and their compeers, they will
be supported by the public appreciation
DIsLOYAL OPPOSITION