Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1863-02-26
Northern Wears.
Kentucky Legislative Resolutions,

kentncky Legislative heS0luilonS
| SIr. Grover offered the following
preamble and resolutions, and said h'
offered them after consideration an,
advisement with various members OF
the General Assembly, whose opin
ions they embrace as we'll as his own
upon the momentous issues involved
| He moved that they be printed
and referred to the Committee on
Federal Relations, which motion was
adopted,
The resolutions are as follows:
In time of war, as in peace, the
Constitution of the United States is
the supreme law of the land. 1t pre-
scribes the powers OF the Government
in its Executive, no less than iu its
other departments, and tits the only
legal bond of union between the
States.
The Federal Government, as defined
by the Constitution, when exercis-
ing the power granted TO it, is enu-
lied to the allegiance of the people ;
but loyalty to the Government does
not impose upon the citizen any OBJ
legation to support an Administration
ia the enforcement; Of policy unau-
ihorized by the Constitution or for
6idden by its provisions; but it is
the duty OF all citizens TO resist en-
croachmen,s upon their rights, and
to defend the Constitution Of their
country from violence. He who up
holds the Executive, or any other de.
partment of the Government, 10 tho
violation of its provisions, is disloyal
to the Constitution, and an enemy TO
the freedom Of his country.
The Federal Government. deriv-
ing al. its legitimate power from the
Constitution, is, therefore, the crea-
ture of the Constitution and has 20
power in any department to suspend
any of its provisions, or throw off its
restrictions under any pretence what
ever.
The maxim that Governments
derive their just powers from the
consent Of the governed" is one
which we ought never to forget
II involves a fundamental principle
of freedom-one asserted by our an
cestots, and for which they fought
and won our independence OF the
British crown, and which we never
can surrender. 1t should also be
borne iD mind that governments were
instituted for the protection OF lile,
liberty, and property, and that such
as fail to perform this duty will,
sooner or later, be overtbrown by an
intelligent, virtuous, and courageous
people.
The history OF the present Admin
istration of this Federal Government
is a history of repeated injuries and
usurpati0ns, tending directly to the
overthrow of State authority and
State institutions, and consollda-
| ton in the Fedora! Government Of
all political power, and the erection
upon their rains of great military
| despotismas tyrapnicaland despotic as
the worst GSRerpment of Europe, to
prove which we refer TO the following
facts:
The President has, without author,
! ity of Congress, suspended the writ
oihabeas corpus, thus striking dead.
! ly blow at the liberties of the people
He has caused citizens to be ar
rested. transported to distant States
and inearcerated in loathsome prisons
without charge or accusation against
them. ~
He has denied to citizens thus ar
rested and imprisoned trial by jury
or indeed any trial. and has withheld
from them all knowledge or iuforIna
ton as to their accusers or the cause
Of their arrest.
He has subjected bis prisoners
thus held to barbarous and lnhumar
treatment. endangering both lille anc
health, and has required hundreds oil
them SO held, as condition upor
which they might be released, t(
take illegal oaths arbitrarily preserlo
ed by himself or his agents.
lie has attempted to destroy tht
freedom Of the press by forclble sup
preston Of newspapers because they
I saw proper to cri icise The measures
| Of his Administration and such al