The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-02-18
LETTER FROM COLUMBUS.
CoLumBus, Feb. I'd, 1863.

speech ON the Arbitrary Arrest Resolu-
tions." It was complete masterpiece
oflogic'and judicial authority. The Abo-
lition wing undertook to divert his atten-
tion by questions and numerous interrupts
ions, but they mistook their man. Each
interruption only called out more authori-
ty and more cogent reasons.
No answer to his speech of five hours
duration was attempted from the fact that
they knew it was unanswerable. The
Resolutions were then, by a strict party
vote, referred to the Standing Committee
on Judiciary, where they will sleep the
sleep that knows no waking. About the
last hour of the session the Committee
will report them back and recommend their
indefinite postponement. No inquiry will
be allowed into these arbitrary arrests of
our citizens.
Could have thought one year age that
rumor spoke truth; that faction would
usurp the seat of Judgment, and partisan
prejudice and fanatical proclamations,
would furnish the rule of decisions and
factions, instead of the Constitution and
laws, | should have returned, with slow
and melancholy steps to thoseHwho sent
me here, and should have told them that
the glory of our Republic had departed,
/ if her days were not cen then being num-
bered; that the spirit of obedience to the
IConstitution, the true spirit of liberty had
departed and in its stead, demon had
entered and taken possession ofthe body,
directing it's movements and controlling
it's functions. H
/ would that had then been empower
ed to WELD the spear of an Ithuriel,. that
with it might then have touched the foul
1 Gend of party and fanaticism, that was
even then daring to "squat like toad, y
whispering false suggestions and psuedo-
proclamations in the ears of our people;
then would he have started up in all his
Internationally with visage more hid
eous than that of the dark Mokanna, the
Yelled Prophet of Khorassan.. Then
would have asked my people to behold
how r gr+
IseDrsadful it was to see the ghostly stare,
The stony look of horror and despair, Il
4 Which hosts of these expiring victims cast
Upon that mocking Biend, whose veil, now
I raised,
Showed them, as in deaths agony they
gazed, asa sifpa 18sfeH
Not the long promised Light, the blow.
whose beaniing vi; 35atnza
Was to come forth all conquering, all re-
I deeming, 'sssa lIe
4 But features horribler than He'll eel
traced sa aFa
! On its own brood; no Demon of the Waste
No church yard Choul, caught lingering
j in the light tay H} t.Ig
Ofthe blest sun, cen blasted human sight
'lWith linaments so foul, so fierce as those
The Imposter now, in grinning mockery
shows @
9a LaHu Rookk
) But am admonished by looks, at least
to beware; but surely sinceethe elections O.
October and November there is nothing
to fear from expressions like these. 'Tis
true that the hounds of party, the cohorts
of this vile IMPosTER and UIsURPER O
Constitutional law, may howl around these
walls, but surely, with this admonition sc
recently given, staring them in the face
they will not dare to enter its sacred pre-
c, cincts. f
! In the language ofthe indignant Roman
they have solicited offices in one manner
= and have used them when obtained in an
!, other manner. A manner altogether pc
culiar to themselves manner unknown
> in Heaven and undreamed of in the Re
y pubhcs OF Earth. a8g Il f5a
D The remark ofthe old Roman was no
morestrue of that degenerated state of tn,
1anoblest OF all the Republics of; antiquit,
than it is of ours at this time 1t is no
only symptom of decay, but it is tn
powerful cause, when it comes to be one,
understood, as it seems to be now, tha
! politiesis a game, that those who are en-
gagged in it but play part-that tn
!. make this or that profession, not from al
!, honest CONVECTION or an intention to fulfil
! them-but as a means of deindi,g til
. people-and through delusion to acquir
Iunto themselves power, and then ignor
) their professions under some plea of s'ne
Fcessity the plea of tyrants only-an,
unworthy of all who lay claim to the It'll
n of good citizen. Hence tits that the peo
! pie have lost all confidence in our publi
men and are daily, hourly, demanding
7 change-all are regarded as mere juggler
the honest and patriotic, if there be an
scuh, as we'll as the cunning and profit
2 gate. a g 6ssssr ..,asf iea
+ What, ask, but this, has. bowed dow
1.-The many, high-toned, chiyalrous spirit Q
. the descendants of those brave sires VIII
: caused these free Stages to rise as if b,
! magic from their semi barbarous condition
: as colonies--dependent provinces tn
highest condition known to civilization
9 aud what but this has converted our one
g proud and highltoned citizens into base
!. fawning sychophants and fatterers2 ea +"
Z Under what cause, has bthe proud an,
3 digni6ed descendants of the conquerors o
!, the Old Word sunk down to that low an,
: seryile debasement which always precedes
and warns of the decay of Republies2
: W hat but that mighty tycause-the powe
: which one man is exercising over tn
5 fortunes and substance, the honor and tn
g standing OF those in Office him, or who ar
: Iaspirats foroplace and positions2 Man j
. naturally proud and independent; and
q he loosesi these noble qualities. in tn
progress of civilization, it is because, b.
: the concentration oil power hewho control
the Government becomes dei6edin the eye
p. ~ tb oso bo live or ovpact To. live hv hi