Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-08-12
EBENSBURG, PA. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST II, 1863.

Vallandigham, to discuss public affairs in
Ohio; applause y aye, even here, the
temporary agents of the sovereign people,
the transitory administrators of the Gov
ernment, tell US that in time of war the
mere arbitrary will of the President takes
the place of the Constitution, and the
President himself announces to us that it
is reasonable to speak or write otherwise
than as he may prescribe nay that it is
reasonable even TO be silent, though we
be struck dumb by the shock of the ca
lamities with which evil counsels, in
competency and corruptionv have over
whelmed our country! Applause.
will not say this without referring to the
authority upon which l rely. In his let
ter of June y, 1868, addressed to Eras-
tus Corning, and other citizens of the
State of New York, the President makes
use Of the following extraordinary Ian
guage:
'Indeed, arrests by due process of
courts, and arrests in cases Of rebellion,
do not proceed altogether upon the same
basis. The former is directed at the
small percentage ordinary and continuous
perpetration of crime, while the latter is
directed against the Government, which,
at most, will succeed or fail in no great
length of time. In the latter case, ar
arrests are made, not so much for what
has been done, as for what probably
would be done. Applause. The latter is
more for the preventive and the less for
the vindictivc than the former. In such
cases the purposes of men are more easily
understood than in cases of ordinary
crime. daughter If not hindered, he
is shure to help the enemy; much more
if he talks mbiguously-talksf for his
country with 'buts' and ifs and
lands.
1t is seen by this letter, at least, thai
there is no longer doubt as to where tht
res possibility for those unconstitutiona
acts of the last two years, perpetrated 10y
subordinate officers OF the Federal Gov
: ernment, both civil and military, properly
attaches but who, | ask, has CLOTHED
the President with power to dictate t.
| any one of US when we must or when w,
r may speak, or to be silent upon any sub
ject, and especially in relation to the con
+ right does he presume to prescribe a for
mula of language for your lips or mine
t 1t seems incredible, and even with thi
t authenticated paper before us is amazin
= that any such sentiment should hav
: found utterance from the elected IT
d preventative of a free Government lik
II that of the United States. My friends
; let those obey such behests who will
n you and | have been nurtured here anon
s the granite hills and under the clear skio
N of New Hampshire, into no such servi
e temperament Applause True it Ii
e that any of you, that l myself may
l, the next victim of unconstitutional, arb
l. trary, irresponsible power. But w
e nevertheless, are free men, and we resol'
', ed to live, or if it must be, to die sucl
Is Falter who may, we will never cease
is hold up on high the Constitution of Il
OF Union though torn to shreds by the sacr
20 lisious hands of its enemies. Applause
A. How strikingly significant, how suggesti'
at to us, on this occasion, is the contempt
is ton of that august spectacle of the 7
MS cent Convention at indianapolis, of Sc
u ty-five thousand citizens calmly al
O. bravely participating in the discussion
O. the great principles underlying their S
wv cred rights as freemen-neither aw
N, by cannon frowning upon their ibertic
ITS nor provoked by threats into retaiato
en- violence. l would say TO you, fellowci
ur zens, emulate that exhibition of wisdC
W, and patriotism. BE patient, but resolu
it Yield nothing of your rights but bt
in and forbear. Let your action show
ler the world that, with courage to confr'
of despotism, you have also discretion
ar avoid inconsiderate action in resisting
ties advances. George Washington and San
ate Adams, Mathew Thornton and Char
its Carroll, George Reed and Roger Sh
ole man, Philip Livingston and Will
ner Hooper, Benjamin Franklin and Edw
Ill !; Rutledge, George Walton and Rich
oar Stockton, with their associates of all
us- thirteen then independent severe
are States, stood eighty seven years ago
ON day, in that simple but most memors
ties, room, where the Declaration was sigr
ton like the people of the States whom t
pie, represented, with the solemn grandue
ON high resolve, If apparently weak, yet '
this their armor on and their hearts str
free for the contest of civil liberty. If
age, cannot be joyous and exultant on this
n as niversary of that day, it may do us {
ions to remember that JOY and exultation v
! is far from the hearts of the brave men
like sanctioned the Declaration of Inde
, to dence, and then fought seven year
OF, maintain it. No! they are not jo
ech, but determined. They felt the ms