M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-03-05

where war does lot exist, to martial
law--l would like him to point it ont
to me here. Iii cannot be done, |
am justified in the assertion that these
Proclamations aud orders are VIC
lation OF "tbe supreme law Of the
land" BY which the President has
sworn to abide.
IL is perhaps proper that should
say in the commencement Of the argu.
ment, that am not here to oppose
Mr.. Lincoln as the President OF the
United States. In this very city, when
the candidate of the Republican party
for Lieutenant Governor in the last
fall election, and those with whom he
acted, denied the power of the general
Government to cocrce a State, took
the opposite position, and also insisted
that Mr.. Lincoln, having been consti
tutionally elected, should be inaugu.
rated at all hazards. | went further,
aud declared after the inauguration OF
the President, that would not oppose
any act OF hia Administration having
TOR its object to suppress the rebellion,
the restoration of tue Union and the
supremacy OF the Constitution--that
was willing to take him for my poll
tical Pope, and would not question
his acts so long as he took for his
guide the Constitution he had sworn
to obey and uphold. But in Septem.
Der last saw that the policy Of the
Government was changed, by the
proclamations aud orders then issued,
and | felt it to be my duty, and the
duty OF every man who loves his
country and its free institutions, to
oppose any further progress in the
direction then taken. | thought then
that it was departure from the line
of the Constitution. ! believe now
that it was and | ain prepared to
chow tonight that the Emancipation
Proclamation, and those that sue,
ceedeI it, with the orders based on
them, are "usurpation, tJ ranny and
revolution" [Oheers and loud ap.
plause
What is revolution If changing
the whole system of government
disregarding the Judiclary--annihil.
ating the Legislative and placing the
military superior to the civil power
be not revolution, let it be named. |
know that ordinarily we associate with
revolution, revolt, violence and blood
shed but these are not essential
Violence and blood shed are not nee.
essary to revolution. When the
people rise and depOse their rulers or
suddenly and iorcibly change their
form OF government, that is indeed
revolution, and generally ref0,m. But
when the rulers assume powers rot
conterred--take from the people their
heritage, destroy their ancient fran,
chise, and from exercising Limited,
claim and exercise absolute power
that, too, is revolution and il sub.
mitted to without resistance, is an
evidence, rot Unpopular advancement
but OF degeneracy. Applause
need but refer, in illustration, to
a single instance in history, within
the recollection Of all. Napoleon Ill,
was elected member of the National
Assembly, after years Of exile, as a
result Of the revolution of'!S49. In
December Of that wear, a President
was TO he elected for the new Republic.
There were numerous candidates, and
Napoleon was successful over all.
When he entered upon the office, he
took an oath that he would maintain
and uphold the Democratic Republic.
What ther9 The Legislative Assem-.
bly, held its sessions, and the govern
ment OF the Republic was seemingly
faithfully administered, until the Hresi
dent was ready for his coup detat.
When that time arrived, what was his
first act 2 A Proclamation for "the
arrest Of AL dangerous persons" This
was the fret step toward despotism.
He followed it by taking possession
of the Legislative Assembly, which he
accomplished by having rirst got pos.
session of the military. What next ?
He issued proclamation for the
election, by the people, Of "respon-
sible Chiei," and the people of France
were made to perform the farce Of
electing him Emperor, by passing to
the ballot. box through the bayonets of
bis soldiers. The people did not re-
sist, because they bad not got the
power yet this was not the less
change Of government and revolu.
tion Unhappily, instances are but
too numerous in history of such revo.
lutions, while, although they do not
20 backwards, show that power has
advanced, and that the people have
re!rograded. Loud applause.
Our Government took the first step
in this direction when, in 1851, by
| Al II o..