Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-06-25
Resolutions adopted at the meeting held IN, A.
bang, N. z, on the 18th day Of 1fdy. 1863.

Resolutions adopted at the meeting held IN, A.
bang, N. F., on the 18th day of lfdy, 1868.
Resol0ed, That the democrats of New York point
TO their uniform course of action during the two
wears of civil through which We have passed.
to the alacrity which they have evinced in filing
the ranks of the army, to their contributions and
sacrifices as the evidence of their patriotism and
devotion to the cause of our imperilled country
Never ia the history of civil wars has government
been sustained with such ample resources of me ans
and men as the people have voluntarily placed in
the hands OF this administration.
Resolped, That, democrats, We are de termined
to main tain this patriotic attitude and, despite Of
adverse and dsheartening circumstances, to de-
vote all our energies to sustain the cause OF the
Union, to secure peace through victory, and to
bring back the restoration OF all the States under
the safeg yards of the Constitution. -.
ReSotged, That while we will not consent to be
misapprehenoed upon these points, are deter.
mined not to be misunderstood in regard to others
not less essential. We demand that the Admins
tration shall be true to the Constitution; shall
cognize and main tain the rights OF the States and
liberties of the citizen; shall everywhere, out
side of the lines of necessary military occupation
and the OF insulrection, exert all powers
to maintain the supremacy of the civil over mill
tary law.
heSolpe d, That, in view of these principles, we
denounce the recent assumption OF a military COM
uauder to seize and try citizen of Ohio, Clement
L. Vallandigham, for no other reason than words
addressed to public nesting, in criticism of the
course of the administration, and in condemn alton
of the military orGers OF that general.
RESOLVED, That this assumption OF power by q
mi itary tribunal if successfully asserted not only
abrogates the rights OF the people to assemble and
discuss the affairs of the government, the liberty
speech and of the press, the right of trial by jury,
the law OF evidence, and the privilege OF ha6eaS
corpus, but it strikes fatal blow at the supremacy
of law, and the authority OF the State and federal
constitutions. . ~
ReSoJved, That the Constitution of the United
States-the supreme law of the land-has detin ed
the crime of treason against the United States to
consist s'only in leVying war against them adj
herring to their enemies, giving them aid and com.
fort;'' and has provided that "no person shall be
convicted of treason, unless on the testimony OF
two witnesses TO the same overt act, COMES.
sion in open court" and it further provides that
s'no person shall be held to answer capital OF
Otherwise infamous crime, unless on presentment
or Indictment of grand jury, except in cases
arising in the land and naval forces, or in the mi
itia, when in actual service in time of or pub.
lie DANGER" and further, that SIN ali criminal
the accused shall enjoy the rig hit
speedy and public trial by impartial jury of the
State AMI district wherein the crime was COM
mitted.
ResolUed. That these safeguards of the rights OF
the citizen against the pretensions of arbitrary
power Were intended more especially for his protec
ton in times of civil commotion. They were
cured substantially the English people after
years of protracted civil war, and were adopted in
TO our Constitution the close of the revolution
They have stood the test of seyenty-six years OF
trial, under our republican So stem, under cir
stances which show that, while they constitute the
foundation of all tree government, they the
elements of the enduring stability OF the republic
ReSOiged, That, in adopting the language OF
Daniel. ebster declare, 60 1t is the ancient and
undoubted prerogatiye of this people to canvass
public measures and the merits of public men. -
1t is " home bred right freside privilege. 1t
has been enjoyed in every house, cottage and cab.
in in the nation. 1t is as undoubted as the right
of breathing the air or walking on the earth. Be-
longing private life right, it belongs to pub.
lie life duty, and it is the last duty which those
whe represen taiVes We are shall find to aban-
don. Aiming at all times to be courteous and tenn
perate in its use, except when the right itself is
treme boundary of eur own rig hit, and bid defiance
to any arm that would move from our ground.
" This high constitutional privilege we shall de-
fend and exercise in all places-in time of peace
in time of war, and at all times. Living, we shall
assert it, and shout we leave no other inheritance
to children, by the blessing of God will leave
them the nh ertance of free principles and the ex-
ample of manly, independent, and constitutional
defence of them.'' .-F
Resolved, That in the election of Governor Sew
mour, the people of this State, by emphatic
majority, declared their condemnation of the sys-
tenn of arbitrary arrests and their determination to
stand by the Constitution. That the revival OF
this lawlesS system can have but result to di-
vide and distract the north, and destroy it's conf
dence in the purposes of the administration. That
deprecate it element OF confusion at
home, of weakness to our armies in the field, and
as calculated to lower the estimate of American
character and magnify the apparent peril of our
cause abroad. And that, regarding the blow struck
at citizen of Ohio as aimed at the rights of every
citizen of the north, we denounce it against the
spirit of our laws and Constitution, and most
earnestly call upon the President Of the Uuited
States reserve the action of the military tribu-
nal which has passed a 's cruel and unusual pun
ishment" upon the party arrested, prohibited in
terms by the Constitution, and to restore him to
the liberty of which he has been deprived.
Resolved, That the president, vice-presidents,
and secretaries of this meeting be requested to
transmit copy of these resolutions to his Excel,
lancy the President of the United States with the
surance of this meeting of their hearty and
nest desire to support the government in every
constitutional and lawful measure to suppress the
existing rebellion.