The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-23
THOMAS JEFFERsoN's opIS1oN.


Mr.. Jefferson sustained General Wilkin.
son for suspending the ha5eas corpus in
New Orleans on the occasion of certain
military arrests of persons who were sus.
Pected OF completely in Burr's .expedition ;
thus justifying the setting up of military
authority over the jurisdiction of the courts
in times Of public danger. As late as the
Sd OF February, 1907, in letter to Gov.
ernor Claiborne respecting Burr's conspira.
cy, he wrote
"On great occasions every good officer
must be ready TO risk himself in going be-
} yond the strict line OF law, when q public
preservation requires it. His motives will
be al justification, as far as there is any JUS
tification, as far as there is any discretion in
|, his ultra legal proceedings. and no indul-
gence Of private feelings"
l call the attention of senators to this Lam
guage, and TO the time and circumstances
under which j. was used That was not
rebellion of one third Of the entire republic
against its government. The straits Of the
Union were not then 50 desperate On that
occasion mere handful of men. starting on
a distant expedition, were arrested and
brought to trial. Now the conspiracy is
more extended, the interests at stake are
more vital. and the emergency more impe-
rious. In letter to General W ilkinson, Of
the same date, he says:
Your sending here Swartwout and Boil
man, and adding to them Burr. Bleunerhas-
set. and Tyler, should they fall into your
hands. will be supported by the public
opinion"
There is another passage in this letter
which l may be justified in reading in this
connection It's appropriateness will be
felt
The Fed. and the little band of Quids.
in opposition, will try to make .omething of
the infrngements Of liberty by the military
arrest and deportation of citizens but if it
does not go beyond such offenders as
Swartwout, Bollmau, Burr. Blennerhasset,
Tyler. &c, they will be supported by the
public appreciation"
May | not Mr. President slightly alter
the language of Jefferson of that day, and
by paraphrase adapt it to the present, and
say that those who think more of party than
OF country, whe seek to make political cap
ital out Of every act of the government. may
try TO make something OF the political ar
rests that have been made. but if it does
not go hey ond such offenders as Governor
Moorehead, Buckner, Wallis. and their
compeers. they will be supported by the
public appreciation
DIsLoYAL oPPPosIrIoN.
Men may innocently differ in their opin.
ions as to what are the best means to restore
peace to disordered land, but mischevous
demagogues have stealthily obtruded on the
fears have been aroused, pref.
udiccs have been simulated, the minds Of
many misled, ard, emboldeLed by impunity,
q combination of such agencies has brought /
party machinery to accomplish its ruinous |
work. The timid have been terrified by |
highly colored pictures OF the iesolation to
'nsue from prolonged war moneyed men.
sensitive by great interests, have I
conjured to their minds eye a gigantic
of public debt and rapidly de-
creasiDg resources; the perturbation of the
less enlightened is generated by the phan-
tasm of disturbed order of things. social
and political equality of the races, and the
ruin which is to result from an utter fail |
ure to suppress the insurrection. Twelve /
months ago fourteen men, in the name Of
less than one-iourth of the dem
ocrats in both Houses of Congress, issued |
their call for the organization of party in
this the hour OF our trial and to this NAV
be traced the cause OF the present division
IN the North, the bitter partisan controver-
sizes, the indulgence Of private feelings, op- |
position TO the draft, the discoura cement OF /
the arraying of party against !
party /; these are the legitimate fruits of such !
at such time.
The senator here quoted the advice and /
warnings OF Mr.. Douglas, and added
1t requires no gift of prophecy nor the /
wisdom OF the statesman to discover that in !
times like these, if there be party organiza- I
lions. one, whatever they may say, being
for the country, the other must be against 1
t.
rHE FALLAcY OF THE OPPOSITION EXPOSED.
Men boast their loy atty to the constitution
md laws, but deny that they owe allegiance
o any man. Granted that allegiance is
iue TO the government under which We
i've, but is there nothing due to the agent
wbo is the representative of the unity,
power and strength of the government is
oy atty 10 the government reconcilable with <
hostility 10 the minister who administers the
government, The senator from Kentucky
Mr.. Powell prociaims his loyalty TO the
constitution and the laws. but he laments
he war. and is opposed to coercion. because
,e believes the war will result in the de- IL
'truction of both sections of the country.
md he would yield them license ia their
Crime In response to their supplication let
Us alone. They have destroyed our forts.
captured our minis. seized upon public
property, violated the constitution and the
avs IN one-third of the rerublic. bidden
'nee 10 'hose In authority, and kindly
and graciously we are to ..let them aI,ne"
Tor we are opposed to coercion And this
lmmunity tor crime which imperils ,bs ma.
tionai existence is reconcilable with loyaltvl i
lt may be satisfactory to the senator FROM,
Kentucky, bat II is not reconcilable with IN.
teaehings OF the school in which imbbaa
my democracy. Mr.. President, wha, would h
you think. what would be thought by the
SENATE, II man were ushered into your
presence who. singlng ont an Individual \
should say - last night that man went to NV
house. set fire to my dwelling. bnrnt up nv
wife and children and should add the
I'D ~,,A l.,