Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-03-20

Position of ArChb blsh-
Op Hughes ON the Washington

uSurp10kOns.
1t is we'll known that Archbis hop Hughes
Of New York, has been not only . friend of
war and the Administration, but in Mr.. Lin
coins employ from the first He was sent
with Bishop Mcllvaine, of Ohio, and Thurlow
Weed, ON mission to Europe, by Mr.. Lin
coin, and up to the passage Of the recent ex-
traordinary acts Of Congress, placed among
the most ardent friends of the powers
that be-
The Archbishop, however, like great
many others, was a friend OF the Government
under constitutional limits and guarantees, an
not for military aud monied despotism, worse
than ever CALLED the people of down-trodden
Europe.
In the Metropolitan Record Of last week,
we are informed through the N. Y. Express,
Bishop Hughes has an article four columns
in length, protesting in strong and open
language against the recent acts Of Congress,
converting this Government into military
despotism,
Speaking of the Conscript Law, he says:
"All the citizens of New York liable to
military duty under this law can be called
upon by the President whenever he shall
deem it necessary, and on the efusal Of any
one of these to obey the call, he shall he
deemed deserter, be arrested by the Provost
Marshal, and sent to the nearest military post
for court martial Ifthis is not the establish.
ment of military despotism, then we should
like to know the true meaning Of the words
We have no hesitation whatever in saying that
this law is unconstitutional, and, Of course,
not binding upon any citizens Of the United
State, and since the miscalled National Leg
islature has SO far exceeded its powers, the
people must, under such circumstances, look
/ for protection to the only authorities that can
grant it, the Governors of their respective
State. We owe allegiance as citizens of the
State of New York, to the Constitution Of
that and in the exercise OF his lawful author
| ity we are solemnly bound by that obligation
to sustain and support its Chief Magistrate,
whom that Constitution declares is the Com
mander.n-Chef Of the military and naval
forces of the State. If allegiance belongs
to that regularly constituted power which, in
the general community, affords protection to
| life and property, then we say our loyalty is
pre- eminently due to the State Government
| As TO the Constitution Of the United States,
that instrument no longer affords protection
to its citizens, and the only barrier which now
Iinterposes between the liberties of the people
and the consolidating power of centralized
despotsm at Washington is the sovereignty
of the State.
"Let not the willing tools of the recently
initiaie ed tyranny in this country imagine that
the Press is to be deferred by the threats con-
tanned in this unconstitutional law against all
who interfere with its operation We have
TOO much faith in the Executive OF the EN-
pre- State TO suppose that he will ever allow
/ an administration which is sapping the very
foundations of constitutional freedom to seize
upon his fellow citizens as the Russian auto
crat has attempted to do with the ill-iated vic
tins of his most 6endsh rule in Poland. The
moment such an assault is made upon cit
zens' rights the last links that bind the States
together will be, rent asunder like so many
cobwebs The administration will then find
when it is too late, that it is the States which
constitute the Republic, and that they are
soyereign, that il is the powers which they
= have delegated that make mp what is called
9 the general government, they are the pillart
which support a grand DOME and that th,
moment their support is Withdrawn, that par
? of the edi6ce must fall to the ground
I'VE know there are men in our midst, 70
we have lately had disgraceiul evidence of tn
$ fact, who would aid the newly constituted
a tyranny at Washington in riVeting its fetter
\ upon the people. Such men assume to b.
the mouth pieces of the conservative masses
e but they will hnd, when too late that th
= trickery OF the demagogue to which they hay
resorted will not save them from the judgmen
0 of an incensed and outraged people. Sue
/; men may imagine that the liberty Of natio
:, is thing of triAing value but as long as th
great heart of the people is right, their il
b trigues in the interests Of American antocrae
o will prove a wretched failure, These are th
? enemies against which the great statesmen c
'' the Republic have warned us again and again
it is they who are ready to assist in undoin
; the work Of the patriots Of the Revolution b
Ignoring the Constitution, and handing owe
II the rights Of the people to a military dictate
Is 10 put under bolt and bar Such men ca
see no harm in the suspension Of the ha5ed
corpus, in the suppression OF the liberty {
n the press, in the overthrow of State soye
j. eighty, in the arbitrary arrest and incarcer'
ton in government dungeons Of loyal citizen
e in proclamations placing loyal and sovereig
% States under martial law, and in investing th
. soealed President Of the United States wit
=" supreme power above all law, over the pc
sonal liberty Of the citizen. Such things !
N their estimation are mere bagetelle IN
liberty for which the infant Republic waged
. seven years war against Great Britain e
Il be bartered away, and for whatf A mllilaI
n despotism-not even such a despoiism as the
have in some parts OF Europe-but a depo
. ism directed by men who have proved then
n selves weak in everything else but the will