Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-25
from tur LOusfIHt UtnocTat.I
The Suppression Of the Frankfort
EnnNcnrrGn

We cannot but regret the suppression of the
attempted convention at Frank fort. Our readers
know that we have DO sympathy With their sup
posed principles. having promptly warned the
public OF their probable intentions but this act of
military authority Is fragrant violation Of the
right OF the citizens 10 peacetbly assemble Col
lbett seems 10 have projected unon the as
sumption that there were rebel spies III The con
venton, and io have justified his procedure upon
that ground. II the charge true. it WAS the
duty OF C,l Gilbert TO arrest and try the
pected parties. His course IN breaking up the
convention can have no Justification
The Legislature was ia session Ii this assem-
bly, vt, dam erOus 70 the people Of the State or
the Union. resolution could have been promptly
passed Iequiring them to disperse. The Governor
was At hand Ii necessary, his authority could
have been exercied. The magistrates. al Of
known loyalty, we're within immediate call. 1t
This was reasonable anu dsOrierly assembly il
IN their power and IL wa- their duty To order
that BODY to dispense. There was no emergeuc,
calling o. the extraordinary authority OF the
military. aud Col Gilbert has just gone tar
enough TO show consciousness that il WAS "A
usnrpailon, and not tar enough to prove that it
was necessitnted by public danger
Colonel Gilbert refers to the repudaton of the
principles OF that party by tie Democratic press
ct the State. and the refusal OF the Legislature TO
allow them the use of the House, as Il condemua
ton. IL is true the press and Legislature believe
their principles To De dangerous. but they never
proposed to violate law themselves 1t GER
tanly must have astonished both of these to learn
that their opinions were used TO justify the viola
ton of one OF the most essential rights of civil
liberty.
1t WAS the II teutiou OF the press to resist the
course of thi. party b, the open and legtim e
exercise of argument and persuasion. They did
not ask, and did not wish, the dangerous inter
position OF this authority. Colonel Glbett. by
his course, has changed the issue euttely, aud
placed these men IN the attitude Of sufferers Tor
the attempted exercise ui an undoubted right Iii
right IN the support OF which ever, tree citizen is
Interested The pue-tun is nulotp,r whether a
patty that demands the immediate recognition ct
the Independence ut the Southern COntlpmrt
shall uievnii 10 the State. but Vile her sutli aud
every nilitatt officer IN The State had tight b.
brake up public assemblies The question IL.
wheihpf these metz are entitled ~ tho PROJECTION
~ the declaration vi tights ~ tlt. state tnhstith
tiun The question II whether Ne lh,p ahN
State Government ~ allzNhethet the ei,h hw
is superior a. the ntirtzNhpihpi cut litps AMI
lof uaes ate el a the wiil of mhef military
aulhutiiics ~ hu'
" tbs wllpt Il ~ prevail 40 afe ne lunee a
f.p people nnaei he iaulpeti,n 1T the Laws, bni
military nespn,ism W. have not unp, hni
macy masters Every district Il uutplnpi ht
nelN hrani Nho u - once The Judge aud eve
aninner ~ hs uWn aiips Colonel GILBERT
motives nia, have nepn geod, hul 40 have nelh
lnH ~ ,lu with his mulhes lie lmd ~ mnle 80
thnriif 90 in ihs 40 than hs weud have ~ inaf,h
nlu the State Capitol and dlslerse The leglsa
TUE "a Tho paint ~ tho hayphel, aud HE pnulse is
- Sr'nnie, aud indeipnsbe vieleiipn ~ - lisht
lhal lles W lhp ttli foundation NJ lepAhlipAn
iieeinm
u this u the manner u which W. 40 "a he gov
arned, ouF eeelluus ara mere llrpe II mill
Mry officer IL Ca he Judge at ihe Intentions al
every public meeting, Wh the nuNrl a. dispense,
the only ehulee The people can have Is thnt at
accepting whatever he maA decree It's FOLLY Co
discuss whether We shall accept the emancipation
sehene oi Lincoln - not We bad az well write
ana talk about the evil goNeinMehto the inhah
itauls oi The moan We aee ,uliugatei mi
crushed; our Legislature Is an empty. saporlng
debating society; our courts IRE mere mustang
courts, without the tun that enlhens them II Is
a worSe condition than Ia he under an unlimif ed
monarchy The ruler OF kingdom will iui his
interest IN that OF his people Such authority a.
Go onel Gilbert has exercised has nn such restraint
The prusperil, oi the people ol this State Is moth
ing 10 him dts oeedlence To the will OF MS su.
pcrior j. his only interest. The military officers
are in the position of the Persin Sttrapor Roman
lftltti NtN NAV lNfiHtiLrs tlpic--, anu EN-
rich themselves at the xpese OF the PROVINCE.
a. their predecessors Ind, with the exception that
there Is tribunal at Rome 10 make them
disgorse. IL isa policy fatal 10 freedom. fatal TO
the uniun
We are for no terms with Rebels but we are
opposed 20 following their example in evil
A rmed Rebels must be resisted with arms: but
We must not throw away the sacred rights which
our fathers - inr44y Won. IL This Convention
had been allowed 10 proceed. We expected 70 oa-
pose Their candidate, and resist their policy. We
never had any doubt that they would be repudi.
afed by he people. The contest ~ns already de
cided beforehand. and this act had mo- even ne
ce>>iiv 10 Justify II
We hope ,his i the lat time we shall ever
have 10 record act OF military usurpaiion in
this State We hope that this policy suoversive
OF the Interests of the State and the Union. will
receive prOmp' condemnation ut the hands OF the
people and the authorities We nope that Col.
+ Gilpers and o:her officers will confne themselves
strictly 10 me exercise OF their duties. and not
incur the impuiauon that they are more danger
To the r. .hts and Liberties OF their people
than 70 the armed enemy. Mistaken zeal. mis-
taken loyalty, may be as dangerous a rebellion
itself: and reople who submit a uniform de
struction Of the laws which I've NJ the for ~ lton
OF civil liberty. are ruined and the evil Fills with
eeual force upot, the Degraded civilian and tue
denoraIlzei soldier