The Placer herald., 1863-07-18
NUMBER 46.
Is this Treason.

Mr. Vallandigham is now an exile from
his country, driven hence by faithless aud
despotic Administration. The alleged cause
of his Punishment is "treason." The real
cause is, because he had the boldness and
independence to denounce the arbitrary and
and unconstitutional measures Of the rsck.
less party now in power The men who
scanction this gross outrage upon the person.
al rights of the citizen, know we'll that this
charge Of disloyalty against Mr.. vallandie.
ham is utterly false. They also know that
hundreds Of their own confederates have
uttered sentiments in direct opposition to a
restoration of the Union as it was and the
Constitution rs it is. The Jacobin leaders
have sneered at the Union, trampled upon
the Constitution, and shrieked for freedom of
the negro even "in the midst of its ruins"
And yet they are permitted to 90 unpunish.
ed. The utmost license of speech and of the
pen is accorded to them. Instead of BEING
condemned, they are appauded and tho
architects OF ruin are encouraged in their
word Of desoation while men, whose only
thoughts are in favor OF the sacred compact
which our fathers made. Are seized at
midnight by military squad; and, after an
illegal trial are either sent to military prison
or banlshed beyond the Union lines.
The following are the closeing portions Of
speech delivered in the late Congress bv
Mr. Valaudigham, which fairly state his
position before his country:
1--WE seek no revolution. except brouoh
the ballot box The conflict to which We
challenge you to is not of arms, but of argu.
ment. DO you believe in the intelligence Of
the people! DO you admit their capacity
for self government Have they not intel'i.
gence enough to understand the right, and
virtue enough to pursue i,a Come, then.
meet us through the press and with free
speech, and before the assemblage of the
people, and we will argue the question as we
and our fathers have done from the begin.
ing of the Government. Are we right or
you right we wrong oryou wrong3 And by
the judgment of the people we will, one
and all abide.
vi have spoken as though the Cons:itu.
ton survived, and was still the supreme law
OF the land. But if, indeed, there be no
Constitution and longer limiting and re.
strain'ng the men in power, then there 10
none binding upon the States of the people.
God forbid. We have have a Constitution
yet, and laws yet. To them appeal Give
us our rights, give us known and fixed laws:
give us the judiciary; arrest us only upon
due process of law; give us presentment or
indictment by grand jurios, speedy and pub
llc trial jurles; and at home; tell us the ma.
ture and cause of the accusations; confront Us
with witnesses, allow us witnesses in our be,
half, and the assistance of counsel for our
our defence, secure Us in our persons, our
homes, our papers and our effects, leave 10
arms, not for resistance to law or against
rightfu authority, but to defend ourselves
from outrage and violence, give us free speech,
free press; the right peaceabIy to assemble;
and above ALL free and undisturbed elections
BY ballot. Take our sons, take our money
our property, take all else, and we will wait
little, till at the time and in the manner
appointed by Constitution and law we will
eject you from the trusts you have abused:
and the seats of power you have dishonored,
and Others aud better men shall reign in your
stead"
Is there any "treason" in these sen.mentsi
Is there any opposition expressed in this
extract to tho Union. the Constitution, and
the law?