The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-03-23

q wide difference between the exercise ol
this right and the disloysl opposition
which proceeds from sympathy with .
public enemy. The former supposes tina.
all parties are vel affected towards the
common Government, and differ only q
to the mode OF its administration. The
latter is based upon hostility to existing
institutions, and aims at their forcible
subversion. The idea that the Govern
ment 10 bound to await the development
Of a conspiracy until the actors shall have
perfected their plans and committed some
overt act necessary TO bring them with.
in the technical dehnition Of treason, Is,
to my mind, absurd, The object is not
punish meni but prevention That the
power is liable to abuse is true /; all dis-
cretionsry powers necessarily are so. To
decide against its existence because it is
capable of. excess would destroy all hu-
man government The best mode to
avoid liability 10 arrest is to be faithful.
No man who is truly and unequivocaliy
loyal has ever been in danger OF being
molested by the national government.
Still it is possible that arrests may be
Improperly and unadvisedly made and
while il, il my duty to cooperate with
the Genersl Government in the mainte-
nance OF its authority. | will Mt the same
time, to the extent Of my power, protect
peaceful and loyal .citisens, whatever
may be their political sentiments. While,
however, snch is my purpose in relation
to them, it is also my duty 10 take es4e
that the State of Delaware shall not be
made the refuge Of foreign traitors or do
mestic conspirators.
That there has been FROM the begin
ming of the rebellion considerable num-
bsr Of osr people ready 10 participate in
armed resistance to the lawful authorities,
whenever lair opportunity should oc-
cur, have no doubt. Sympathy with
the Southern States in insurrection is
sympathy with the. goyerthrow Of the Ma
tional Government, No .rlan can hear
with qualification Of reverse tloar arms
who is not at heart traitor.
My predecessor, IN 40 Official commu-
nication, expressed the opinion that 80
majority of our citissns, II not in all Of
our counties, at least in the two lower
ones, sympatbi1e with the South. -
Without admitting the correctness of his
estimate of numbers. do not doubt of
the existence Of wide spread diafection.
That there has been 10 outbreak here was
the re.ul. Of wan. Of opportunity. tits
the duty o. tho ~ErsssSsvs, not only Of
the United States, but Of this State TO
take care Chat no opportunity shall be NJ
forded. If, to secure the public peace
and prevent insurrection, it becomes nec-
essary to arrest any individual within the
State, whether he be citizen or nom
resident, will not only assent to the act,
but wil maintain it.
Invested by the Constitution with no
power of ve4o or review of the nction of
the Legislature, the Governor has gen
eral control over the operation. Of esimin-
al enactments, and such control / will ex.
ercise to its utmost extent to protect any
person acting under the authority Of the
Prcsidentof' tlfe United States, or any
citizen aiding such person in bringing 10
light any conspiracy, or in arresting any
one guilty of disloyal practices or trea-
sonable designs against the Government.
! shall issue my proclamation IN con
formity with these views, giving to the
paopie of the State of Delaware informa-
tion Of my intended action.
WILLIAM CANNON.