Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-09-09

til the present time, how would he be
amazed at the position Of parties upon
awakening. In a country where, when he
closed his eyes. the principles Of liberty
were apparently firmly established, the
great rights repeatedly won by his race
through hard lighting, affirmed and re-af-
6rmed in the Constitution and laws, he
would find party arrayed against those
principles, whose leaders had violated
those rights over and over again, and who
laid claim to the privilege of violating
them whenever they should deem it expe-
dient so to do. That the Constitution is
of no binding force during war, even upon
those who have taken the most solemn
oaths to be governed by it; that the laws
can at any time be set aside by the execu-
tive; that the will Of the Governor OF the
State, or of the President, is alone the
guide for the administration of the Gov
ernment; that the press may be muzzled
and public speakers silenced whenever
these officers please; that arrests may be
made and punishments inflicted without
due process of law; that the military may
be made at any time superior to the civil
authority, even where no war is carried on
and where no foe exists, these are the doc
trines maintained by one Of the great par
ties presenting themselves to the people
for their countenance and support.
Men of Ohio, do you comprehend the
issue and understand its importance? We
ask the question because. even if one has
not slept during the last two years and a
half, he finds it difficult to realize, and can
not without reflection, that such principles
are avowed, that they dare be avowed in
free America. Yet it is so. Mr. BRoUGH
and Mr.. ANDERSON have both, on the
stump and in print, committed themselves
to these doctrines; and Mr.. LINCOLN is
{ guilty upon every count of our indictment
and has gone further than that, since he
has announced that even if man "keeE
silence" it justi6es his punishment Was
ever such ''plattorm" presented for thc
Judgment of free people? Were eve
doctrines so moAstrous and so infamous
propounded by party?
First of all, we say to our brothe
i, Democrats, let no one draw you ava,
, from the real questions at issue in the com
ing election. They will tell you that "fre
speech" is not now abolished; you can an
swer in the words of the glorious GEoRG
\ E. PUGH-"Nol because we took it!'' tn
; people proved a.little too restive under til
restraint. They may say that the militar
n power is not now exercised over you; yo
can respond that it is every day attempte
/ that in this city within few days pa
!, soldiers have arrested and tried to hol
: citizens, having not shadowsso author
20 ty; and il this docs not suffice, you ms
10 point to Kentucky and ask in return wi
10 martial law was proclaimed there ON Il
tv eve of an election when less excuse exis
m ed for it than ever before. If it is sa
as that the press is now free and that illeg
he arrests are no longer made, tell them tn
ba you have looked in vain for any pub
ia denunciation OF oppressive and illegal at
be by the party or its leaders; that on
. contrary they justify and sustain all t
rv outrages which have been committed; a
if this is not enough, tell them you ref
,er to be satisfied while upon foreign Sc
i near by, there is living example of Ia
W. over-iidden, of rights outraged, of all
ali guarantees for civil liberty set at defiance
rs an exile from his country because he ex
81. .,- cised fearlessly those privileges which hf
raj ever been considered her peculiar pr
or and brightest ornament
of But especially let no questions in reg'
or to the war lead you away from the t
na ,ne character of the contest; the war is
ace mighty question; its effects are felt
tai every member of society and extend III
md nd interests which are almost the dearest
dis have. We say'almost," advisedly; thil
ace in this world are important and valua
ipil relatively; mans houses and goods
the very dear to him, yet they become CHI
,u, ,n5 as dirt when compared with the value
- L.. re-. m LII Mn, ~, ell md rr;,,o