Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-05-23

Among the plausible absurdilies rife among
politicians ofequivocal loyalty in the persistent
application Of the msxims and usages Of peace
TO state OF war The Government Is sirug
Cling for life, not against political party, but
martial power; aud only by martial law Gao
Il be- saved from destruction. The matter has
70 be settled by force by deadly combat--not
BY discussion. or argumeDt-by bullets. not by
ballots.
In times of peace o free people can afford to
extend almost unlimited freedom to speech and
the press; and the ordinary operation OF law is
ssficisot to preserve the public safety; but
not 90 st time like this. A political oppo-
bent is one thing; an enemy in war is another
and each must be dealt with according to his
character The opposition Of the first may be
wholesome and salutsry, and no restraint ought
b be put upon bis freedom; but that OF the
ether is frsugbt With danger and national ruin;
and the Government vonld be false to its trust
chat would tolerate the exercise OF such free.
Com.
A propagandist Of disafection and seditioa
amosg his followers ia rs really and truly an
enemy as is the man who takes up arms to 6ght
OF his power and ibhuepcs he ssps its strength
By taking from it that wherson it rests-popu.
lar support; and the more perfect the freedom
sfs Government in times Of peace, the more
stringent ought to be the restraint put upes
osasonable atterancss in time Of war, especial
b war against domestic traitors. Such q
nan 90 Mr.. VALLASDIGHAH could do but little
aischief under despotic Government, because
popular opinion has but little force; but where
Che structure of Government gives force TO
psblie opinion, it is essent ial that that opinion
should be loyal. Nothing can be more absurd
than to claim the right to utter tresso nabe SEN
tinents--sentuents calculated to weaken the
Goversmeut and strengthen and encourage its
enemies-because the Consultation declares
that tb berty of speech and Of the press shall
be sacred; for that we're to make the Constitu-
ton accessory TO Its own destruction.
Equally absurd is the plea urged by copper
head politicians that they are supporters of the
Constitution and the Government, and only OPP
pOseO 10 VIC Ueu WnO COustHutS 'uo i'ipS, "N''
ing Govrrnmeut for the time being. This pl's
is all very well within the sphere of party poll
tics; but when such opposition leads men to
become the aiders and abetters OF those englg'
cd in armed rebellion, it is nothing more nor
tess than treason. True loyalty may not rs.
auire Q man to pledge himself 10 vote for
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, at the next Presidential
election or with the men who elected him in
1860; but TO resist him in his efforts to saw
the country or to do or say anything calculated
10 weaken him either morally or materially ii
those efforts, is treason, aud ought to be pun
fshed az such.
The siders Of rebellion meet arguments lik
Aese With hue and cry about the curtaimen
OF the liberties Of the people. 1t is only thos'
however, who wish to abuse their liberty, b,
taking sides with the enemies OF the country
who complain. There is not loyal man out
side OF the army who is not as perfectly free to-
day as he ever was. None but the disloya feel
the curb; and even they are tolerated to de-
gree that was never knswn under any other
government