The Placer herald., 1863-01-03
A Bold and Spirited Speech from an Ohio
Democratic Congressman.

in Qualification meetings." new feature OF
politics, which have been very enthusiastic
and largely attended. The first meeting of
the kind was held at Hamilton in Mr.
ValIandiham's district Among the speakers
were Pendeton, Cox and Chiffon A. White.
all new y elected Congressman We append
some extracts from the speech of Mr.. White.
They will he found to contn some home
truths:
What is the condition Of this country at
this time? There is not white man in the
land but holds his right of enjoyment of
personal freedom and liberty, subject to the
will Of one man. You are to-day living un-
der despotism as absolute as that which
Is swayed by the Car of Russia over his
selfs aud slaves Men are daily seized. not
for The commission of any crime or oifense
defined, not for the violation of any law
prescribed ly any proclamation, decree, or
bill, Laughter, issued from the seat of pow
er at Washington, but for the VIC alton of
some secret otlense which has no existence.
save as found in the sheet iron soul of some
commander. Applause They do not
even prescribe in advance the otfense for
which they will arrest. A more deviIish
invention for the overthrow and subiu alton
of free people, never was asserted by the
worst despoi, at any age Of the world. App
plause. When men are thus seized under
what is called military authority in Govern
ment-vhen they are daily seized for the
commission Of no crime no oflense defined
or established 10y statue, decree, or procama-
ton, 1t is time for the people to complain.
Applause.
The writ Of habeas corpus, the great writ
of right, which is a part and parcel of the
birthright OF every American citizen, as it
has been for every EngIishmen for more
than eight hundred years-the only process
of law whereby the legality or iIlegaIty or
the detention OF a person accused of crime
may be inquired into-that writ is unconst'
tutionally suspended in tie exercise of an
act Of usurped power [appIause, and the
only way citizen, when thus apprehended
and arrested, may see the light of liberty
and freedom is beneath the shallow of soil
diers or over the points of million gleaml
inc bayonets. That is the end of his liber,
ty, when he is incarcerated It would be
mercy to ills people, would some one in au
thonjy make known TO us what are crimes
aud hat are offences in this country.
b ave heard Of an ancient tyrant who was
in the habit Of writing his DEGREES, in letters
so fine and hanging them on columns so
high that the peo lie could not read them,
that he might eusnare them into the viola
ton OF his commands.
The Administr ton has been less nerciful
to the people than that ancient tyrant.-
Cries of that's So" The citizen arrested
by this Administration is not even permitted
to produce witnesses to disprove the facts
which are asserted in the order for his arrest
but, is, under the denomination Of military
authority, hurried off into the scene of the
Bastiles established by the Administration of
the people and the overthrow of their rights
We have as much right to speak in vindi
cation Of human right and human liberty as
these men have to advocate their overthrow
and destruction in this country. Applause
Thank God, the reign of free speech and
free men has again begun in Ohio. Cheers
We intend to exercise these rights. We in
tend TO maintain and defend it by a resort
to the legal tribunals Of the land, whose
powers have been overthrown; if we cam
not do it by the Legislature of the country
If they are to be put aside-if the Consti
tutions Of the States, and the Constitution
of the United States, the laws of the States
and the laws of the United States, made for
the purpose guaranteeing and securing the
citizen in the enjoyment of these rights-if
these are to be stricken down aud trampled
under the foot Of despotic power in this
country, we have as much right to vindicate
these rights by fo'ce as they have to deprive
US Of +. them Z ! lApP*!"ose p !. =
Secession was born of Abolitionism; it
was Matched from the egg of Abolilionisn,
and more Internal brood the earth was
never cursed with at any period within the
history Of man. Aboitionism has been Civ
ing to Secession all the volume, strength, sis
tenance and moral influence and power that
it could possibly give to it. Since the war
lac L. i IL, r.