The Placer herald., 1863-09-12

DO we not know that the disregard of the Con
sttution and the security it affords to the rights
Of States and individuals has been the cause OF
the calamity viii h our country is called to un.
dergo! And now, war! in its drest shape-war
such as makes the blood run cold TO II ad in the
history of other nations and of other times-war
horrid as that of barbaric ages, RACES in several
OF the States OF the Union as its more immediate
helds and casts the lurd shadow of its death
and lamentation athwart the whole eypansr and
into every nook and corner of our vast domain.
Nor is that all Tor in those OF the States which
are exempt from the actual ravages of war, in
winch the roar of the cannon, and the rattle OF
the muskeuy and the groans of the dying. are
heard but as faint echo of terror from other
lands even here in the loyal States. the mailed
hand of military usurpation strikes down the
Liberties of the people. and its foot tramples a
desecrated Constitution. Aye, in this land OF
| Tree thought free speech and free writng-iu
this Republic OF free suffrage, with liberty of
thought and expression as the very essence of re-
publican institutions here, in these free
States, it is made criminal for citizen soldier,
like the gallant Edgery of New Hampshire, to
vote according to his conscience; or like that
noble martyr of free speech, Vallandigham. to
discuss the public affairs in Ohio; [applause ! aye,
even here, the temporary agents of 4 sovereign
people, the trarsitory administrators of the Gov
er ment, tell US that in time Of war the mere
arbitrary will of the President takes the place
OF the Constitution, and the President himself
announces to us that it is reasonable to speak
or to write otherwise than he may prescribe;
nay thai it is reasonable to be silent though we
be strnck dumb by the shock OF the cahmities
with which evil counsels, incomretency and cor
ruptlon have overwhelmed our country! [Ap-
plause | will not say this without referring
to the authority upon which | rely In his letter
OF June II, 1868, addressed to Erastus Corning
and other citizens of the State of New York the
,lfoc Of thn all li
nary language:-
Indeed arrests by process of courts and ar
rests in cases of rebellion, do not proceed alto
gether upon the same b sis. The former is di-
rected at the same small percentage of ordinary
and continuous preparation OF crime while the
Latter is directed at sudden and extensive upris-
ings against the Government which, at most, will
succeed or fall in no great length or time. In
the latter case, arrests are made not so much FOR
what has been done, rs for what probably would
be done. Laughter and apphuse.] The latter
is M re OF the p.eventivcan less OF the vindc-
tive than the former In such cases the purposes
OF men are much more easily understood than in
cases OF ordinary crime The man who stands by
and says nothing when the peril of his Govern
ment is discussed carnnot be misunderstood
(Laughter.] II not hndered, he is sure to help
the enemy, much more if he talks ambiguonsly-
talks Tor his country with butts and IFS and
'andS.' "
no longer doubts rs to where the responsibility
for those unconstitutional acts for the last two
years, perpetrated by subordinate officers OF the
Federal Government, both civil and military,
properly attaches; but who, | ask, has clothed
the President with power to dictate to any of
us when we must or when we may speak, or
be silent upon any subject, and especially in re-
latOn to the conduct Of any public seuvant?--
By hat right does he presume to prescribe
formula OF language for our lips or miue? 1t
seems Incredible, and even with this authcntca-
ted paper before US. is amazing. that any such
sentiment should have found utterancc from the
elected representative OF Il free Government like
that OF the United States. My friends. let those
obey such behests who will: you and | have been
nurtured here among the granite hills, under the
clea skies OF New Hampshire. into such
vile temperament [Applause.l True IL is, that
any OF you, that myself, may be the next victim
OF unconsillulo al. arbitrary, irresponsible pow
er. But we nevertheless, are free men and we
resolve to live, or if it must be- to die such. Fa-
ter who may, we will never cease to hold up ON
high the Constitution Of the Union though torn to
shredS by the sacriligous hands of its enemies
lAppllusc.] How striking significant how sug-
gestive to us, on this occasion is the cOntempa-
ton OF that august spectacle of the recent Con-
vention at indianapolis, of seventy thousand citi
zens calmly and bravcly participating in the dis
cusslon OF great principles underlying their Sc
cret rights rs lreemcn--neithcr awed by cannon
rowning upon their liberties, provoked by
threats into retalitory violence. | would say to
you, fellow citlz ms, emulate that exhibition of
wisdom and patriotism. Be patient, but resolute,
Yield nothing OF your ri iehts but bear and forbear
Let your action show to the world that, with cour.
age to meet despotism, you have also the dscre
tion to avoid inconsiderate action in resisting its
advance. Geo. ge Washington and Samuel Adams.
Matthew Thornton and Charles Carroll, George
Reed and Roger Shermnn, Phillip Livingston
and William Hooper, Ben amin franklin and Ed
ward Rutledge, George Walton and Richard
Stockton, with their associates of all the thirteen
then independent sovereign States. stood eighty
seven years ago to day, in the simple but memor-
able room, where the Declarati was signed, like
the people of the States whom they represented,
with the solemn grandnre OF high resolve, if ap-
parently weak. yet with their armor on and their
hearts strung for the contest OF civil liberty. If
we cannot be joyous and exuting on the anniver-
sary OF that day, it may do US good to remember
that JOY and exultation were far from the hearts
OF the brave men who sanctioned the Declaration
of Independence, and then fought seven years to
maintain it, No! they were not joyous but deter
mined. They felt the inspiration Of II great OBJ
ject, and they sought its accomplishment with
stern, devoted self sacrificing spirit. They were
animated by that determination which in right
eous cause o. selfdefence and self vindicaion is
invincible. They knew the condition of the
Provinces in point OF men and munitions and
they had clear PERCEPTION OF the calloscd power
which theo were to confront. But neither one
nor the other consideration, nor both combined,
shook either their faith or their courage They
compensated for the want OF numbers, arms, and
aid which under ordinary circumstances goes to
constitute the sinews Of war, by the glory of pa
triotism and the strength of their purpose. To
be sure they fought for their rights, but their
endurance and energy were quckened by an in
caculable power; they fought for their homes,
their hearth stones, their wives and children be-
hind them. | trust may be profitable on this
occasion, as the call of your meeting suggests, to
revive the memories OF that heroic epoch OF the
republic, even though they come laden with re-
grets and hold up that period OF our history in
contrast with the present. Though they come
to remind US of what were our relations during the
Revolution, and in latter years, prior to 1861, to
tn t great Commonwealth which we were accus-
toned to refer to by the name OF the mother OF
Statesmen and OF States" and OF what those rela-
lations now are. Can it be that we are never to