Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-06-06


ate popular sentiment to the disadyan-
taee Of the Administration. This should
have been foreseen by General Burnside
when he entered on such a thorny path
but most of all should it have been fore
seen by the President, if he did not
promptly intcrpose his authority to arrest
such irregular proceedings. We still hope
that on the return Of Mr.. Vallandigham
to his home (for we presume he will so
return) the President will direct that he
be put on trial according to the Constitu-
ton and laws.
In the meantime, we invite the atten.
ton of all good citizens to the observations
of Mr.. Crittcndcn, as contained in his
recent speece published by us few days
ago, and which correctly defend the duty
of prtriot at this crisis;
"Neither on this nor any other occasion
has il been my habit TO make any outcry
and clsmor but which usurpations OF
power are made dangcrour, and when
encroachnents upon my liberty and the
liberty of my constituents, and upon the
Constitution intended to guard the llOcr-
ties of us all, are made, would have
every man have spirit enough to declare
his opinions and offer his protests. With
out this freedom of speech there can be no
lasting liberty-The Republic cannot ez-
ist Ifevery man should close his lips,
and not venture even word against vlo'
lated rights, who could maintain Tree
government Nobody. A people who
cannot discuss the public measures of the
nation, and apply the necessary rcbukc 10
secure the correction Of wrongs, csnntt be
free people, aud do not deserve TO be.
But it is not necessary that it be done
with passion. You are portion of the
people of the United States act in man
ner becoming your high character Scdi-
ton does not become it; clamor does not
become it. Action, at the proy or time an
in the proper manner, according to legal
and constitutional provision, is what we
want, and what the world has a right to
expect"
The enlightened friends of the Admin
istraton will find in the illegal trial and
punishment of Mr.. Vallandigham some
thing much more dcplorab e than its prop
abe effect on parties in giving to the
Presidents political opponents "a good
cry" 1t is easy to perceive that many
who now raise their voice in vehement
championship of "frce Speech are seek
ing rather TO subserve the inter- SITS Of party
than to promote the ends of justice and
patriotism. 1t is from the midst of suclf
mingled motives that truth nearly always
cmerges. for it is difficulty to separate
good cause from the inGrmties of the men
into whose hands is is suffered to fall. -
But if the Admi n;straton will not do
homage 10 the law, it must be content 10
see It's opponents brc6. by such suicidal
recreancy.
Those who love their country and
obey the laws, without respect to parties,
will not regret what has been &onc in the
case of Mr.. Vall2ndigham from any sym.
pathy with his political opinions, but be.
cause in his person the clear voice of the
1 law has been disrcgarded. The law says
that all persons situated as he WAS, and
accused # the crime laid at his door,
shall be tried by the United States Couss
and if found guilty, shall be punished by
"imprisonmcnt for term not exceeding
ten years, or by find not exceeding ten
thousand dollars, or by both Of said pun
shmcnts, at the discretion Ct the courts -
If Mr.. Nallandigham is guilty, as the
President must assume he is, it only re-
mains to say that loyal and law abiding
men have reason to complain equally Of
the illegal jurisdiction by which he was
tried and Of the illegal penalty awarded
to him at the suggestion Of personal ca
pacity, where the law afixes a penalty
moro Commensurate with the offence. If
the accusec ought not to be illegally con-
victed, it is equally true that in matter
so CRATE as the giving Of "aid and cofor,'
to the enemy, there should be 10 com.
pounding withthe felony ol such disloyalty
by visiting upon its subjects the penalty
of banishment when the law awards to i
penalty greatly more severe,
National hntcHigcncer,