North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-07-29

We will have to turn back to the familiar
and odIous names of the worst despots Of
the old world and of ancient days TO find
parallel TO this monstrouS assumption of
power, The English house ofStuart was the
champion oflberty in comparison. Louis
XIV, when he exclaimed g I am the State" :"
did not profane the world with SO fatal and
bloody heresy as now stalks through this
land almost without rebuke. TiberIus in
his hours of venseful so!utide a: Caprea new
er menaced more openly or more bitterly
the lives and the liberties of Roman citizens.
A law was enacted by the last Congress
ayo|e1ly to cover such supposed offences
as were alleged against Mr.. Vallandigham,
aud for which he underwent the muckery,
and insult of a trial by court-martal. By
that law Jurisdiction in such cases was ex-
preslV given to the Courts Of the United
States, and by that law express penalties
were attached IN the event of conviction
consisting Of fine and Imprisonment. Yet
with that law staring him full in the face
with its provisions all unrepeaed, with the
ink scarcely dry which affixed his name to
| it. and with his official oath on his conscience
to eXecutate it, the Executive of the Repub-
tic ignores its existence, and substitutes in
IN its place a trial and a punish
ment unknown to free governments
Banshment Banishment do we I've in
Russia or America have we Liberia. Bot
Do I
atrucious despotism the word recalls We
OF again behold the pure and inhexible citizen
"f Greece, the just and upright citizen OF
Rome, going forth to exile for bravng the
furious license of arbitrary power. The mel
ancholly lessons of history are busily repeat
ing themselves in our midst The old prin
! ciples OF good and evil are contending as
! they have ever conten1e1, witE various sue
cess To-day the lovely features of virtue
are marred and defaced by some foul and re-
voting CaIIban Of malignant mischief. To-
morrow she trIumphs with brow as radi-
ant andyunsulled as the j)cun1 beams of the
morning To-day law abiding earnest and
! distinguished citizen floats away INTO ban.
by bayonets for making defence Of the ac-
know lodged letter and spirit of the ConSti.
tuition. To-mqrrow he will return, strength
ened by the ordeal like he giant after his
slumbers, bringing new vitality aud force
TO the cause for which he has sCifcred. Men
of revolutionary ancestors! The great and
| solemn question Of the hour is whether the
Constitution aud the la we are yet supreme
constitute your Government To what do
| you allegiance Shall Roman Decemvrs
hang the written laws of your sight: and then
punish you for Cff1ndIng against the hidden
purposes of their own minds Into what war
Of Plutonian darkness have we been driven
! by the waring elements Where is the North
star ? Where are the compass and the nee
die Z? r...-.. ..-
Dispel this cloud, the light of Heaven restore
Give me to sEE-and Ajax asks no more"
Yes, give us TO SEE the light of the Consti
tuition still unobscured, and we will be con-
tent to abide the tardy steps OF time for the
aleviation of all other wrongs. But shall all
all ubedienece be required of the people and
none Of their public servants? Is not obedi-
ence in free government mutual duty
Shall Determinations be made between
American citizens in the enjoymen of rights
and the support of burdens What burden
has the Democratic party failed to assume in
support of the government, and of what right
has its members not been deprived by the
express order or the silent consent of this
| Administration In the words OF John Jay,
Reason looks with indignation on such dis
tnctions, and freemen can never perceive
their pr ,priety." What home in this broad
land has been secure from the parted satanic
hoof or bare naked suspicion Am | work
ing sketch from the colors of fancy2 Let
the screams of the wife and mother emanating
from hundred inward households at the
dead hour Of the night, answer. These facts
shall not escape history. They will constitute
the stocks in which the present Administra-
ton will stand piloried forever in open shame
and infamy. The angel Ct death respected
the blood on the door-posts of Egypt. The
King of England could not enter the humoiest
tenement in his realm, but the meanest and
basest of mankind in the employment OF the
present Admnisi ration have had the power OF
access over the insulted body Of the Consti-
.ution into every chamber beneath every roof
between th two oceans. This is The neces
sary result of the argument of the President
that he is the supreme judge CT what is essen
tial to the public safety, Before this baletul
theory every head bows tothe earth, every
mouth is silent, and every door flies OPEN
Robespierre, in the delirium OF the French
Revolution, when " the suns eye had slckly
gla re,n and the world grew faint with horror
never assumed so much. The responsibility
of the doctrine and practice of this phase OF,
| do,,ot;sn, was divided in his day among the