Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-01-08


I'll my guilt had been established IL acted
on exactly tho opposite principle" and
inflicted 'crucl and unusual punishment"
without trial, judge or jury. Instead of
a'iordiing me the protection afforded by
every Judlcature, and especially demanded
by my iorlorn sitration, it used the most
insidioue arts to circumvent and crush
me-" "had no remedy against malice
or Misrepresentation on tho part of NV
accuscrs, or the witnesses against me, who
might be my bittcrcs! enemies, since they
were never revealed to, or confronted
with mo, or subjected to a cross.examin-
alton, which can best expose error or col
|usion in evidence"
Not in Austria, not in Spain, not in
Naples, but in free America-not in tho
dark ages of superstition and depotism.
but in the Nineteenth Century--not by an
lnquisator General, but by Abraham Lin
coin; all tho outrages Of the inquisition SO
graphically aud truthfully described by
the historian have been practiced upon
| tho victims Of this Administration in these
military bastilos.
And now, my friends, what is the plea
for all this despotism? 1t is the plea al
ways used by tyrants and dcspots--the
plea Of necessity. Let Mr.. Lincoln and
the people both be admonshed in time;
history furnishes us with no example in
which dcspotic power. no matter what
the emergency may have been which caus-
ed it to be used, has been voluntarily ro-
linquished. 1t has always ended either
in the complete suhjugation Of the people
or the overthrow OF the tyrant who fails
in maintaining it.
Already both Mr.. Lincoln and his min
ions feel that they are standing upon
terrible volcano. They are attempting to
escape the awful vengeance that awaits
them by endeavoring to extort an oath
from their victims that they will not pros-
ecute them for civil damages Their frinds
are endoavoring to shield them by procur-
ing the passage Of law by Congress to in
demniiy them against such prosecutions.
The very attempt to procure the passage
Of such law, is a virtual ACKNOWLEDGE
ment that they have grossly violated tho
the laws of their country in their attempts
to override the Constitution in their eff
forts to subvcrt the liberties of the people,
Already the judicial tribunals of the
country are beginning to assert their pro-
rogativcs. They have commenced in ac-
cordancc with law to cnfurce the supre-
macy of the laws. This very week Judge
Hoffman, of the city of New York, in his
charge to the Grand Jury, says: "The
removal of any person from this State in
to any other State or Territory, to answer
to any charge of baving committed here
an oll,nse against tho laws of either tho
United States, or Of this State, is wiMom
tie authority Qflac. Any person, whether
an officer or a private individual, who
shall thus seize and contine any person
whomsoevcr, with intent either secretly
to confne here, or to remove him out of
the State against his will, acts IN vio5ation
Of tie statute against hidaoppiag, and rem
derS himaeT liable 10 iadi tReM ana pre-
sentiment. .Upon the trial of such indict-
mcnt, the fact that such seizure, confne-
mcnt and removal was by order Of the
President of the United States or any
member of his Cabinet, or other officer
of the Government, will constitute no
legal defense Neither the President, nor
any member Of the Cabinet, nor other
officer (not juiicial) has any lawful au-
thority to order the seizure, or imprison-
ment or removal from the State, of any
citizen OF the State, for any ollense what
ever, committed or allelgcd to have been
committed within It's borders'
This charge Of Judge Hoffman is as
much applicable to the State of Ohio, as
, to the State Of New York, and the time
is coming when our Judiciary will have
the "bGok bone" to defend the rights of
, our citizens then let my captors, and
f those who ordered my arrest, as well as
, those who conspircd to accomplish it.
tremblc, for the justice of man as we'll
p as the justice Of Heaven will overtake
} them.
D Friends and neiglbors, one and all,
, from my inmost heart thank"you for
0 this kind, this most extraordinary greet
i ing upon my return from the Bastiles 1t
a satisfies me that IN your estimation, at
least | am innocent of any tant of dis
e loyalty. stand before you to-day with
= a conscience voil of all oifenso in these
= matters whereof | am accused by the
4 Black Republicans. This reception is as
s a green spot in the desert waste of the
G last few months of my life.
+ My friends, you have, through Mr., Mar
tin, informed me that during my impris-
II cnmcnt whilst yet under the ban Of the
r Administration, you have, by an unprece-
t. dented vote, elected me to represent this
G county in the Ohio Legislature. Whilst
joining with You in expressions Of deep
= sympathy and coincidence with the friends
# and relatives of the lamented Jeifries,
whose death made it necessary for you to
IS elect his successor-I return to you my
l. thanks for this mark of your confidence
It in my integrity and patriotism. l ap-
, . preciate the honor the more highly, mas
d much as it shows me that in the cstima-
i. tion of the people Of this county, l am
al clear of all taint of disloyalty. Tho very
N N fact that my political enemies made no
n, demons ration against my election; the
,s fact that no Republican, however ambi
nc tious he may have been of place and
20 power, would risk a poll against me
is marks the deep condemnation placed by
ly this entire community upon the despot
m ism practicel by Lincoln and Tod in my
~ arrest an imprisonment.
Mt And in conclusion, my friends, pcrmi
a, mo tn sov that | would NOT GGt,i,o th.