Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-10-19
Correspondence OF the London Times.1
THE ARREST OF CIVILIANS.

John Bright, an able, clear-headed loeioa
speaker, and an earnest advocate of peace
addressed the people Of Rochdale, In th,
year 1854, on the subject ofthe war in In,
Crimea' So high is bis reputation for ell
o4uence, as well as for courage and patri-
otlsm, that not only his immediate neigh.
bors and friends, but multtudes of peopl,
from all the contiguous districts, gathered
10 listen to his voice and cheer th,
manly expression Of his sentiments. He
deDounces the war as wrong in principle
erroneous in policy, unjust and iniauitous
IN itself, and more dangerous in its con-
tinuance TO the liberty and prosperity OF
the British people than to the stability oi
the Russian empire. He declares that
Lord Aberdeen is little better than an
old woman that Lord Panmure thinks
too much of Dowb and too little of his
duty TO the country TO be safe or an eff.
hclent Minister in a time of national dan
ger; that speculation and peculation, Job
berry and robbery, pervade every depart
ment OF the public service and that war,
always deplorable and wicked, is pariicu-
larly horrible andunchristian when waged
IN defence OF such rotten aud effete in
stitution as the Turkish empire, which
maintains slavery, and is therefore no st
member of the comfy of nations. lie is
not aware, while speaking, that two off
GERS of the Grenadier Guards, disguised in
citizens attire. have been sent to the NEE
ting by the War Office TO take otes of his
speech, and, having ended his Grafton,
amid the enthusiastic applause of his au-
dience, goes homo to supper. A few
nights afterwards, thinking no evil, and
believing himself TO be citizen of a free
country, he retires quietly to bed as usual.
But hi, sleep is not permitted to be of
long duration. Shortly after midnight he
is aroused by a violent knocking at the
outer door. He springs to his feet, think
ing the house is on fire, and rings the fire
alarm accordingly. His wife. children
and household gather in great alarm, in
their night clothes on the stairs and pas
sages. The outer door il battered in. and
a company Of soldiers enter, the CAPTAIN
with his sword in his hand. and each man
presents a bayonet at the breast of the
bewildered legislator. The ladies and
children scream or faint, while Mr.. Bright
Is told to dress Immediately and consider
himself prisoner. Mr.. Bright dresses
himself, but objects TO go to prison. The
generous blood Of true-hearted English
man rushes to his face, and he declares
that he will rather die defending his life
than yield to his lawless and brutal cap
tors. His words are vain. He is violent
ly seized and hurried through the streets
10 the railway station, where a special
train is in waiting 10 convey him 10 Biz
mlngham. On arrival he is locked up in
a miiitary prison. Next morning he is
brought before court martial, composed
of one brigadier general, one colonel, one
lieutenant colonel, three majors and two
captains, aud put on trial on a charge of
seditlon and treason. He declines 10 ac.
knowledge the Jurisdiction of the court,
and demands as a British subject to be
tried before civil judge and a Jury of III,
countrymen. His demand is haup,,t;l,
and summarily rejected, and tbe vial ,r.
oeeds. The officers ana "gen .lemen " who
oondescend to act the per. of spies for The
government detail ard somewhat nervert
Ihe expressions wcIch he used in denup-
i'atlon OF the var and the conduct of the
aoth'lsH !, a.ion and after an inyestiga-
.ion Eat lasts two days, Mr.. Bright is
'oTmitted TO prison until the judges agree
upon their verdict, and decide whether he
shall be incarcerated till the war is over.
banlshed TO Russia TO live for the futu,e
among the friends with whom ne svmna-T
thlzes, or is summarily shot or hung
Woulo the British people tamely submit
70 such wrong inflicted even upon
,nucn number person than John Bright
" ouia not the newspapers of all shades
oi political opinion unite in expressing
lhe'r indignant displeasure And would
not the House of Commons and the House
oi Lords also ring with denunciation OF
The act And, if these bodies were not in
session, would not every city and town in
the kingdom. hold immense public meet
I,ngs TO csD upon the Queen to dismiss
rom her councils the unworthy Ministry
who so degraded their function and so
srlevously imperilled the public peace !
Every honest Englishman who values the I
nestimable right OF free discussion and
he supremacy of law will reply in the of. |
lrmAtive. Substitute the name Of Glenn
INT Laird Valandigham for that of John |
6right, and the war against the South for
ne war against Russia: lay the scene in |
Ohio, in 1868 instead of in England in
1854, and the imaginary story becomes
true; and every incident related is liter
al fact. And what, it may be asked in
England, have Americans done under the |
clreumstances2 They have done nothing. |
|, 4 ne leading newspapers are silent. The |
leading people are so busily engaged in |
making money that they have neither
time nor inclination TO attend to such
trivial matter. A meeting of Democrats
held 10 protest against tho matter is but |
thinly attended. Several clergymen pub-
hcly from the pulpit approve the " yisor T"
displayed by the Government. and Tabid
politicians in petticoais express their nm
feminine JOY at the arrest Of so distinguish
ed "Copperhead," and hope he will be
hanged or shot, as a warning 10 other evil.
doers who dare tosreak Of peace. 1t may
be objected to the comparison between the
case of NJ. Bright and the ac.
tual case OF Mr.. Yallandigham that in the
one it is foreign war which is in question,
and in the other ciyll war. The djsuno-
tion may be admitted without damage to
the inference. fsmsn be the free citi-J
pen Of constitutional Government be basl