The weekly Butte record., 1863-08-22

To has Ercellcncy -f5rdham Lincoln. President
of the United States:
SIR: Your answer which has appeared in
the public prints, to the resolutions adopted at
a recent meeting in the city of Albany al.
6rmIng the personal rights and liberties of the
citizens of this country, has been referred to
the undersigned, the committee who prepared
and reported those resolutions. The subject
will now receive from Us some further atten-
tion which your answer seems to justify, if not
to invite. We hope not to appear wanting in
the respect due to your high position if we re-
ply with a freedom and earnestuess suggested
by the infinite gravity aud Importance of the
questions upon which you have thought proper
to take issue at the bar of public opinion
You seem to be aware that the Constitution
of the United States which you have sworn
to protect and defend, contains the following
guarantees to which We again ask your atten-
tion ~ Congress shall make no law abridg
ing the freedom of speech aud of the press. t2)
The right of the people to be secure 10 their
persons against unreasonable seizures, shall
not be violated, and no warrant shall issue but
upon probable cause supported by oath l3)
No person. except soldiers aud mariners in the
service of the Government, shall be held to an.
swer for a capital or infamous crime. unless on
presentment or indictment of grand jury. nor
shall any person be deprived of life, liberty or
property without due process of law al In
all criminal prosecutions. the accused shall en-.
JOY the right of a sneedy and public trial by
an impartial jury of the State or district in
which the crime shall have been committed
and TO be confronted with the witnesses against
him.
B al i 81 1
adoption of the Constitution these Invaluable
provisions were proposed by the jealous eau.
ton of the States and were Inserted as amend
ments for a perpetual assurance of liberty
against the encroachments of power. From
your earliest reading of history, you also know
that the great principles of liberty and law
which underlie these provisions were derived
to Us from the British Constitution In that
country they were secured by magma chGra
more than six hundred years ago, and they
have been confirmed by many and repeated
statutes Of the realm A single palpabe vio
laiion OF them in England would not only
arouse the public indignation, bu. would en-
danger the throne itself. For persistent dis
regard of them, Charles First was dethroned
and beheaded by his rebelious subjects.
/ The fact has already passed into history
. that Tue sacred TlgntS ana lmmuoltles which
were designed to be protected by these consti
tutional guarantees have not been preserved
to the people during your administration. Ii
violation OF the FIRST of them. the freedom o
the press has been denied. In repeated in
stances newspapers have been suppressed il
the loyal States because they criticised. q.
constitutionaIly they might. those fatal error
of policy which have characterized the con
duet of public affairs since your advent tt
power In violation Of the second of them
bundreds, and we believe thousands of mel
have been seized and immured in prisons au(
bastiles. not only without warrant upon proba
BILE cause, but without any warrant, and for n
other cause than constitutional exercise o
The freedom of speech. In violation of al
> these guarantees, distinguished citizen of
peaceful aud loyal State has been torn fron
bis home at midnight By baud Of soldiers