The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-06-03
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

May is, 1863.
cannot attend the meeting at the capitol
this evening, but l wish to state my opin
ions in regard to the arrest Of Mr. Vallan.
dighAm. 1t 10 an act which has brought
dishonor upon our country. 1t 10 full Of
danger to our persons and our homes. 1t
bears upon ito front conscious violation
Of lay AID justice. As,ing upon the syi
depce Of detailed informsrs. shrinking from
the light Of day in the darkness Of night,
armed man violated the homo of . Ameri.
can citizen, and furtivsly took him away TO
military trial, conducted without those safe.
guards known 10 the proceedings Of our
judicial tribunals. The Transaction involved
series OF offences against our most sacred
rights. II iutsrferred with the freedom Of
speech II violated our rights 10 DO secure
In our homes against unreasonable searches
and seizures; It pronounced sentence with
out trial, save one which was . mockery.
which insLlted a. we'll ~ wronged. The
perpetrators now seek to impose punish.
tnent, not for an offence against law, but
for the disregard Of an invalid order, put
forth 10 tho utter disregard Of the princ!-
! les Of civil liberty.
II this proceeding 10 approved by the
ebe oSuCsSuC1 W SuC PCOptG,
it 10 not merely . step towards revelation,
1t - revolution; it will not only lead to
military despotism-it establishes military
dsspotism. 10 this respect Il muss be ac-
ceptsd, or IN this respect rejected. lit 10
upheld, our libertss are overtbrown. the
safety Of our persons, security Of our prop.
erty, will hereafter depend upon the arbi,rs.
~ will Of such military rulers a. may b.
placed over us, while our constitutional
guarantees will be broken down. Even
now the Governors and courts Of some of
the great Western States have sunk into
iasignificaoce before the despotc powers
claimed and exercised by military men who
have been sent into their borders. Il 10 q
fssrfulI thing to increase the danger which
now overhangs u by treating tho law, the
judiciary and tho State authorities y ith
eoptsmpt. The people Of this country now
walt with deepest anxiety the decisions OF
the Administrstion upon these acts. Hav.
ing given It . generous support iI the war.
We pause TO sSe what kind Of Government
il il for which we are asked to pour ont
opr blood and our treasures. The action
Of the Administratien will determine in the
minds Of more than one.half Of the people
Of the loyal States whether this war 10
wsgsd 10 put down rebellion at the South.
or destroy fres institutions at the North -
We lock for its decision with solemn sole.
ituds. HORATIO SEYMOUR.
The resolutions adopted by tho meeting
point to the devotion shown by the Demo.
Gratis during two years OF ,ivil war, and .
determination TO devote ti,eir energies TO
the cause Of the Union /; deneubss the -
sumption Of military power in tho arrest Of
Mr. VaJlandighsm assert the right Of free
discussion. They say that 10 the election
Of Mr. Seymour the people condemned the
system Of arbitrary arrests, snd call upon
ths President to restore Mr. Vsllsndigham
10 liberty. They direct . copy Of the reso.
Istions 10 bs sent TO the President, with the
assurance o. tho desire Of the meeting 10
support the Government 10 every eonstitu.
tlonal and lawful measures to Suppress the
rebsllioa.