Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-04-16

tions, for liberating upon society, unpros
ecutod and unpunished offenders against
the laws. If they are the dangerous Grim
inals which they arc daily describing to be,
then this Administration has corruptly
compounded with felony, and made itself
party to treason by refusing to bring
them to justice, even when the criminals
themselves protested against being liher-
atcd without trial. But, sir, deny their
gull. in every instance; and in doing so, l
plant myself on the plain precepts of the
laws Of God and man. ! have but little
indulgence for this constant assumption
Of guilt against citizens who have courted
trials, and whom you have not dared to
try. The prcsumptions are all in favor
of innocence where just laws prevail
They are in favor of guilt before trial on
ly in the minds Of tyrants. But, whcth-
er guilty or innocent, not one single
provision of the Constitution has at any
time or place been complied with in the
trcatmentof citizens arrested by Govern
ment officials.
In violation Of the Constitution, Ameri-
can citizens have been arrested for using
the freedom of speech
In violation of the Constitution, theii
houses have been forcbly entered.
In violation of the Constitution, theil
papers have been searched.
In violation Of the Constitution, their
persons have been seized with armed VIC
lence.
In violation Of the Constitution, they
have been deprived of liberty without duc
process of law.
| In violation of the Constitution, they
have been held to answer infamous accu.
sations, without prcsentment or indict
mcnt Of grand jury.
In violation Of the Constitution, they
have been denied the right to a speedy
and public trial by an impartial jury.
In violation of the Constitution, they
have been carried out Of the State ant
district in which their offenses, If any
were committed
In violation of tho Constitution, they
have been kept in ignorance of the nature
and cause of the accusation against them
In violation of the Constitution, they
have not been confronted with the wit
nesses against them.
And, in most supreme and wicked vo
lation Of the Constitution, they have beef
denied counsel for their defense, and in
formed, in all the insocnce Of fanatica
disregard of every principle of humanity
as well as law
"That the General Government will not recog
nizc any one an attorney for poti cal prisoners
and will look with dstrust upon all application,
for release through such channels; and that sucl
applications will be regarded as additional rcason
for declining to release such persons"
Sir, challenge the worst ages of the
most prohigate and corrupt despots for a
more intolerable picture of personal out
rage than is here presented. In prisons,
in dungeons, in cells, in solitude and des
olation Of heart, citizens Of this free coun
try are threatened with increased punish
mcnt if they resort to the only possible
mode of approaching those in power tc
obtain information or trial with view tt
liberty. Many new otIenses, unknown tc
the Constitution and the laws, have beer
created by the proclamation of the Exec
utivc and to these must be added that it i
q crime for an innocent man, overpowerc,
by unlawful force, and wearing away hi
life in prison, to employ counsel to secur
for him the benefit of the laws of the land
Sir, postcrity will hold in remembrance
the authors of these outrages-thc PreSi
dent and his Cabinet in order to execrat
prostitution which they have made o
their high offices to tho overthrow of tn
Constitution. When they retire from
their exalted positions, and descend to tn
quiet walks Of private life, where the vote
of partisan applause and interested fiat
terv will no longer reach their ears anC
shut ont truth from their consciences, le
them spend the evening Of their days il
ponaering over tho wretchedness the,
have so need lcssly and wantonly caused
Let them recall the tears Of bitter grief be
reavoment, and shame which they hav
caused delicate and tender women to wcsl
as they implored their iailors in vain 70
relief against outrages which the per
bushes to record. Let them visit thu
mad house, and listen to the shrieks ant
cries OF their inmates, as thev pour fortl
their waiIings from the shattered dome
Of thought. and in the saddest sight whicl
tho earth can presont-a mind in ruins
behold n portion of their hand work
which will accompany their names int
history. And if dreams come to them il
thoir slumbers, let them dream of the poo
suicide, who communed in solitude will
his sad heart, until his room became f illeC
with shadows and impalpable forms
which Knocked his agony and despair, ant
who, to escape from his imprisonment
launched his naked soul into tho myster
Gus realms of the infinite, and appeared
for trial before a compassionate God. LIE
them awaken to hear the heart broke,
sobs of the widow. and tho pitiful la
mcntations of the fatherless. Let then
make some atonement for tho grief the,
have inflicted by looking into all the de
tail horrors which their system of intern
al outrage has brought upon unoilending
men and women. speak not in malice
| wish evil to no man on earth. | feel
pain to know that inAict it. But if |
could forbeOr to speak with indignant
emphasis on this subject, would feel
that the bond of sympathy which binds
me to my fellow men had been broken as.
sunder | would feel that my heart was
an outlaw from the sacred precepts oI
the divine Nazarene, who pronounced
the mercilul blessed because they showed
mercy.