The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-08-19
9De,n ocratic Au1horIty.

Vallandigham says to the people the only
topic now necessary or worthy to be discussed
is "arbitrary arrests" or TO use his language to-
his friends, ",their own constitutional, rights
= and liberties.' The English Of this is to dis
cuss and contend for the right to give, aid and
comfort to the enemy. No man who walks
in the, ways Of loyalty'' has any occasion to
discuss this question: only those who have or
would, violate constitutional right'' have any
tenderness on this subject Vallandigham
says this is a the, practical issue in, the Ohio
campaign" Now upon this subject Of milf
-arbitrary-arrests, We eask the attention
of the reader to the: words of one whom the
Democracy of the North have been proud to
acknowledge as their leader and champion
How can they forsake him and give. their ad-
hesion to one who seeks 20 betray them into
deeds which are reasonable to " the written
fundamental statute and common law" and
as we'll to The doctrines and teachings of the
acknowledged and hoEored head of their
party. Wequote here from speech of STE
rHEE A. DOUGLAS, in 1916, and ask to his
WOPuS LuS dtLSuliOd Va otCi- 40 Nd " ulo-
cuss this question as the apractical issue in the
Ohio campaign . and ask them to point out
the a issue - and further, if under the opinion
of Mr.. Douglas the arrest of yaIlandigham
was not constitutional and legal Senator
Douglas said !: ' '..'''
"Mr. Speaker, the necessity
and the glorious effects resulting from the
L Il. -
acknowledged by the whole country, and be
would even say by the whole civilized world.
{ Then, as far as this bill was concerned, he (Mr.
d. J cared not whether these acts were legal
or eiflegal He cared not whether General
Jackson suspended all civil authority or not.
If his acts were necessary TO the deferce ofthe
country, that necessity aoas aboUe all law. Gen
! eral J ackson hazarded everything; he haz-
/, arded life and reputation on that step. which
might, render him immortal if it saved the
country, or, on the contrary, make him igHo
nlinious, and by-word and a reproach i and
the man that dared to do that, deserved the
protection aud the piatidits of his country
| He did not envy the feelings of that man that
| would get up and talk calmly and cooIly, un-
der such circumstances, about rules of court
and techmicalities of proceeding and the dan
! ger of example, when, the city might be in
l. i1idHleS dtlt Xiv Qlll0ot
| mitted. What We're rules of court but mer,
cobwebs when they found an enemy with hi
cannon at the doors of their courts, and wher
4 they saw the flames encirclng the cupola p
q Talk then about rules of court and the formal
.;ity of proceedings The man thai would d.
that would fiddle while the capitol was burn
I ing [sensation.] He enyied not any MAJ
the possession ofIsuch stoical philosophy
Talk about illegality! Talk about formal
ties !! Why, there was but one formalty t
be observed and that was the formality Q
directing the cannon, and destroying the enc
INV, regardless of the means, whether it b
Z. by the seizure of cotton bags, on the seizure
persons. as the necessity of the required i
The God of nature has conferred this righ
on mensand nations and therefore let hir
not be told that it was s5unconstitutional.. 7
d defend the country, let him not be told tn.
b it was Unconstitutional to use the necessar
!. means The Constitution was adopted for th
: protection of the country; and under th,
n Constitution, the nation, had the right to e.
: ercse all the powers that were necessary f
the protection of the. country; martial "a