Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-17
FRom sPeENeFEELp.
Po,iffo,. of E1ftnets.
Special to the Chicago Times

Special to the Chicago Tunes
SPRINGFIELD. Ill, February The follow
ing resolutions were reported in the seDate this
morning By Mr.. Ysndeveeg, from the committee
on FaaeTal relations ordered printed, and made
/ she special order for Tuesday morning next
WHEREAS, The Union has no existence sep
srs.e fcom the Federal Constitution, but, being
Great solely by that instrument, it can only
exist by virtue thereof; and, when the provisions
of that Constitution are suspended either in
time If war or IN peace, whether by the North
or the South, It is alike disuuion, and
Whereas, The Federal government. can law
fully exercise no power that Is not conferred
upon it By the Federal Constitution; the exer
else, therefore, of othec powers, not granted by
that instrument, IN time of war as well as in
times Of peace is a violation Of the written viii
Of the American people, destructive of their
plan Of government and Of their common libe--
ties; and
Whereas, The Constitution cannot be main
Stained, nor the Union preserved, in Opposition
to public feeling, by The mere exercise OF cosr-
ciya powers con6ded to the general government,
and that, ia case of differences and conflicts
between the States and the Federal government
too powerful for adjustment by the civil depart
ments Of the government, the appeal s,zDt to
the sword by the States or by the general gov
eminent, but to the people, peacefully assem-
bled by their representatives in convention
and
Whereas, The allegiance Of the citizen is due
alone TO the Constitution and laws made in puT-
susnce thegeof-not to any man, or officer or
administration; aud whatever support is due to
any sfficer of this government IS due alone by
virtue Of the Constitution and she laws and
Whereas, also, Tne condition Of She whole
republic, but more especially the preservation
Of the liberties Of the people Of Illirois, impsrs
lively demands that we, their representatives,
should make known to our fsllow-countryne
our deliberate judgment and viii;
Ne do therefore declare, That the act Of the
Federal admins tration in suspsnding the writ
Of kabs1s corpus. the arrest Of citizens not sub
icct 10 military iaw without warrant or author
ify; Transporting lhem 20 distant States incar-
caTating them in political prisons without charge
or accusation denying them the right Of trial
by jury, witnesses in their favor, or counsel for
their defense Withholding from them allknowl-
dge of their accussrs, and the cause Of their
arrest; answering their petitions for redress by
repeated injury and insult !; Prescribing in many
cases, as a condition Of their release, test osths
arbitrary and Illegal in the abridgement of
/ freedom Of speech and of the press by impris
oning the citizen for expressing his sentiments ;
/ by suppressing newspapers by military force,
and establishing a censorship over others, wholly
/ incompatible with freedom of thought aud ex-
preston Of opinion; and the establishment of a
system Of espionage by secret police, to invade
the sacred privacy of unsuSpeeting citizens:
/ declaring martial law over States not in rebel
I ion, and where the courts are open and unob-
sGuced for the punishment Of crime in de-
! clariug the slaves of loyal as well as disloyal
citizens, in certain States and parts Of States,
/ free; the attempted enforcement of comp pensated
emancipatoni The proposed taxation Of the
1 laborDg white man TO purchase the freedom and
! secure the elevation Of the negro the trans
poration Of negroes into the State Of Illinois,
10 defiance Of the repeatedly expressed vii OF
the people; the arrest and imprisonment of the
representa- tives of free and sovereign State
| the dismemberment Of the State of Virginia,
erecting within her boundaries & new State
without the consent of her Legislature. are, each
and all arbitrary aud uncons .itutionel, usUrpa-
ton the legislative functions, snd s suspen-
sion Of thejudicisl departments Of the State and
Federal governments, snbveTting the Constitu-
tion-Stste and Fsdefal--invadirg the reserved
rights Of the people and the sovereignty of the
States. snd, if sanctioned destructive of the
Union, establishing, upon the common ruins ol
the liberties Of the people and the sovereignty
| of the Safes q consolidated military despotism.
And we hereby solemnly declare that No
American citizen can, without she crime of inf
delity to his country's Cansttutusions, and the
4 allegiance which he bears to each, sanction
snch usurpations Believing that our silence
4 wiz be efimlnsl, and may be construed intS
consent, in deep reverence for our Constitution
which has been ruthlessly violated, we do hereby
enter our most solemn protest against thess
Il usurnsti0ns Of power and place the same be
fore tie world, Intending thereby to warn ouI
public servants against further usurpatens
Therefore,
Resoissd, BE- the senate ftte house Of represent
saiUss eonenrrSEg hsrsin), That the army wa
organized, con6ding in the declaration Of til