The Placer herald., 1863-04-04

LOYALTY 10 THk GOvERNMKNT

kentuck y, delivered in the Senate Of the
United States, on the 10th Of January,
1868:
The Senator asked if loyalty to the Gov
ernment is reconcabIe with hostility to the
minister who administers the Government.
| will read the whole Of that sentence:
"Men boast Of their loyalty to the Consti,
tuition and law, but they deny that they owe
allegiance to any man. Granted that allie.
glance 10 due to the Government under
which we live, bu. is there nothing due to
the agent who is the representative Of the
unity, power and strength Of the Govern
men0 Is loyalty to the Government reconcil,
able with hostility to the minister who ad.
ministers the Government"
The Senator virtually answers the ques-
ton. When you take into consideration the
whole text you will find that the Senator
clearly indicates that hostility to the minis
ter is not reconcabe with loyalty to the
Government. Tha. is the plain English of
the honorable Senator's assertion. | differ
from the honorable Senator upon that point.
The world, ever since struggles have been
going on between the executive power on
the one hand, and the Constitution and civil
rights and liberty Of the people on the other
hasc differed from the Senator. History is
full Of illustrations and examples of this kind.
| suppose that the honorable Senator thinks
that the iron Barons, when at Runnymede
they exacted the great charter from pusl-
luminous John, were not loyal to the Gov.
ernment because they were hostile to the
prince that ruled; but, sir, the world has at
tested otherwise. They were hostile to King
John. They struck boldly; they struck sue.
cessfully for the liberties Of the people
Their object was to rescue the liberties Of
the British people from the hand of that
ursurping tyran,, and they did it; and the
whole world from that day to this has been
filled with their praise, except when they
have been assaulted by despots and their
minions.
There was party arrayed against the ex-
ecutive power, aud they manfulIy stood their
ground until they rescued the ancient libor-
ties Of the English people by the exaction of
the great charter from that tyrant king; and
if the Senator had lived in that day, enter.
tanning the sentiments he now does, he
would Of course have opposed the barons
and adhered to the party Of King John.
Tha. is not the only iIlus,rious example in
the history of our ancestors In 1923 Par.
Lament demanded the petitions of rights
from another Of the British kings, who was
exercising and claiming power to which he
was not entitled. Under the constitution
and laws of the British empire they fearless
ly and boldly demanded the petition of
right as further security of the liberty of
the people. They got il, And further: in
| Al al, H., A. 1I,.l
in driving an English king from the throne.
the second James; and they demanded, be,
fore they allowed his successors, William
and Mary, to mount the throne, a bill Of
rights. These we're struggles against those
in power. Were those men disoyal to their
country because of the hostility shown to
the executive, nthe minister? The Senator,
no doubt, would pronunce them disloyal.
The world has pronounced them hostile to
the prince, but loyal to their country, and
defenders Of the rights and liberty Of the peo-
pie.
The instances that l. have given are cases
where the people, or the representatives Of
the peoplA, united against usurpers, against
results followed in favor of constitutional
and civil liberty. The world is full Of per-
sonal examples. suppose the Senator
would differ from the whole world in the
eulogy it has passed upon John Hsmpden,
upon Algeron Sydney, and Russell, bold and
daring friends Of civil liberty who, in their
day and time, struck against executive pow
er. Sir, they were hostile to their minister;
they were hostile to the king because he
usurped the powers that belonged to the peo.
pie and Parliament. lie carried his peroga'
ga.ive beyond its legitimate sphere; he cas-.
down and put under foot the constitutional
liberties Of the people. The illustrious mon
whom | have named resisted the tyrant; and
the world, from tina. day to this, has pro-
claimed them honored martyrs to the cause
of constitutional liberty. They died resist
ing the minister; they died in favor of the
constitution of their country, yet the Senator
thinks loyalty is irreconcilable with opposi-
ton to the minister. | disagree with the
Senator. All history condemns his senti
ments. The purest and the loftiest patriots
that have ever lived are those who have man.
fully resisted the encroachnents of executive
power on all the liberties Of the Citizen
History has 80 pronounced them and liberty
loving men throughout all time will honor
their memories.
We, who, in our humble way, at this day
oppose the usurpatons Of the present Execu.
tive, are arragned for want Of loyalty to the
Government. The Senator curiously con-
foppds the Government with the President
We all owe allegiance to our Government,
but we owe none to the minister, unless be
administers that Government which is in
trusted tc him, in accordance with the
Constitution and the laws of his country.
When hs violates those, in order to be loyal
to the great principles Of constitutional lib
erty, we must resist the encroachments Of
the minister, or the rights and liberties of
the people will be overthrown. That is our
duty to-day. That liberty loving men in all
past time have done, and will do in the fu
tura L is only tha taols Of .las,,ot. Ahat