The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-02-20
2 A Military Despotism.

LIVER since INC pTeSeHb "aI pcSssii "e HstNV
been careful not to sound false alarms to an ex-
cited and excitabe people. We have no wish
to do so now. We would not if we could, and
could net if we would. paint in all its dark and
damning colors a picture of what nay be the
future of our country. But we should be false
to every dictate Of duty, and TO every principle
of patriotism if We shut our eyes to The start
ling signs of the times around us. Evidence is
every day accommodating to show chat the ianat-
ical abolition Jacobins who rule the country,
do not mean to restore The Union; but that,
from the first, they have been plotting to erect
military desrotism on the ruins of the republic.
The assertion of Simon Cameron that the
South will succeed, and that we (the abolition
ists) will then control the government, is signifi-
cant as an out-croppug of the private views
and cherished objects of leading men of his par
ty. Every act of this Administration, although
each page OF its history is stained with defeat
and disgrace, has been in remarkable harmony
with such views. tSoon after the war broke out,
country were collected and deposited in state or
federal arscnals. 1t il true, few were after
wards distributed to border counties, but the
general truth is as stated, and the government
now has control of nearly every firearm in the
nation. Why all thisG Were the arms needed
to equip our soldiers? Not at all. They are
alo1 e
the newest and most improved patterns; and
the old ones collected, now stand rusting in the
arsenals. Can any one give a rational expa-
nation of this action Of the administration, ex-
cept that they meant TO be ready for any emer-
gency; and acted on the maxim that the first
step of usurpers and tyrants is to disarm the
people? Gradually, inch by inch the legislation
of Congress and the action of the President
tend to centralized power. Disregard for the
Constitution is openly preached by Senators and
cabinet officers, and as openly practised by the
President A measure is now before Congress
and will probably become law, abolishing the
State banks and substituting for their circula-
tioh, Sb'NthiiShb p'pSA' <AhOAiCi HIcs'culC 10
pending which proposes to sweep away the mi
litia laws of the several states and vest in the
general government despotic power over every
man subject to military duty in the country.
Still another measure proposes to vest in the
President an absolute power to suspend the writ
of habeas corpus, VIII enever and wherever he
chooses. These three measures 90 far to blot
out state sovereignty and state governments.
With them in full force, our free institutions
viii no longer exist except in name; we shall
retain only the shadow of our boasted freedom
Bywhatever name our Government may be call
ed, il will in fact, be as absolute as any on
Gods Green Earth"
Napoleon did not merge the republic into an
empire at one bold stroke, but gradually and
surely he did his work. Henry the Eighth did
absorb the liberty of the English people into his
kingly prerogative openly and at once; but slow
iy aud cuuningly he accomplished his purpose.
History repeats itself" and glance at the
past may sometimes throw light on the future.