Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-03-06

recognition of the independence of the
Southern Confederacy shall prevail in
the State, but whether such and every
military officer in the State has right
to break up public assemblies The ques-
ton is, whether these men are entitled
to the protection of the declaration Of
rights in the State Constitution The
question is, whether we have any State
Government at all-whether the civil law
is superior to the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. our
lives and fortunes are held at the will OF
minor military authorities or not ?"
a" If this policy is to prevail, we are
no longer free people, under the pro-
lection of the laws, but a military des-
potism. We have not one, but many
masters. Every district is governed by a
petty tyrant, who is at once the Judge and
executioner of his own edicts. Colonel
Gilberts motives may have been good,
but We have nothing to do with his mo-
tives. He had no more authority to do
this act than he would have to march to
the State Capitol and dispense the Legis-
lature at the point of the bayonet, and
his course is tyrannical and indefensi-
bic violation of right that lies at the
very foundation of republican freedom
+" If this is the manner in which We are
to be governed, our elections are mere
farce. If military officer is to be Judge
of the intentions Of every public meet
ing, with the power to dispense, the only
choice the people can have is that Of ac-
cepting whatever he may decree. 1t is
folly to discuss whether we shall accept
the emancipation scheme oe Lincoln or
not. We had as well write and talk OF
the civil government Of the inhabitants
of the moon. We are subjugated and
crushed; our Legislature is an empty,
vaporing debating society our Courts
are mere mustang courts, without the fun
that enliveus them. 1t is a worse condi-
ton than to be under an unlimited mo-
narchy. The ruler of kingdom will
find his interest in that Of his people. -
Such authority as Colonel Gilbert has ex-
ercised has no such restraint. The pros
perity Of the people of this State is no
thing to him. Ills obedience to the will
Of his superior is his only interest The
military officers are in the position of the
Persian Satrap or Roman Project They
may tyfannize, Cypress and enrich them
selves at the expense of the provinces
as their predecessors did, with the excep
ton that there is no tribunal, as at Rome
to make them disgorge. 1t is a policy
fatal to freedom, fatal to the Union,
We are for no terms with Rebels
but we are opposed to following their ex-
ample in evil. Armed Rebels must be
resisted with arms; but we must moi
throw away the sacred rights which our
fathers so hardly won. If this Convon.
ton had been allowed TO proceed, VIC ex-
pected to oppose their candidates and re-
sist their policy We never had any
doubt that they would be repudiated by
the people. The contest was already de-
cided beforehand, and this act had not
even necessity to Justify it,
1--WE hope this is the last time we
shall have ever have to record an act Of
military usurpation in this State. We
hope that this policy, subversive Of the
interests Of the State and the Union. will
receive prompt condemnation at the hands
of the people aud the authorities We
hope that Colonel Gilbert and other off
GERS will confne themselves strictly to the
exeecise Of their duties, and not incur
the imputation that they are more dan
gcrous to the rights aud liberties of their
own people than to the armed enemy
Mistaken zeal, mistaken loyalty, may be
as dangerous as rebellion itself; and peo-
pie who submit to a uniform destruction
Of the laws, which lie at the foundation
of civil liberty, are ruined, and the evil
falls with equal force upon the degraded
civilian and the dcmoralized soldier"