Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-26

cosoonp. N H.. January IS. 1862.


Mr. praR SIN: ! read with unusual interest
and Satisfaction the debate which occurred IN the
senate on the 10Th ut upon the resolution OF
Mr. Trumbull. and desire to express my thanks
for the sentiments and thoughts which the occa-
sion elected from YOU. Ny convictions asd
sympsthies are with YOU thoroughly when you
say. II do not believe that 1t imprisonment up
on ieffres de caehefl promotes the purposes OF
those who desire this Union brought TO
gether ag,in-an object. OF all Others. to me the
most desirable fit he possible
In NV estimation, the mover OF this inquiry
deserves the gratitude of freemen everywhere.
and ONLY utiers truth with force when I've dec ares
that the mower without charge. without ex1mi
nation. without opportunity OF reply. nj the cick
Of the telegraph ~ arrest man ~ pearetble
PARTON Of the country aud imprison him. - "oi
the essence Of despotiSm. And vet the pnbNc
mind wonld seen thus FAR To have been scarcely
more aroused by current events OF this character
than u was, years ago. when we received accounts
ol similar incarcerations ordered by the father OF
the now tepo-el king OF the two Sicies How
incredible il will appear hereafter when history
shall be written nm. that Mt this period OF the
Republic the constitutional safeguards of person
nj liberty could have heen so easily and with so
little apparent concern swept away.
The Secretary of State. ON the 2'th ill.,, four
DAYS after the debate in which you participated
addressed an official note to me. which seems To
illustrate in n striking IN INNER tive slight grounds
or rather the groundless suspicious. unon which
in thee times citizens are liibe to suffer in repu
tation. II not in loss of liberty | replied with
out delay. and. 80 Ear a. ain personally affected
nav trrst viii. leave the matter in quietncss
upon the files of the. department. IL i my he
lief. however, that ~ recent measures have been
frtught with more mischief thn the issuing OF
isffres de cachsf. and consequent arrests and i'm
prisonment. in violation Of the provisions of the
CONSTITUTION: and the e,rer the system - ef
fectualiv checked the better il will be for the
Government and the country. well ~ for the
subjects Of oppression. The evidence is abund
ant to show thatthe plea of necessity. except In
the presence or immediate neighborhood of hos
tile armies. where the administration Of law un-
der the usual forms NAV be inevitably suspended
is not gra-iousy accepted by the mass OF the
people Union without security tor persona lib
ertv is not the Union which they have cherished
and tn the restoration Of which they look with
earnest desire and hope
Nothing, perhaps. could express more clearly
their views this point than the language OF the
great modern historian, who died M compare
sivelv recent period. leaving hs work incomplete.
In tracing the successive steps in the progress ot
British liberty Mr.. M,canlay saws: We have
been taught. nv long experience. that We cannot
without danger suffer any breach of the Constltu
ton to- pass unnoticed " AS we cannot. without
the risk Of evils from which Imagination recoils.
emslov physical force rs n check on mlsgovern-
meat IL l. evidently our wisdom 10 keen MI con
stitutional checksou misgovernment in the high
est state Of efficency-to watch with jealousy
the frat beginning of encroachment AMI never
to suffer irregularities even when harmless in
themselves, 10 PISS nnchallengei. lest thew nc
qure the force OF precelents" Who in our land
will affirm that any other doctrine ia worthy OF
those who hold their rights under solemn writ
ten charterf IL il cheering tn know that inquiry
his been moved IN the right quarter. and that
able and fearless men are stirred by sense OF
what il due In our fellow citizens. who have been
imprisoned wthou, assignment Of cause and dis
chrryei without explanations: and vet more such
IA are still in confinement and precluded bv
guards and PRISON bolts from the privilege Of the
great writ of liberts +" and thus OF confronting
before "a competent judicial tribunal suggestion OF
crime which the act of imprisonment itself i'm
plies
OF the latter class. believe. from my knowl
edge of the men. are not few worthy sons of
M,rvland who love the Union AS YOU do. and
who have strven not To DESTROY, but 10 preserve
10 Iffree from ANY faint ofcrime, n take them
TO be- they will derive unfaiug capacity for en-
dursnce from the consciousness that they have
never nourishei their manly strength to strike
stout blows at the foundation which their fathers
hid-ihit they have never participated in lines
of action or in startling utteranceS calculated to
encourage aggression upon the rights and insti
buttons of sovereign States--to foster sectional
diStrust and luminosity. or to inaugurate conflict
between different parts of the Confederation. and
thus To weiken unity of feeling. interest and pur
pose IT, on the other hand they guilty, the
law will iniict adequate punishment. whatever
that may be, as IL should do. But how long il
such durance. without hearing. to be their
allotment am, very truly. your friend.
FRANKIfN PIERCE.
Hon James Pearce, United States Senator.
Washington, ID G.