The Shasta courier., 1864-04-16
Arbitrary Arrests

Once more, after a long pause, our ears are
saluted on every corner by the TWO "orus
that head this article; and why is this! Is
4 because a good. loyal citizen-one who has
ever borne in mind the good OF the Govern
nent. and the rights Of others and their pro-
perty. and in his actions held continually IN
view the golden rule of do unto others as
YOU would have them do unto you'-has
been arrested and taken from among his
friends and sympathizers? For the sake of
humanity, we earnestly wisl it were so; for
that gave him birth, we wish it were so in
sorrow for the dead and buried, and the
fatherfess children and widows that this
mans perjury has made, we wish it were so ;
but the facts are too glaring-they rob us of
sny such consolation, and more in sorrow
than in anger we write that there are those
earnestness worthy of a good cause, are de.
nouncing the Government for this summary
and just proceeding. Even the technically
rerdoned criminal himself admits that his
conviction was just, and wonders why his
sentence was SO light. Yet, in the face of
this. and the violated contracts (see another
column voluntarily taken on himself, men
in our community are found who are so pre-
judiced against the party in powe7 that they
cannot see any justice, any proprlety or any
humanity in compelling this man to atone for
the many wrongs committed against a too
confding Government, and when they know
that the world never recognized any atone
ment but death for violation of such an OBJ
legation "Oh, shame. where is thy blush?'
1t has forsaken the cheeks of the Copper
heads of this community, and has ceased to
make its appearance upon the brazen faces
of those who once were proud to admire the
starry banner waving in triumph. and who
were once guides and examplars to an ad-
miring and patriotic community. But, alas!
how have they fallen! The loyal assem-
blages are unknown to them, their footsteps
sre not in the path of patriotism, their words
and their acts are all encouraging to those
who are fighting to destroy this Government,
aye, whenever traitor is arrested, as Arte-
mus Ward says. they slop over ." the
liberties of the people are about to be taken
from them.r And just here we are reminded
of one striking contrast between Union men
and Copperheads and Secessionists, and that
is this: we never hear of a Union man who
is apprehensive Of being arbitrarily arrested,
or complaining of the abridgement of the
freedom of speech. It is only those who
kno,c that their sympathies and wishes are
with the Southern Confederacy who feel in
danger and rest uneasily. 1t is the enemies
Of the country, and net her defenders, who
thus sleep on a bed of thorns, and justly,
too, for it is bnt short trip to Victoria or the
Southern Confederacy.
We say to Union men that this ebulition of
feeling on the arrest just made is
an evidence that the defeat the Cop.
perheads experienced last fall has had no
salutary effect; their enmity towards the
Government is as great as ever. their bitter
ness apparently more intense. They only
wait the opportunity to strike for JEFF. Davis
and the Southern Confederacy. Their past
silence and secret moves bode no good for
the Union 1t is like a sleeping volcano, rea-
dy to burst forth at any time, and bury the
State with its lava of secessionism.