Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-04-30

bodies Of mercenary troops, and transfer
ing them to other powers who needed their
services in the battle Geld. Bodies Of
Swiss troops have been so hired, and it Is
well known that Hessians were employed
BY England in the war for American In
dependence. But the case of the Ohio
Volunteers is altogether different from
these. They are citizens Of the State Of
Of Ohio and have not enlisted in the ser
vice Of the United States They were
organised as Siste troops, and have assuw 4
ed no obligationse which can BY any rea-
sonable construction be claimed to hold
them to the service Of the Federal Govern
meht They are not transferred for pay as
mercenaries, with their consent, but the
Governor Of the State has ussrped the
power to bind them by contract to which
their consent has net only never been ask
ed, but in reference to which they have not
been even consulted. SO heiRous an out
rage, and 50 high handed an exercise of ex-
ecutive power has never before been com
mitted by any State Executive in the his
tory Of this government.
Governor Brough had no more right to
make pledge or contract Of this kind,
than be would have had to transfer 10000
cattle belonging to citizens Of Ohio, to the
use of the Federal Government. He has
violated rights more sacred than the rights
Of property. He has made contract fol-
every member of the State Volunteer or
ganization which involves not ouly the
most important pecuuiary interests, but
the life of each Of them, and has done SO
without any authority whatever expressed
or implied, from those on whose behalf
he has contracted such an obligation.
1t is true, the most Of these gentlemen
voted for Mr.. BRouaH, and in favor of the
vigorous prosecution of the war--and it is
not unfair to presume they would be will
ing, being organized and equipped as Sold
iers to bear part in the grand programme
of crushing out the rebelliOn"-but this
does not touch the question, 1t is true
that they as individualS may have but lit
tie right to complain inasmuch as they
have been the advocates of a party that
comedies TO those in authority the exercise
of any power they msy deem necessary to
carry out the great end of crushing the re-
bellion," although such powers may be al
together without constitutional warrant or
even in the very face of constitutional
prohibitions. By their acquiescencs, and
indeed with their hearty appreciation, the
constitutional authority of the officers Of
our State Government, Executive and Ju.
dicial, has been trampled contemptuously
under foot by the military sotraps whom
it has pleased the powers at Washington
to put the military jurisdiction over US
Not only our State laws, but the provisions
Of our State Constitution have been set al
open defiance, with the expressed approval
of these very men, when Democrats hav,
been the victims of arbitrary power. Nov
the ingredients of the same poisoned chal
ice are commended to their own lips. The,
can now taste its bitterness themselves anC
. can lament, when now it is too late, tha
fatal infstuation which in a moment O
passion induced them to renSunce thos
: sacred constitutional guarantees whicl
: were designed for the impartial protectio
2 of all. 1s.a cs-H arH .a9
1t is the widest folly for men to eIpec
when once they release their rulers fror
7 the obligation Of fundamental laws, tina
there is any refuge Of safety left for then
: JOHN BRoUoH has the same power to kee
these volunteers in the United States sci
+ vice for three years that he had to orde
u them into it for three months. Conced
to him the power to do any act Whatsve
9 outside the authority which the Constitr
u ton and laws of the State confer upo
J him. and you make him an absolute de-
. pot; you give him an authority which Il
., Emperor Of Russia would scarcely dare
At exercise over his serfs, or which the Suits
of Turkey would hesitate to assume ov
t his Janizsries. ....