The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-06-29

most formidable convention of the SINGER
Republicans, and still further, the EN-
phatic letter of acceptance by the candi
date of that Convention, Gen. John c
Fremont, the first candidate also Of th
Republican party for the Presidency eigh
years ago, upon the rallying cry of Free
Speech and Free Press, give renewed
hope that at last the reign of arbitrar,
power Is about TO be brought to an enc
in the United States. 1t is neither jus
nor fit. therefore, that the wrongs inflicted
under "Order Thirty eight" and The
other edicts and acts of such power
should any longer be endured-certainly
not by me alone, But every ordinary
means of redress has first been exhausted
yet either by the direct agency of the
Administration and its subordinates, oil
through its influence or intimidation, OF
because of want of jurisdiction in the
civil courts to meet a case which nc
American ever in former times conceived
to be possible here, all have failed
Counsel applied in my behalf to an un-
just Judge for the writ of habeas corp.s
1t was denied; and now the privilege OF
LHdL WIN 10 ouS uSpChuSO Ny dCS Vi WY COS
and Executive order in every State.
The Democratic Convention of Ohio,
one year ago, by resolution formally
presented through a committee of your
best and ablest men, in person at Wash
ington, demanded of the President, in be-
half of very large minority of the peo-
pie, revocation of the edict of banish-
ment. Pretending that the public safety
then required it, he refused; saying, at
the same time, that sit would afford him
pleasure to comply as soon as he could
by any means be made to believe that the
public safety would not suffer by it." One
year has elapsed. yet this hollow pretense
is still tacitly asserted, and to-day l am
here to prove it unfounded in fact. I
appealed to the Supreme Court of the
United States; and because Congress had
never conferred jurisdiction in behalf of
a citizen tried by tribunal unknown for
such purpose, to the laws, and expressly
forbidden by the Constitution, it was pow
erless to redress the wrong. The time
has, therefore, arrived, when it becomes
rue as citizen of Ohio and of the uni
ted States, to demand, and, by my own
act, to vindieate the rights, liberties and
which ! never forfeited, but of
which, for so many months, | have been
deprived Wherefore, men of Ohio, l
am again in your midst to-day. I owe
duties to the State, and am here to dis
charge them; l have rights as a citizen,
and an. here to assert them: wife and
child and home, and would enjoy all the
pleasures which are implied in those cher
ished words. But / am here for peace,
not turbulence; for quiet, not eonvulsions;
for order and law. not anarchy. Let no
man of the Democratic party begin any
act of violence or disorder; but let none
shrink from any responsibility. however
urgent, If forced upon him. Careful of
the rights of others, let him see to it that
he fully and fearlessly exacts his own.
Subject to rightful authority in all things,
nothing. Obedient to the Constitution
and law, let him demand and have the
full measure of protection which law and
Constitution secure to him.
MEN OF ONO: You have already vim
dcated your right to hear: it is now my
duty to assert my right to speak. Where
fore, as to the sole offense for which | was
arrested, imprisoned and banished-free
speech in criticism and condemnation of
the Administration; an Administration
ftly described in recent public paper
by one of its early supporters, marked
at home by disregard of constitutional
rights, by its violations of personal liber-
ty and the liberty of the press, and, as
its crowning shame. by it's abandonment
of the right of asylum, a right especially
dear to all free nations abroad. Irepeat
it here to-day, and will again and yet
again, so long as l live, or the Constitu-
ton and our present form of government
shall survive. The words then spoken
and the appeal at that time made, and
now enforced by one year more of taxa
tion and debt, and of blood and disaster,
entreating the people to change the pub
lie servants and she policy, not by force,
but peaceably, through the ballot, | now
and here reiterate in their utmost extent,
and with all their signihcancy I repeat
them, one and all, in no spirit of ehal-
lenge or bravado, but as earnest, sober,
solemn truth and warning to the people.
Upon another subject allow me here q
word:
A powerful, widely spread and very
dangerous secret; bound combina.
tion among the friends Of the Admins
tratien, known as the Loyal Unior
League" exists in every State, yet the
very men who control it, charge persist
emily upon the members of the Demo
cratic party, that they Rave organized
especially in the Eorthwest-the "Orde1
of the knights of the Golden Circle, o.
some other secret society, reasonable o.
''dlsloyal' in its character, affiliated will
the South, and for the purpose of armee
| resistance to the authorities of the Fed
eral and State Government. Whethe
any such ever existed, do not know; bu
the charge that organizations Of that sort
or having any such purpose, do now sz
ist among members of that party in Obi,
or other non-slaveholding States, is total
ly and positively false. That lawful,
political or party associations have bee1
established, having as their object, tn
organizing and strengthening of the Demo
cratic party. and its success in the comm
Presidential election, and, designed as
| t<,-t tI.,sx - LA T.T.x.-