The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-15
Secretary Stant0n's Dogs Turn ON
Him.


Secretary Stantcn,s Dogs Turn ON
Him.
Wepublish in another column three
notable articles from three OF the New
York journals-iournals representing the
extremes of political opinion, but now
united in condemnation of the Star
chamber proceedings going on at Wash
ington, and in demanding the restora-
tion Of the laws of the land. In times
when it was neither pleasant nor safe to
do so, the conservative journals of the
country steadily resisted eneroachments
on the rights guaranteed to us by law
When the bar of the United States, to its
lasting shame, was dumb; when the jul
dietary seemed almost eagerly to seize
the opportunity for continuing system
which made the existence of a judiciary
at once superhuous and ridiculous, to the
credit of journalism in America, be 1t
said, that there was no time when the
exercise of despotie authority was not ex-
posed and denounced as it deserved by
the conservative press Of the land, at the
peril of its very existence. We are dis
posed to forgive those who shirked the
burthens and the heat of the day, in the
qualification we feel that no Journal on
titled to respect in this country now JUS
titles, under any pretext, the suspension
of the laws, devised for the protection of
all
EThere is not an argument which can
be used now for the maintenance OF civil
liberty that was not equally pertinent
any time for four years past. 1t is mis-
take to suppose thai the Government
was strengthened by the preparation OF
illegal acts in its name. If there was in
the North any opposition to the war. IT.
had it's birth in the feeling that we were
in danger of losing through war those
liberties which make the Government
precious, mainly because it was intended
to make them permanent and sure. Lib
erty is strangled always under the pre-
tence that it is incompatible with the
safety of the State. Marked political
divisions would not have existed i'll the
North, if they had not been provoked by
encroachments upon rights which ought
to be guarded with peculiar vigilance
during the excitement growing out of
the existence of war, for it is in such
times that the liberty is exposed to de-
struction. Spacious pretexts can always
be devised to lull the apprehensiOns of
the people. but mo man can be grateful
or liberal of his conscience, or woman of
her honor, or nature of its liberty" no
matter what plea is offered, Those who
make sport of the laws of the land, must
for their own safety deprive the people
of the power on which free governments
are based. Those who have been impris-
oniny men without the authority of the
law, cannot resign authority and mingle
again as private individuals with their
fellow-citizens. Hence, for self protec-
ton, they must use force and fraud to
retain power, despite the will of the peo-
pie, and in this necessity Republics find
a grave.
We do not believe it to be seemly in
the men who encouraged this administ
tration to set aside the law in the North.
ern States to denOunce them for not at
once abandoning the course which these
men little while ago zealously defend.
ed. If Mr.. STANTON was justified two
Years ago in ignoring the laws of thf
land, under the plea that the public
safety required it, he is justified now. "
was question of opinion then; it is
question of opinion now. n 1t may. he
hard thing to try men accused Of murder
secretly and before strange tribunal
bnt surely it was quite as hard to tear )
man from the bosom of his family in the
"dead waste aud the middle of the
night" and to throw him into dungeon
without any trial at all. 1t ia known to
every Administration journal in the land
that men were thrown into prison with
out being accused of any offence knowh
: to the law, and left there until the pub
. lie forgot both them and their safferings.
1t was "Copperheadism," it was called
!, "treason" to protest against this shame
upon our country.
lIr. STANTON will see by the temper
displayed by the journals who were so
recently his apologists. that he had no
enemies so dangerous as the pretended
: who called his lawlessaess zealons loyal.
. ty, and who encouraged him to persist m
it. The men are not to be trusted who
pander to dangerous public sentiment
instead of endeavoring to correct it. Mr..