The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-03
FEDERALISM AND DEMOCRACY,

EDITOR Rock ISLAND ARGUS, Dear Sir - !
The coming election is OF sufficient import |
ance to awaken and unite the democrats (the |
only advocates of free speech and q free press
now In the country upon the undivided sup |
port of the ticket nominated at the late con-
veution.
The return of peace has certainly bridged
the chasm between the peace" and war
democrats, aud it now, at least, exhibits an
old federal propensity as natural and prehen-
sile as the tail OF an opOssum feastng on
grapes for douglas Democrat" to accept
nomination from the federal party, at this
important juncture in public affairs, when no
patriotic reason can be given for such a
course. The patriotic reasons are, in fact,
all on the other sde-but grapes" are invt-
ing to human as well as TO mere animal cpl
cures.
The republican party $50 called) is undeni-
ably the old federal party revivifed, and it
exhibits towards the IOhite population of the
south, and to true repu blican principles, ha
tired intensified ten told since the demise of
that party en- the defeat of the elder Adams,
in 1900.
The four years war which has desolated
the fairest portion of the civilized globe, in
volved us in public debt greater (rate of In-
terest consldered) than that of Great Britain,
and sent to premature graves more of the
bone and sinew of the industrial classes than
any other modern war was originated in in
tense hatred to the white people of the south
and the political principles Of the old repub
hcan party. The programme of this terrible
Contest Was laid bg the younger Adams and
Gerrit Smith, in 1889, as the reader will see
by referring 20 MIR Smiths letter to Presi-
dent Lincoln. AnG worse than this, the OBJ
iect OF the war was 10 glut the revenge of the
New Egg land puritan ieIeraIIstS in general
and that uI John =. Adams In particular, for
the deieai OF his father and the consequent
overthrow Of his monarcaial principles. Of
these facts there Is ample historical and cir
cumstsntIal evidence.
But the people of 1898, just out uf "A war in
defence Of self gOvernment, and glowing with
an intense love Of liberty, met the steaIthy
tread Of despotic power. Enthusiastically fire.
shadowed by the enactment and enforcement
of the ''sedition law" al the threshold, aud
for ak decades, up to 1861, rescued and pre-
served the rights of the states, the freedom of
speech and oil the press, from the covert at
tacks of monarchy under the guise OF federal
ISM
In 1860. revivlfsd federalism on the plea
/ of ''re-cOnstructIng the republican parry of
| lI9S," and by adopting its name, regained
! Its lost power, and promptly echpsed the
"reigH of terror inaugurated by their proto-
| ty pes-the federaists OF 1898; for the ''sedi-
ton law" secured e. its victims the inaiena-
| BILE right of u trial by jury of their peers
while revivlted federalism, aplng the derpnt-
/ Isms OF Europe, threw OF all disguise and IN
carcerated its victims, contrary To, and in yiO-
| latiOn of all customs, usages, laws and cousti-
tutiOns on this continent, by wholesale, with
out accusation, without trial. into Loaf hsOme
military bastlies. The spirit OF ''SeUeHty-Sir
had measurenbiy died out and these hyenas
Z r., h..
mGSse, aud even democrats, terror stricken
| by the audacity of those in power, submitted
! in moody silence to the Incarceration of
| their frlends-the Incarceration of men inno-
| cent. Of any crime, according to all the law
! presidents aud the lOng-esta biished customs
of English and American Jurisprudence.
As the stream canuOt be less foul than
the fountain from which II flows so the
crimes of those in high places necessarily aud
Inevitably led to mob law" in every neigh
borhood, TO silence all opposition to the des
potism at Washington.
To protect these mObs, armed LOYAL
Leaguers" sprang into existence, and these
were naturally followed. tor self-defence, by
other secret orders called, perhaps rightly,
tx nights of the Golden Circle " or some 9th
er cognOmen, unknown to the public Like
produces like" and will, to the end of time
and we need not wonder at this determine
ton, however reprehenslble, 10 protect self
whenever all laws aud constitutions are VIC
lated by our rulers and their partisans
| make these statements under a firm con
viction of their truthfuiness. aud you can
vouch for one of them, IN your individual ex
perlenCe, as well as that of Mr.. Bulley of
this city. Aud such cases are not like an
gels visits-few and far bet ween" for II Is
patent to all men OF observation that but few
neighborhoods have escaped the visitations of
these inturiated mobs.
Your just castigation of the Beardseys was
well merited but the moment | read your
application OF the word renegade" to John
NJ. Wilson, Esq, | was truly sorry Not
that you meant to charge him with any thing
but apostasy from democratic principIes but
because the word renegade" is understood
to be one of reproaoh. Noah Webster Gays
by the laws of England, aud of the United
States, vagabonds are liable 60 he taken ID
and punished The word renegade" he
first defines as IAN apostate from the faith -
aud second a. "a vagabond :" and this" he
continues, sis the sense in which this word is
mostly used in popular language" In this
sense, then, it is not applicable to Mr. Will
son, and / am sure that you are too honora-
bic to so apply it. This brings me to the OBJ
jeot l had In view, namely candid review
of Mr., \ ilson's letter, dated Goal Valley
October 4th, 1862" and published, at that
time, in your paper, but as these remarks &c
cupy more space than was anticipated the
subject will be resumed next week.
AN ADVOCATE oE FREE SPEECH.
REMARKS BY THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS
We give our correspondent place for his