Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-14
.iudge Drummond ON Loyalty.

We yesterday published the testimony of
Hon. Thomas Drummond, Judge of the
United States Court for the northern dis
trict of Illinois, before the military court
now in session In Cincinnati for the trial OF
the Chicago prisoners. Judge Drummond
was summoned as awitness for the defense,
and gave evidence touching the loyalty"
of Judge Morris, one OF the prisoners. We
append his definition of loyalty, and his
Illustrations, and comments in connection
Herewith:
IL understand loyalty to consist in obe-
dience to the Government and the law, and
can only repeat what said before, that II
man is convinced in his own mind that by
war this country can never be united-if
it is his honest conviction-he may be in
favor of peace, and still be loyal man.
Supposing we were at war with foreign
nation, it would not be pretended that a
man might not be for peace, and yet be a
loyal man. If he was satisfied that the con-
tinuance of the war would only add to the
expenditure of treasure and blood, and be
of no benefit to the country, he certainly
could be an advocate for peace, and still be
a loyal man. So it may be, apprehend, in
the case of the rebellion, that, If man is
satisfied in his own mind that this ce1ntry
cannot be reunited by war-and perhaps
there isno man who has not, at some time
during the past fouryears, had doubts forced
upon his mind-he may be in favor Of peace
and yet be a loyal man."
The ''loyan will not question the "loyal-
ty" of Judge Drummond, for he testified
that he voted for Mr.. Lincoln in 1860 and
1864. They may except to his definition,
though few of them, we think, will have
the hardihood to attempt its refutation, and
none of them we know will assail it success
fully. 1t is as clear as brief, and the illus
trations employed are as simple as conclu-
siye. The whole is the statement of fear
less, honest and able judge, who, elcvating
himself above partisanship, testities to the
law, and rebukes the proscriptive spirit
which would wrest grand legal principles
from their rightful course to wreak ven
geance on political opponents. Most
worthily, in the character of witness, has
Judge Drummond vindicated his qualifca-
tions for the honorable station which ac-
qures additional honor from his discharge
of its weighty and perpleXing duties.
But it is not alone, or chiefly, for the pre-
cision and correctness of his definition, or
the force and brevity of his illustrations
and argument, that the testimony of Judge
Drummond, in this connection, is sugges-
tive and commendable. The tolerant and
catholic spirit it reflects is in marked con-
trast with the bitter and despotic one which
instituted the court before whom he APP
peared, and in the act trampled upon the
majesty of the law of which he is the in
telligent and impartial minister. 1t is such
measures of lawless violence, and the par
tisan and vindictive spirit that has dictated
them, which have operated equally with his
general policy to array the Democratic par
ty against the Administration of Mr.. Lin
coln.-ChicagO Times.
The country will thank Judge DRUMMoND
for his definition of "loyalty"-not be-
cause it is new; but because it is
just. According to the definition of
this Judge, who is member of the Admin
istration party, man may be in favor even
of a recognition of the Southern Confeder-
acy and yet be "loyal man."