Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-20
secret S1lG1ITg Il Con eIaVes ,ST Con

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All classical readers are familiar with the
graphic description which Sallust gives Of
the meetings of Cataline and the instru-
ments sof his unholy ambition, when they
gathered In nsecret-Conclave to plot the de-
struction Of the Republic. /-arsf
And another. even greater one than the
famous historian of the conspiracy of
Cataline, has, with a few touches Of his
magic pen, painted the memorable scene,
when the TriumVfrs,the "central directory
of their day, deliberated In secret what dis
position they should make of the spoils of
the Roman Empire, and what fate they
should decree for men who opposed their
unrighteons purposes. We quote a por-
tion of this remarkable scene:.a w. ~
Antony, octaYius and Lepidus, seated
Ant, These many, then, shall die; their
names arerprieked. r-yr~vT = s7i
0cte Your brother, too, must die; con-
sent yOu, Lepidus? YAK 49, rs
Lep. do consent.
Octv. Prick down, Antony. a' .9a' e4
Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not
live, who Is your sisters son, Mark 4sn-
Ant He shall not live; look, with spot
damn him. ....l -.-----ers '
is ever thus ambition, tyranny, and
treason work out their proud purposes in
secret. Conspiracy is born in secrecy.
With these remembrances and considera-
tions before us, we have never had ought
but hate of secret political cOnclaves
Hence it is,with fixed feeling Of sorrow
we have heard of the nightly assemblages
of the majority of Congress in the Capitol,
with closed and guarded doors, under Che
Injunction OF profound secrecy. ~ p
This is the Inauguration Of new era
in our history, and itisNone to which the
attention of the American people should
be called. 1t must be remembered these
are not the meetings of persons without
authority, about whose movements the pub
lie are no way concerned, but it is the domi-
nant party of lighthouses of Congress /; it
Is the Senate and the House in secret con-
claVe; it is the legislative power of forty
millions of people, in concealed delibera-
tion.
What .does-it mean? If it is legitimate
business they are after, why isnot that
business transacted with open doors, in the
light of day, and under the eyes, of the
American people? 1t looks as ifiit was
something they were ashamed of, or feared
to have known. Have they so lost donf-
dence inothe Intelligence of the people, that
they fear to trust that people with lriowl-
CuSO VI pllDllC. DO Iuty lCdT UHdJ
their power is giving way, and that the
ground is crumbling beneath them, and
some secret scheme must be concected to
arrest the disastrous turn eventsare taking?
Or do their purposes go beyond this; do
they mediate anew violation of the Con-
stitution to secure their hold on power ?
Do they forge u mysterious thunderbolt to
hurl at the breast of the noble patriot in
the Executive chair, who has stood as I'M
yielding as destiny in opposition to their
wicked and insensate purposes? Are they
preparing themselves for one last desper-
ate onslaught uponthe Executive power ?
Do they mediate confiscations and pro-
scrfptions, or impeaehments? Their at
titude is calculated toalarm the public con-
fdence. Some think they mediate coup
a etqte, but. we aequit them of, this folly
Certain tits they do not nightly assemble
like consplratorsin the Capitol, Witli closed
doors, to gaze at each others faces, or to
indulge in t6el1xdfy of public speaking.
No; they near business, as they slip up
with stealthy steps by night to the Capitol
We have not learned whether, like Guy
Fawkes, they move with their dark Ian
terms. But whether they do or not, we
protest against their longer profaning the
sacred Capitol with their midnight COM
claves.- NGtiOnaI IntelIigencer.