The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-09
Hon. L.. ?. Milligan's Return Home,
IFrom the Frecman's Journal. !

4 IFron the Frecman's Journal
Col. Milligan, of Huntington, Ind, reach
ed his home on the 18th inst, accompanied
by friends that had met him on his way.
Our friend, rs. O'Rourke, of Allen county,
writes us:
He arrived at Huntington at TO 80 A. NJ.
and was received by d multitude of men,
women and children. Mr.. Rocher, Mayor
OF the city, welcomed Aim in neataddress.
The Colonel replied briefly, and during his
remarks men and women wept like chill
dren. Speeches were made almost contil,-
ually from IL O'Clock A. NJ Until 10 o'clock
p NJ. The hest Of feeling prevailed He
looks well All things considered, and is in
fine spirits. He knew nothing of our po-
litical condition as he had notseen paper
for months. Still he talked freely of polit-
ical principles as of old He was persec,l-
ted, but not crushed. will send you a
copy of the resolutions and proceedings as
soon as possible.
This was the reception, at his home, by
his neighbors who knew him, and his man.
ner of life, and his habits of thought, Of a
man venerable in years, more venerable for
his learning, and love Of justice, and of DO
liti6al rights. This is the reversal, by a
verdict Of the sober-minded people, of the
infamous edict of death by hanging, utter
ed against him by one of those train-band
mobs OF Stant0n's and Hollis, called "Mili.
tary Commissions" The Supreme Court
OF the United States has pronounced their
sentence void, and their action without
color of law. That sentence ponounces
those Military Commissioners as men hay.
ing attempted murder.
Cox Milligan's friends and neighbors
have recognized and asserted what we have
personally known of him; that he was a
freeman, too stern in political virtue to
bend to any storm Of laWless war-fanati
cism, but incapable of doing any act against
tile laws of his country. We regret that
the papers containing the Proceedings and
speeches Oh the occasion ofhisreturn home
have not reached our hand, the following
slip, we owe to our good friend of Fort
Wayne, who enclosed it to us in letter
envelope.
RESOLUTIONS RESPECTING COL. MILLIGAN
A committee on resolutions was then ap
pointed, consisting of James f. Mcdowell
of Grant county; Charles Reeves, Marshal
A. j. Douglas, of Whitley; w b. Saugh
ridge, OF Miami; Wm. Steele, of Wabash
7. $. ORourle, OF Allen; J. G. Smith, Of
Wallis DIR. Davenport, Of Kosciusko, anG
Samuel McCang.
The committee reported the following
which were adopted by a aifanimus vote.
Regolred, That with hearts fullo thanks
to a Divine, overriding power, and of hon
or to him whose presence we are assembled
to greet, we welcomed back to life, liberty
and horne, our friend, tho honored states
man--Col. l., T., AIilligan
Resolved That although arrested by q
mob, tried without jurisdiction, imprison
led without law, under the dietatiofl of 9
heartless and hypocritical administration
yet the latent principles Of Justice still
living in the minds ofthe American people
constituted public opinion, which has for
ced the highest judicial tribunal known ir
our nation to declare. him entitled to his
liberty--a victim Of oppression at thu
hands of the Government that should have
protected him, and to direct that he be re
stored to his rights as an innocent man, his
honor unstained, and q living vindicatiol
of the principle that
Truth crushed to earth will rise again.
| Reso1red, That in the persistent applica
| ton to practice Of the Democratic princi
| pies which have been ever ably advocated
by Col. Milligan, and for which he has Sc
generously suffered, alone lives, theilope O.
| perpetuation of Civil Liberty-the bene
fetal effects of which are nowhere demon
strated with more power thanin the release
of our honored guest and friend, and by
Gods help we will once more put them il
full force.
Resolced, That this terrible ordea
through which the country has passed dur
| ing the last FIVE years, and the issue of The
present hour, clearly demonstrate that thu
only means by which cur institutions car
be restored in their ancient yigor, is in {
return to those fundamental principles o
State Rights upon which the Federal sys
TEN was founded, and which were the land
marks that generally formed the guide o
all administrations prior to 1861, and fol
the maintenance of which our eminent
friend suffered in his person outrages thai
have scarcely paralelled in history
and despotisms.
ResoIped, That it is the duty of the
American people to Gust from Office, mer
who serve the times, and replace them by
men who recognize their constitutions
oaths and obligations, and will abide b,
them,
Resolued, That we are grateful for the
infueEce-fom whatever. source it come
that induced President johnson to oppose
his power to the waves Of usuypation sc
rapidly overwhelming us, and seek to give
us the benefit ofour constitutional guaran
tees, and We hail hin, in those acts, as .
faithful public servant.