Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-26
INVASION OF PRIVATE RIGHTS.

The Radical InqussttIOn seizing Per
sons and Papers under the Plea Of
state Necessity.
So rapidly do high abuses Of govern
mental authority multiply, that the appre-
tensions Of the people cannot keep pace
with the swift and alarming strides Of IN
ordinate power. Usurpations that cannot
be INDUCED without imminent peril, find
tolerance in that popular acquiescence
which should be rather blast OF destruc-
ton to tyranny, were vigilance as active
"A crime IL enterprising. The new danger
is now from the intolerable presumption oil
the managing committee Of the House in
dragging all society, as il mill-pond, with
the rest Of their so-called investigating au-
thority, 10 fish for pretexts Of accusation
against Senators; or even FOR the still
emptier purpose Of impressing the country
with the suspicion that real fire exists, and
ia yet 10 be brought into public view, by
filling the air with a great smoke which
means, in reality, only TO hide themselves
by their corrupt sham Of investigation"
Against all this we protest in the name and
in the behalf Of the inviolable rights of the
people.
A mans papers are closely allied to his
person. In the Federal Constitution, as
in the bill Of rights Of every State of the
republic, the person and the papers are
protected under the same inyiolable col
lection:
The right Of the people TO be secure in
their persons, houses, papers and effects,
against unreasonable searches or seizures,
shall not Be Uiolated and no warrant shall
issue but upon probable cause, supported
by oath or affirmation, and particularly
describing the place 10 be searched and the
persons or things 10 be seized.-COnStitU-
ton United States, Art ".
1t has been publicly represented that this
managing committee have ontrageously de-
manded access 10 books of aecout, bust
ness memoranda, private correspondence,
etc, without the least conformity to the
rules through which the omnipotent Par
lament Of Great Britain would not dare
TO break. Few men Of business, and none
Of the legal profession, are ignorant that
the documents, books, and papers Of third
persons cannot be made evidence in
any suit, civil or criminal, against the
consent Of the party having them in custO-
dy, except after a very strict and guarded
prelimary proceeding, and not at all, I'M
less the necessity falls within certain well
defined conditions, which must be made
out before the process Issues, and that pro-
cess must particularly describe the very
thing wanted, whether IL be a search war
rant or other process. Under no circum-
stances whatever has any party, the gov
eminent not excepted, in any suit, civil or
criminal, in law, equity, or admiralty,
been permitted TO demand access to papers
for the purpose OF seeing whether or not
they contained desirable evidence, not even
under an order for an inspection Of books
or papers. Such are called by the lawyers
Fishing applications and every attempt
which bears any Of the character of fish
ing expedient is instantly discountenanced
as odiOus and intolerable .s.s
After all this, is the reader prepared 10
believe, as has been announced in the
newspapers, that the telegraph operators
IN this city have been commanded by the
managing committee TO bring before them
all the dispatches sent by them on a given
day
How long will IL be until the postmaster
will be commanded to deliver the msil-
bags TO the managing committee? May
he disobey with impunity7 Not with a
l"idNAc tholN "a lhiPuhAt1 hlhh % NAIVgtb
by q telegraph operator or any citizen. la
the latter case there is nothing in the ma
ture Of a right TO 30 high handed de-
mand, and there could not be less for
the former. But why stop at the |
mails? If these things are TO be
INDUCED, what sanctity will remain II
Butler is curious 20 know the conversations
Of the marital chamber, whose arm shall |
protect a wife against his brutal curiosity /
May she not be brought TO the committee
room alone, and subjected TO a cladestine
Interrogation on any subject, and in any
manner his polluted caprice may suggest
Citizens The law surrounds you. Its /
impalpable but powerful texture mails You
IN more than steel Trust il. Defy these
latest conspiracies for your oppression and
shame, and bring these political bucca-
neers 10 their senses. The Constitution Is
roof and walls for your manhood. The
Radical party is a sot, Keeling amidst its
niIlars Itr5,,e han ,,,g