Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-09-16

hepuOllcan party Is ''SCand Dy Cne C0nstl
tuition P" Ifthat does not out HBRoD HERO
! we know not the force of language.
When che Constitution of the Unite
States was formed, fears were entertaine
of a consolidated government, in which th
powers that rightfully belonged to tn
| States and the people, would be usurpe
by Congress or by the President. The Cor
| stitution was ratified, but the States all, o
nearly all demanded new guarantees, an
certain amendments, ten in number, wer
proposed to that instrument, and adopted
in order to protect the rights of the States
Without single solitary exception to TAX
even portion of the curse from it, euer
single one of these ten amendments to the Con
stitution hdoe been uioldted, in letter and il
spiritby this party calling itself publican, ,dur
ing the last sic yearsl We put this assertion
in Italic letter to make 1t the more EN-
phatic.
We give these amendments in the ordel
in which they were adopted, and we advis,
the editor of the Commercial to read them
"ART. 1. Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, ol
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or OF the
press: or the right of the people peaceably
TO assemble, and to petition the Govern
lnent for redress of grievances"
Although the present Abolition party,
before they assumed power, were noted
for their clamor for 'free speech,,' and a
'free press" yet almost as soon as its
chosen men commenced ruling the Repub-
lie, they not only abridged the freedom OF
Speech" but incarcerated men in noisome
and distant prisons, for daring to exercise
it. So far, indeed, did they carry their vio-
lation of the free speech part of the Consti-
tuition, that Mr.. LINCOLN, in the case OF
took the still bolder
ground that men were to be punished for
not thinking right, as well as for speak
their thoughts.
sART. 2. A well regulated Militia, be-
ing necessary to the security of free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear
Arms, shall not be iLfringed."
So far from the rights of the people to
bear arms not being infringed, dwelling
after dwelling was broken open by men
having no authority, except that of some
tool of the party in power, commanding
better men than himself who claimed their
power on the despotic plea of military ne
cessity."
CART. 8. No Soldier shall, in times OF
peace be quartered in any house, without
the consent of the owner, nor in time of
war, but in manner to be prescribed by
law"
Not man in the army, officer, private,
or hanger on, but can give testimony of the
FIRE quent violation of this clause.
CART. 4. The right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effect, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated, and no war
rants shall issue, but upon probable cause.
by oath or affirmation, and pal =
ticularly describing the place to be search
ed, and the persons or things to be seized"
In Ohio, far removed from the seat of
war, houses were broken open at the dark
hour of midnight, without warrant or
other authority of law, papers and effects
seized, and the owners imprisoned, as was
the case with Dr.EDsoN B.OLDs,at Lancas-
ter, and C.L.VALLANDIGHAM,at Dayton,tor
no crime. Had such an outrage been COM
mitted in monarchical England, where
every mans house is his castle. it would
have created feeling that would have
aroused spirit of indignation, convulsing
the country from centre to circumference.
"ART. 5. No person shall be held to an
swer for a capital, or otherwise Infamous
crime, unless on presentment or indict-
nent of a Grand Jury, except in cases
s1s,, IN f6n md vol B..
the Militia, when in actual service in time
Of War or public danger; nor shall any
person be subject for the same offence to be
twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor
shall be compelled in any Criminal Case to
be a witness against himself,nor be de-
prived of life, liberty or property, without
iue process of law; nor shall private prop
erty be taken for public use, without just
Men were condemned to death, and in
several cases executed, who never were in
;he military or naval service of the United
States, without Indictment by a grand jury,
Ind without trial except by mock mill
AIRY court. At one time three men, MILL
JAN, BowLEs and HoRsEY, thus tried in
and condemned to death, SUBJ
had their sentence changed to
for long term in the Ohio
were liberated, because the
Supreme Court of the United States decided
hat they were imprisoned, tried, and SEN
enced without due process of law, and
without Justice. Mrs. SURRATT, at Wash
ng ton, with others, were thus tried, con-
lemned and executed, without the formal
ty of presentment by grand jury, and
'trangled to death on the gallows, for
crime of which every body now believes
Mrs. SURRATT innocent, and which, by the
,ivil law, even if she were guilty, was an
offense punished by imprisonment and not
by death.
"ART. 6. In all criminal prosecutions,
the accused shall enjoy the right to speedy
and public trial, by an impartial Jury OF
the State and District wherein the crime
shall have been committed, which District
shall have been previously ascertained by
law, and to be informed of the nature and
cause of the accusation; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him; to have
process for obtaining witnesses
In his favor, and to have the assistance of
counsel for his defense"
The case of JEFF. DAVIS is a glaring in.
stance of the violation of the sixth article
Of the amendments to the Constitution
for two years, on a charge of
being an accessory to the assassination of
LINcoLN-himselfand his friends
1rging that the Constitution gave him
light to speedy and public trial by an
impartial jury of the State and District
wherein the alleged crime was committed
he was finally brought before civil tri-
,unal, and the charges were all abandoned
nd the prisoner rearrested on anew charge
nd held to bail. Thus, In violation of the