The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-07-21

eminent that what the people have ;
right to do, they have {. right to undo
whenever they find that they have
adopted mistaken policy. But this
right is to be taken away by the second
and third sections Of this bill, and t.
even attempt to repeal bad, or hasty
or on ill-advised amendment to the con,
stitution, is made crime of extraordi-
nary magnitude, and is to be visited
with extraordinary punishments. The
third section prescribes that the penalty
for attempting the repeal of such ratifi-
cations by state authority shall be i'm
prisonment for from one year to ten
years, and fine from $4,000 to S1O,-
900.
We know Of only one law similar to
this, that was ever enacted, and that is
recorded in the book of Daniel, and
which finally eliminated in the prophet
being cast into the lions den. But as
he escaped the fangs and talons of the
lions, so, we opinc, will the American
people escape fine and imprisonment at
the hands of radical congress, for vo-
ting either at the polls or in legisla-
tive body for the repeal Of an obnoxious
provision in the Federal constitution
If some new-fan gled Radical amend
ment to the constitution is so sacred
that man is to be heavily fined and
incarcerated in a dungeon for asking
that it be rescindcd. what earthly pun
ishment is great enough to be visited
upon the Radical leaders who have
trampled upon the sacred provisions of
the original instrument itself?
But the studied and unblushing vii
lainy of the whole proceeding must chal-
lenge every mans attention When
Mr.. Woodward asked for only five min
utes to state his objections to the bill,
he was choked off, and measure that
is pregnant with the most comprehens-
i've evil, and which, if carried out, will
destroy evcryvestigc offrce institutions,
was put through the house under whip
and spur, as though the radical leaders
were anxious to ride the country to the
devil at the earliest possible moment.
There can hardly be doubt but that
the senate will follow the steps of the
house, and pass the infamous measure,
which by the sanction of the president,
will become law of the land The
two bodies act together only too har.
moniously on every measure that is cal
culated to abridge the rights of the peo-
pie and enhance the powers of the CEN
trail government. Put this, and similar
enactments already proposed, or which
will shortly be proposed, into operation,
and ! GU hal as well abolish state lines,
disband state legislatures, give up every
constitutional guaranty, and surrender
at discretion to central despotism.
1t is measure worthy the man who
proposed it With the ghost Of muir
dered woman haunting his footsteps.
why should he not apply the knife to
the throat of liberty, while his hackers
and accomplices howl down the power
less minority of the house, who, like a
forlorn hope, have never yet recOilcd
from the fearful odds of the enemy
LESS than score of years ago no one
would nave supposed that such villain
Gus treason against the rights and lib
critics of the people would have been
plotted nay, practically consummated
in congress, but we have fallen upon
evil times, and it devolves upon the pee
pie to watch patiently and vigilantly for
the hour when it is possible to drive
greedy ambition and unblushing trea-
son from the highest places in the land.