The Van Buren press., 1871-05-02
NO. 46
A Bit of History.

The passage OF the ku klux bill, en-
bodying as its most prominent and most
dangerous feature tie suspension Of tho
writ Of hab.as corpus Ia such places aud
at such times as the President may choose
to dictate, recalls q historical Incident
which, though frequently alluded to,
loses none OF its significance liy familiar
iiy. We mean the prediction uttered by
Henry Sherburne. prominent member
Of the British parliament. in lis3. This
statesman possessed suiIicitnt foresight
TO sec the inevitable result OF the coeicivo
measures emLlnyed BY the Englisl, gov.
ernmcnt against the American colonies;
urged the withdrawal Of tile military
forces. and the prompt rc,lress OF those
grievances OF wbic., the colonists com
planned In short, Shcrhurne was in fa-
vor Of peace rather than war. and
throughout the bitter struggle OF seven
wears, WAS firm, coils.s.cat and judicl-
ous fipnd OF those immortal rebels
whose wisdom and courage gave rs At
last u place among the nations Of the
earth Some time IN 11S0 the Continent
al Congress sent Col Henry Laurens OF
South Carolina rs diplomatic agent to
Europe; hoping through his efforts to
secure the alliance, or at least tue good
will, of the Continental powers. On his
voyage out Laurens was captured by ON
English ship of war, carried to London
and confined in that grim old Tower
which las been the scene 0f so many
great events, Of SO much heroic suffering
OF SO many political martyrdoms. Here
he remained until hostilities closed, and
being then released, became for brief
period the guest Of Mr. Shcrburne, whose
acquaintance he had formed during cap
.tiviy. or course the future prospects
Of the young rcpubhc was the subject Of
much Of their conversation, and one day
while this theme was being discussed by
the enthusiastic patriot aud his calmer
and more experienced friend. the latter
remarked: Colonel. YOU have gained
your independence. and you know how
much have contributed to that result
hut after all seriously doubt whethcrii
the end it will be fortunate for you
Laurens looked at the speaker inqairing-
ly, AMI Sherburnc proceeded to explain
the difficulties which lay in the way OF
establishing popular government, tho
innovations which would gradually creep
into the system, undermine its vital prin-
ciplcs and finally destroy the fabric alto
ge,her. For instance. said be, :" there
is the great writ OF habeas corpus, which
has cost the people OF England so much
Nm In
know its ncalculable advantages, and the
absolute necessity OF guarding them with
the utmost vigilance. But habeas corpus
has cost you nothing. Il is apart Of your
birthright, aud nc, er having had to dghs
for it, you viii not and cannot prize It
sufficiently. and Ms natural consequence,
On the first occasion OF trouble or vio-
lent party strife YOU will lose II Lau.
rens cndcavored TO convince his com
panion that his views were erroneous,
and that Americans above all other pco.
plc, would never allow this corner stone
Of csonal liberty TO be ta,npercd with
on any prctcx', Sherburnc smiled, but
made no reply.
Only little more than three quarters
Of a centu y has gone SINCE then. aud the
prediction is fulfilled to the letter Lin.
coin and Stanton, under the spccious plea
Of military necessity, destroyed the sane.
tity Of the writ, and so far as was posi-.
bIe, made it contemplate in the eyes OF
lhe people. When the Democracy Ifo
tested against this fatal precedent they
were told thst war justified the step, and
that when peace returned again. the ven
cradle bnlwaik OF freedom would regain
ITS former prestige and retain il forever.
How stands the question to day? Con-
gress has just conferred upon the Presi
dent Of the United States the power to
suspend tue writ of nabeas corpus when
ever and wherever he pleases, and this
unlimited. absolu ely s!espolic authority
ls lodged in his hands until after Pres.
idtn,ial election occurs in which Le 70
already known TO be candidate! Was
there ever such suicidal folly, such fanat-
ical blindness. such criminal recklessness
as this ? Aud how long may people
who patiently submit 10 such deliberate
robbery Of their dearest rights, expect to
enjoy single yestige OF that priceless
liberty which their fathers won -St.
Louis Repulican.