The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-05-17
A Bit of History.

Tho passage of the Ku. .Klux bill
embodying as It's most prominent and
most dangerous feature the suspension
of tho writ of habeas corpus in such
places and Mt such times as the Presi.
dent may choose to dictate, recalls O
historical incident which, though fro
quently alluded to, loses none of its
Significance by familiarity. We
mean tho prediction uttered by
Henry Shcrburne, prominent mem.
ber of the British parliament, in 1888.
This statesmen possessed sufficient
foresight to see the inevitable result
OF the coercive measures employed by
the English government against tho
American colonies urged the with
drawal of the military forces, and the
prompt redress Of these grievances of
which the colonists complained. In
short, Sherburne was in favor of peace
rather tnan war, and throughout tho
bitter struggle Of seven years, was a
iirm, consistent and iudicious friend
OF those Immortal rebels whose wisdom
and courage gave us at last place
among tho nations Of the earth. Some
time in 1870 the continental Congress
sent Col. Henry Laurcns of South
Carolina as diplomatic agent to Eu-
rope hoping through his efforts to
secure alliance, or at least the good
will, of the Continental powers. On his
voyage out Laurcns was captured by
an English ship cf war, carried to
London and confined in that grim old
Tower which has been the scene ofso
many great events, of SO much heroic
suffering, of so many political martyr
doms. Hero he remained until hos.
tilities closed, and being then rclcas.
cd, became for n tricf period tho guest
of MIR. Shcrburne, whose acquaintance
he had formed during captivity. Of
course tho future prospects Of the
young republic was tho subject of
much of their conversation, and one
day while this theme was being dis
ouss,d by tho enthusiastic patriot and
his calmcr and more experienced
friend, the latter remarked "Colo-
mel, you have gained your indcpend-
encc, and you know how much / have
contributed to that result; but after
all | seriously doubt whether in the
end it will be fortunate for you."
Laurens looked at the speaker inquir-
ugly, and Sherburnc proceeded to-
explain the difficulties which lay in
the way of establishing a popular
government, tho innovations which
would gradually creep into the sys.
tenn, undermine its vital principles,
and finally destroy the f,brio alto
gethcr. "For instancc," said he,
"there is tho great writ of habeas
corpus, which has cost tho people of
England so much blood and treasure
to maintain. We know its incalculu-
hle advantages, and the absolute ne
cessity Of guarding them with the
utmost vigilance. But habeas corpus
has cost you nothing !; it is part of
) our birth.right, and never having
had to fight for it, you will not and
cannot prize it sufficiently, and as a
natural consequence, on the FIRST occa
sion of trouble or vi olcnt party strife
yoa will lose IT, Laurens cndeavor-
cd to convince his companion that his
views were erroneous, and that Ameri.
cans above all othor people, would
never allow this corner stono of per-
sonal liberty to be tampcrcd with on
any pretext. ShcrbuYne smiled, bit
made no reply.
Only o little more than thrce.ouar-
tcrs os century has gone since then,
and the prediction Is fufilled so the
lctter. Lincoln and Stanton, under
the spccious plea of military cocssi-, :,
ty, destroyed the sanctity Of tho writ
and so far as was possible, made it
contcmptablc in tho eyes of tho peo.
pie. Whom the Democracy protested
against this fatal precedent they we're
tod that war justified tho step, and
that when pence returned again, tho
venerable bulwark Of freedom would
regain its former prestige and retain
il forever. Flow stands tho question
to-day? Congress has just conferred
upon tho United States the power to
suspend Tho writ of habeas corpus
whenever and wherever he pleases,
aud this unlimited absolutely pcspotio
authority ,is lodged in his hands until
after presidential election occurs in
which he is already known to be can
didate Was thero over such snicidaf
folly, suoh fanatical blindness, such
criminal recklessncss as this : And bow
long may people who pa ticntly sub.
NIT to such deliberate robbery Of their
dearest rights, expect to enjoy sim
gle vestige of that priceless liberty
which their fathers won. M,ssouy;
Republican.