The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-06-01
TER M 8:
A BIT OF HISTORY.

The passage of the Ku Klux bill,
embodying as its most prominent and
dangerous feature the suspension of
the writ of ha6eds corpus in such pla-
ces and at such times as the President
may choose to dictate, recalls histo-
rical incident which, though frequent
ly alluded to, loses none of its signifi-
canoe by familiarity. We mean the
prediction uttered by Henry Sher-
burne, a prominent member of the
British parliament, in 1888. This
statesman possessed sufficient fore
sight to see the inevitable result of the
coercive measures employed by the
English government against
American colonies; urged the with
drawal of the military forces, and the
prompt redress of those grievances of
which the colonists complained. In
short, Sherburne was in favor OF
peace rather than war, and through
out the bitter struggle of seven years,
was firm, consistent and Judlclous
friend of those immortal rebels whose
wisdom and courage gave us at last
place among the nations of the earth.
Some time in 1850 the continental
congress sent Col. Henry Laurens of
South Carolina as diplomatic agent,
hoping through his efforts to secure
the alliance, or at least the good will,of
the continental powers. On his voy-
age out Laurens was captured by an
English ship of war, carried to Lon
don and confined in that grim old
Tower which has been the scene of so
much heroic suffering, of so many po-
litical martyrdoms. Here he remain
ed until hostilities closed, and being
then released, became for brief Pc
riod the guest of Mr.. Shelburne,
whose acquaintance he had formed
during captivity. OF course the fu-
ture prospects of the young republic
was the subject of much of their con-
versation, and one day while this
theme was being discussed by the en-
thusiastic patriot and his calmer and
more experienced friend, the latter
remarked: "Colonel, you have gain
ed your independence, and you know
how much / have contributed to that
result; but after all 1 seriously doubt
for you." Laurens looked at the
speaker inquiringIy, and Sherburne
proceeded to explain the difficulties
which lay in the way of establishing
a popular government, the innova-
tions which would gradually creep
into the system, undermine its vital
principles and finally destroy the fa-
brio altogether. For instance, said
he, "there is the writ of h0beGs cor
pus, which has cost the people of
England so much blood and treasure
to maintain. We know its incalcula-
BILE advantages and the absolute ne
cessity of guarding them with the ut
most vigilance. But it has cost you
nothing,it is part of your birthright,
and never having to fight for it, you
will not and cannot prize it sufficient
ly, and as a natural consequence, on
the first occasion of trouble or vlo-
lent party strife you will lose it,
Mr.. Laurens endeavored to convince
his companion that his views were
erroneous, and that the Americans
above all other people, would never
allow this corner stone of personal
liberty to be tampered with on any
pretext. SherbQrne smiled, but made
no reply.
Only little more than three-quar-
ters of century has gone since then,
and the prediction is fulfilled to the
letter. Lincoln and Stanton, under
the plea of military necessity, des-
troved the sanctity of the writ, and
SO far as was possible, made it con-
temptible in the eyes of the people,
When the democracy protested
against this fatal precedent they were
told that war justified the step, and
that when peace returned again, the
venerable bulwark of freedom would
regain its former prestige and retain
it forever. How stands the question
to-day? Congress has just conferred
upon the President of the United
States the unlimited arbitrary power
to suspend the writ of ha6eds corpus
whenever and wherever he pleases,
and this unlimited, absolutely despot-
ic authority, is lodged in his hands
until after a presidential election oc-
ours in which he is already known to
be candidate. Was there ever such
suicidal folly, ,such fanatical blindness,
such criminal recklessness as this p
And how long may people who pa
tiently submit to such deliberate rob-
berry of their dearest rights, expect to
enjoy single vestige of that liberty
which their fathers won?
THTNCS TS WORKTNG