The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-11-18
WESTMINSTER, Md SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 49, 1871

Grant had acted with more wisdom and dis.
cretiou. Now, however, when the i.sncs
which were presented by the late war, and
which have been the subjects of controyersy
IN Congress and in the country, are at an
end, they should be considered as foreyer
closed. The Democrats and Conservatives
are bound, think. in duty-and certainly
such conduct is vital to success--to deal
only with the present This, / think il
demanded, It they have any regard for the
future.
fHs REsoLUroxs.
Mr.. James r. Brewer then read the fulIov-
ing resolutions
Whereas in times Of great public peril II Is
the duty Of all good citizens and true pairiots
to express plainly and boldly their sentiments
ana wiiii aud where's no Rrav.r public calam-
ny could menace a people than that which
threatens the demolition Of their constitution.
the subyersion OF their inptitutions and the
destruction OF their liberties and whereas The
privilege of habeaa corpus, the freedo,n ~
elections, the right of trial by Jury and The
rigid subordiuation oftbe military to the civil
power are the iirmest barriers, strongest safe
guards aud wisest provisions for the mainte-
nance, protection aud perpetuation Of popular
liberty, and constitute the very life, root nnd
essential germ Of republican government and
are and should be the dearest and richest berj
tage Of freemen; md whereas these primary
and fundamental provisions for popular liberty,
prosperity and happiness have been ruthl.ssly
iniringed, openly violated, and their very ex-
istence attacked by tho republican party 10
Congress In Its reckless disregard Of right.
iawiess assumption Of rrerogatiFe, and daring
and unwarrantable usurpation of power. which
has culminated in the suspension .: The writ Of
habeaS corpus In South Carolina by the Prosi-
dent the arrest OF peaceable citizens without
warrant, their punishment without trial, and
the substitution OF the military for the civil
power in time Of peace, and without plausi-
Die pretext, an authoritative appeal, or even
moral motive to palliate or condone 80 bIrh.
handed measure; and whereas the seizure
and exercise Of such arbitrary and despotic
powers are not only iucon sistent with the letter
OF our organic law and the spirit Of free insti-
tutons, but Is dangerous to liberty and abhor-
rent to every measure and maxim upon which
the fabric Of free government rests, and sho hou Id
De solcmnly repreheuded and firmly rebuked
oy jealous and insuited people Therefore
Rs,o'Usd, That wo view with apprehension
anu alarm the course aud conduct OF the Pres
iuent oi the United States In the alacrity with
which be has assumed an arbitrary authority
aud the wantonness with which 10 has exercised
despouc powers; that the reign Of terror inaugu-
rated IN south Carolina appeals to all that Is
wise in statesmanship, datiful In patriotism,
humane In Christianity and manly in freeren
to condemn and dcplore; that bis invasion Of
that State Is as unwarranted by necessity and
as unjustfed by facts as IL Is inexcusabIe in
morals aud unauthorized by the constitution;
that his cou duct Is at variance with the duties
trusts and obligations Of his Office, and Is sus.
tanned by no constitutional precedent Of public
necessity that the manner Of the late procla.
nation, equally with its matter, displays a
Ham ssf ..f T..
gsnic law and popular liberty; and we depre-
cate and denounce the act as unworthy Of
patriot and revolutionary In a President.
Resotpsd, That the principles assailed BY the
outrage upon South Carolina constitute the
vitals, thelifc-spring of republican institutions;
that wound inflicted upon them through the
most distant State or humblest citizen IL a
death-bow at our whole political fabric, and
that their prompt reassertion and vigorous
vindication Is the first grave and solemn duty
Of the American people.
Re.oiped, That the impuniiy of past usurpa.
tions has encouraged the arbitrary assumption
which has produced the present momentous
crisis; that popular patience has been preyert-
ed and abused BY perfdious partisans, aud
misconstrued into a submission that would
brook subjectionj and that, taking Advantage
Of such misplaced faith and confidence, they
have ventured upon the monstrous crime which
wounds the republic In Its most vital part, and
arms President with despot's sword.
Resolved, Thntthe constitution provides that
Congress alone shall havo power to suspend
the writ OF habeas corpus, and then only In tho
presence OF grave aud serious national emer-
gency and by solemn and formal act. That
Congress has no right or authority to delegate
such power, and to invest the discretion Of
President With its most important and solemn
function. That the assumption of such power
by the President displaccs and DESTROYS the
fundamental system OF our government, and In
the language Of President Pierce, leaves Il "a
republic in name, but a monarchy In fact"
And that Congress, having no right to confer,
nor the President to receive such power, the
recent precipitate and arbitrary exercise Of 1t
tends rather TO show the dangerous greed of
an ambitions mind than the jealous patriotism
Of dutiful officer.
Resolusd, that we perceive 10 the recent
conduct Of the President mantle stations Of that
weakness which yields readily to the tempta-
tons OF power, and symptoms Of an ambition
most dangsgous in a man entrusted with au-
thority. That as the wisdom of our fathers
strove 70 guard against the very conduct of
which the President has been guilty, by erect
ing the safeguards Of late overthrown, we de-
mand their immediate and thorough restora-
tion, and arraign their assaiIant at the bar Of
an outraged country.
Rssoioed. That the blow which strikes down
nine counties OF South Carolina wounds Amer
lean liberty and disgrsces and degrades
American intelligence, and that we appeal to
every patriotic citizen OF the land no matter
what bis past political predictions may have
been, TO unite with Us In our solemn protest
and to make common cause with US In our eff
forts at the ballot-box to restore the constitu-
tion, our only ark Of safety, and the iustitu-
tions which alone guarantee the blessings Of
liberty.
Resoired, Thatbaving presented to the voters
OF this State list OF candidates worthy of their