The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-12-23
f1pn the Bowling Green Democrat.
nATEIE EW LYON.
The trst C0ngressman from
the ktfst DistESct OF Kentucky.
Kenfucky and the Alien and
sedftf0n Laws.
By NJ. W. cLusKY.

An Irishman named Mathew Lyon
figured in Congress at the beginning Of
this century. He had been a member OF
the Legislature of Vermont. and had
employed himself in several manufacto-
ries or mills, the character of which
gave him a local fame He had ever
beenan editor bold, violent, conte
tious and desperate man. He new
moved kthe previous question ou
mouth .,and was as fierce a nun, .the- on,
the Ipbby e.ase en the floor, as was e.
S -een RSsF ed no insult, but foue
his bstfle sN tout regard to convention.
.i''.. ssr passion gave t9 ,.s.a i.ss',
we're great more than have relatssll
and finally jhe was discovered as mems
ber of Congress, upon the floor OF the
House of Representatives. He made
jefferson President by his vote, whsis
the election devolved upon the HoxR-l
It's in the view that he was one S9 9.
frst victims of the odious Alien and
ditions Laws that desire TO presents
character, and also the connection whici
Kentucky had with his vindicatTon. 4
His fierce opposition to the power
which bad assumed to eDgraft upon Re
publican statutes such odious perversions
Of everything that signifed freedom, had
made him The victim to all of their pains
aud penalties A fne which, with the
costs, amounted to ever one thousand
dollars, under these two odious laws of
| the elder Adams administration, was
imposed upon this enterprising, but vio-
! lent man. Congress, in lS40, remitted
this fine for the benefit OF his heirs, and
gave them interest from 1899. He was
even imprisoned, but the popular impulse
though il was in Vermont, sent him TO
II e Nation al House. There he was the
constant participant in scenes of turbid
violence, aud twice engaged in personal
contests of physical force.
The eIeesses of the general Govern
ment, under the powers conferred by the
Alien aud Sediiiou laws, were even as
great as those which it pleases the gov
erument of Grant to muuifcently bestow
upon the American people at this later
time. Indeed, 80 great was the insanity
Of the time, that alter the election OF Mr.
Lyon to Congress, Mr.. Bayard. of Ala
bama sought to add to his jI-scial per
secution, one of legislative force. Mr
Bayard was one OF the greatest meh OF
:he day-the father OF the late distin
guished Senator, and grand father of the
present Senator of tho name from that
State He introduced resolution:
That Mathew Lyon. u member of this
Ii ouse having been convicted of being
uotokus and seditious person, aud of
a . npind, and of wicAedly, de
Del 'pS ssesoVe4n@nisht Gov @ 0, sH;s o6Saed
States 5nd to bring the said Government
aud President into disrepute, &c, be,
theretope, expelled from this House"
The article which had provoked the
trial, and this resolution, though not an
unmeaning one, was temperate for the
provoeation, though the iDdition of II
required boldness at the time. Mathew
/ Lyon wss bold mau. and he wrote 1t.
The letter was one of what was called
Bsrlows letters, and reads as follows:
Had this truth been understood with
YOU before the re call Of Monroe, before
the coming aud second coming OF Pink
ney; had it guided The peus that wrote
the bullying speech OF your President,
and stupid answer OF your Senate, at the
opening of Congress i'll November last,
should probably have had no occasion
TO address you this letter. But We found
aim borrowing the language OF Great
Britain aud telling the world that, al
though he should succeed IN treating
With the French, there was 30 depen-
dence to be placed on any of their en-
gagemeuts that their religion aud NOR
aliiy were at an eDd that they had turn
ed pirate plunderers and II would be
necessary to be perpetually armed against
them. though they are at peace. We
wondered that the answer OF both Houses
had not been an order to send him to
mad house. Instead of this the Senate
have echoed the speech with more servil
ity than ever George Ill, experienced
from either House Of Parliament
lie must have possessed some strange
influence in the Congress, or perhaps the
sntagonism of the element of Tree ~
to the terms OF those days gave to u =.
power. He closed TIE debate on thei
continuation of the Act. in descriptiVy
of his confinement, which possessed sfs
the quality of indignant feeling.
would seem from it, as il the maxim OF
history repeating itseli. we're. now hs.nsY, e.Y
forts of an ordinary feion 80 tar out VI
the reach Of an ordinary nan Who Was
in prison, merely because he chose -
speak aud write his sentiments, that the~
Is some hope for the relief OF one sectioA
Of the. nation from, the prescription which !
now controls it.
Mr.. Lyon said to the friends of the
Alien and Sedition Law on the floor.
.Let these gentlemen defend the Mar
shal in carrying me in the most contume
lious and degrading manner upwards OF
forty miles from the door of the Jail in
the county where | lVed, which is Jail
of the United States. Let them defend
that Marshal for throwing me into
sinking cell of about ten feet by six.
teen-the common receptacle of thieves,
murderers and runaway negroes, withou.
anything TO keep the cold out where the
light eame in. and keeping mc there four
months, nearly one month of which
without fire, not having the liberty to
procure myself stove, although in
cold inclement season, whilst the house
contained comfortable rooms in plenty,
which could have hired had | been al
lowed to do it, but he refused, notwith
standing my application to him. and the
eutreaties of several of my friends offer
ing security of 100000 for my con-
tinustion in the appointed room during
the term of my confinement
lie committed an asult unon Mr.