Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-30
The Two SheridanS.

10 the edf0T Of the -alccdRuTl1 Udzette.
do not propose to discuss the military To-
tertcrreucc 10 Louisiana affairs, but beg leave
TO call the attention Of your readers to the iol-
lowing scrap OF English history:
On the 5th of March, ISL, Mr. Richard
Brlnsiey Sheridan introduced III Parliament a
motion IF or the better regulation oil the police
OF Westminster. The chief object OF the mo-
ton was to oppose the unconstitutional exercise
of the perogative that had been assumed III em-
pIoyug the military to suppress riots, without
waiting for the authority Ut the civil power.
There disgracetu riots had the effect, which
follows all tumultuary movemements OF the pco-
ple. of armue the government with new powers,
and giving birth to doctrines aud precedents
permanently dangerous to liberty. 1t is little
remarkable that the policy of blendlog the army
with the people, and considering soldiers as
citizens, which both Montesquleu aud Black
stone recommend as favorable to Freedom,
should, as applied BY Lord Mansfield on this
occasion, be pronounced hostile to II, the ten
dency of such practice beog to wcakeo that
salutary jealousy with which the cluzsns OF
free State should ever regard a soldier, aud
thus taniliarze the use Of this dangerous ma
chine, 10 every possible service to which Ca
PRECIOUS power may apply it. The opposition
did no, deuy that the measure OF orderlng out
the military, and empowering their ohcers 70
act at discretion, without reference TO the CIVIL
magistrate, was, however unconstitutional, JUS
tihable, and wise IN moment OF Danger. But
the refusal of the Minister to acknowledge the
illegally of the proceeding BY applying to the
House tor an Act of Indemnity, aud the trans
mission of the same discretionary orders to the
soldiers throughout the country, Where 90 Sucn
imminent necessity called tor 1t, we're the polnts
upon which the conduct OF the goVernment was
strongly aud not uDjusty censured. Indeed,
the manifest desi go Of the Ministry, at this
crisis, to avail themselves OF the impressions
produced By the riots, as means OF extending
their power. and terrifying the doctrines BY
which the defended it, spread an alarm among
the trieods of constitutional principles, which
the language of the Court was By 40 means
calculated 10 alay, and the public were Justified,
BY combination Of circumstances, ID attribut-
iug designs OF a most arbitrary nature 70 such
Court and such an Administration. Meetings
were accordingly held in the principal countleS,
and resolutions passed condemning the late un-
constitutional employment of the military. 10
the course of his speech Mr.. Sheridan used
these words IF this doctrine was to be laid
down. that the Crown could gise orders to the
military to interfere, when, where, and tor
what length Of time it pleases, then We might
bid farewell to liberty. If this was the law
then we should be reduced to military gov
erument of the very worst species 10 which We
shuuId have all the evils of a despotlc State,
without the discipline or the security. But we
are given to understand that We have the best
protection against this evil, in the virtue, the
moderation, and constitutional principles OF the
sovereign. No man upon earth thinks With
more reverence than nyselfo OF the virtue and
moderation of the sovereign; but this is species
O! liberty which [ trust will never dlgrace an
Eogish SOIL The liberty that rests upon the
vrtuous incllnatious of any one man, Is but
suspended despotism; the sword indeed is not
upon their necks but it haogs BY the small and
brittle thread of human will. These words
are so appropriate to present events IN this
Country, that it seems almost incredible, that
they we're spoken by subject Of British
Monarch almost hundred years ago.
The tragedy Of military interference is again
upon the stage with new scenery and ehsrac-
ters but how different the acting OF the two
Irish Sheridans! The one, by the grace of God,
an honor to his race and country, Upheld the
liberties Of the people against the unlawtul en-
croachmeuts of bis sovereign King the other,
by tortuitous circumstances, a military Satrap,
strikes down the liberties of the people at the
command Of one, " no swore in the presence OF
God and man, to uphold aud protect them.
P.