The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-20
Concluded from third page. J
THE BANDITTI DISPATCH.

In regard to Sheridan's 'banditti' dis l.
patch he said that, ''since civilization ia
vorably progressed under the influence of
our christian faith no words ever fell from
the lips of any man, civilian or soldier
which more outrage every obligation OF
humanity or exhibit more fiendish thirst
for human blood. Not satisfied with de-,
nouncing the people Of three states he sug-
gests as you have seen, that if the Presi-
dent will issue a proclamation declaring the |
narties he refers to ''banditti, mo further
action need be taken, except that which
would devolve upon him !" How he pro-
posed to act, we gather from his dispatch.
Ito arrest and try the ringleaders OF what
, he calls the armed White Leagues. 10
try them by military commission. Exc
cution. theu. would instantly follow sentence
and the cities and villages of three states
= would be the scenes Of carnage, the nor
rors of which no imagination can adequate
e " depict. In this recommendation ne TO-
e tallv disregards all the guarantees OF per-
sonal liberty contained in the constitution.
n Those guarantees are to be found 10 the
IT amendments which are coeval with the CON
stitution ITSELF and it is historically certain ?
% that without an assurance that they Woulo
=. be provided, the constitution would not
f. have been ratified. Among them-not to
mention them all-are, first the security
!, of the people against seizure OF their per
&c sons; second, that no person shall oe
~ ~, held to answer for capital or otherwise
70 Infamous crime unless on presentment OF
= indictment of a grand jury, except per
OF sons in the military or naval service OF th'
III hot
ST. charged with a crime is secured trla
gn by an impartial jury of the state and dis
ut trict wherein the crime shall have beel
committed" and this trial by jury was al
ng so provided by the original constitution.
"a, THE REMEDY.
;, After alluding to various remedies pre-
all posed he said the only remedy that is lei
for the people of the state, as things no
Ids are, is to exercise patience, to adopt
Is; mastery inactivity and to rely with conf
II dence, as l think they may. upon the SUI
wv port which they will receive from every p
triotic citizen of the United States L thin
uis too, they may rely upon the moral ind
ad- ence which the constitution itself, as We
"a as the general and intense indignation
10 the people at the course which has be-
pursued in regard to them by the exec
tive of the United States. cannot fail to il
a part. If the existing wrong is perseyer'
Vi in, there are remedies to which congre
3g may resort. These may be extreme, b
I Ien extreme diseases require extreme tres
IL ment. Congress may get rid of the offer
ing General by recognizing the army a
re- abohshing his Office !; or,they may stop
her, supplies; or, they may use their impeae
to ing power. 1t is no objection to this Ii
who remedy, as far as the Presidential office
ted. concerned, that it proved unavailing in
cad, case OF President johnson. think N
say with positive certainty that it Pre-
ans dent johnson had used the army or sa
ruth toned its use in ejecting from the halls
ured the legislature of state any OF its me
We bers, as has been done in this instan
ouse that act would have been mace the s.
rary ject of one of the articles of impeachme
" alt and, if proven, every member of the co
many of whom are now senators-Wo
mort have found him guilty.
ming We should be glad to publish the VIII
!, too. speech but want of space prevents.
ores, Other powerful speeches were ma
over over among them one by Hon, VIM, Pinck
sion Whyte, the newiy-elected .. S. sena
pro- which was eloquent and argumentat
He closed as follows:
from Heaven be praised. we have independ
unity, and ontsnoken newsnapers TODAY T
large are the sentinels ON the watchtower of
been erty. IF the people waited for congress
I'm OF the politicians to warn them of their d
and ger nnr liberties would he silently
His stealtbilv stolen awav but the inder
rents dent journals, like the burglar alarm
nu Bay Ridge warns US that the despoile
at our door.