The Baltimore County union., 1882-05-20
THE WRIT OF HABEAs CORPUS.

The atrocious ou,ragcs now being perpe,ratsd
on the Irish people are exciting the indignation Of
American citizens. The baltimore American, In
one Of the Ablest editorials that ever appeared In
its columns, has denounced the suspensions Of the
writ Of LaIsas corpus and the trial by jury In
ireland in the mos, unmcasured terms. But while
justly condemning the eondue, Of the British Gov
ernment should We forget that an attempt was
made but little more than two years ago to prae-
tically abolish the writ Of haJeas corpus and the
trial by jury in Maryiandl Had Il not been that
Judge Yelloti, Of Baltimore county, declared any
Law abridging the privilege Of the writ Of kabeas
corpus and the trial by jury uneonsttutiona where
would have been the right Of personal liberty In
this State! American citizens quisiiy travelling
the public highways aud mOlesting nobody were
arrested, and wi,hOu, trial by jury were incarcsra
ted for six or twelve months as best suited the
dispeptie whim Of an irresponsible magistrate. IL
was then that Judge Yelloii from his seat on the
bench declared the rights Of American citizens in
the following language:
"This country has established her institutions
on the broad principle that all men free aud
equal. The Fhois people Of this State constitute
the sovereignty Of the state Each individual is
n unit Of that sovcrei gnty. As with respect TO
civil aud political rights all equal, Il follows
that IL the Legislature has IL in Its power 20 enact
law requiring poor man TO have some fixed
place OF abode and prohibiting him from wander
ing abroad aud enjoying his liberty, IL can also
require the wealthy citizen TO remain at home aud
prohibit him from wandering abroad. hut the
American citizen, poor or rich, has the privilege
Of travelling from one end of his country TO the
other. and no Legislature has the right 90 say that
his doing 50 shall be deemed offence
II Is with the warmest approval that VIC insert
in columns the following exirae; from the lead
ing editorial Of the baltimore AmericaH Of May
18th, lss2:
"Let not England think that she can safely sweep
iGJsas corpus, trial BY jury. free speech and right
Of protest out Of existence in Ireland. This will
accus,om the British people look on at the sacri-
fee Of the rights Of citizenship In ireland. and
prepare IL 20 accept like treatment for Engishmen.
The greatness Of England built upon the
sturdy and incorporating love Of personal libcr-
~, which no tyranny could overthrow. Free
speech in Parliament denied 10 the Irish; pcrsenai
liberty and habsas corpHs denied O. the Irish
trial by jury denied to the irish-thesc were the
bulwarks Of British liberty. There never has been
n time when the English would consent TO have
them tramplei. They beat down thrones and
kings and chopped OF heads until these were put
into charters and constitutions not 10 be taken
away. We Of America. brought them 90 this land
and planted them hefe-the most precious Of our
treasures. Even the bloody circuit Of JeHfeys did
not deny trial BY jury. The haugh;iest King Of
England would not dare TO deny IL; or. at least,
would not in the oilcn time. when kings we're
taught TO know their place and keep IT, But IL
Englishmen can look and submit 90 the Rus.
sianiEing Of British subjects in ireland. how long
will II be before they would submit o. in England!
"Not only l. this law violation Of the prinei-
Piles that Englishmen have held dear. and n stupid
repetition Of blundcr already made in the Co.
ercion act, but believe il fails represent the
people Of England. Parliament j. largely eot-
posed Of the landlord class. 4 land reform presses
in England and Scotland a. well a. in Ireland
The Liberal press Of England. with few exceptions.
have opposed abandoning the policy Of eoneiliA-
tion on account Of the Phgnix Park murders-
When the first shock Of giief and horror at these
crimes has passed. IL El be seen iha, the new act
is n worse failure than the old Coercion act. II
will be seen, too, tha, EngIishmen cannot afford TO
sacrifice their liberties in order enslave and
RussianiEe the Irish. To gag the Irish member.
in Parliament would be pleasant. perhaps; but
when the same eloture gag mu1zles Engishmen
also. then there comes a second thought. There
will be a second thought also a. 90 haJsas corpus
and trial BY jury. To treat the Irish people if
they were Nihilis,s will only be 20 encourage
Nihilism there As tyranny promotes IL in Russia