Year: 1863

allow them the use of the House. as a condemna-
ton. 1t is true the press and Legislature believe
their principles TO be dangerous, but they never
proposed to violate Law themselves. 1t GER
tanly must have astonished both of these to learn
that their opinions were used to justify the viola
tion of one of the most essential rights Of civil
liberty.


1t was the il tention of the press to resist the
course of this party by the open and legitimate
exercise Of argument and persuasion. They did
not ask, and did not wish, the dangerous inter-
position of this authority. Colonel Gilbert, by
his course, has changed the issue entirely, and
placed these men in the attitude OF sufferers for
the attempted exercise of an undOubted right-a
right in the support of which every free citizen is
interested. The question is no longer whether a
party that demands the immediate recognition of
the independence of the Southern Confederacy
shall prevail in the State, but whether such and
every military officer in the State had right TO
brake up public assembes2 The question is,
whether these men are entitled to the protection
of the declaration of rights in the State Consttu-
tiOn The question is whether we have any
State Government at all-whether the civil law
is superior to the military-whether our lives and
fortunes are held at the will of minor military
authorities or nOtg


If this policy is to prevail, we are no longer a
free people under the protection of the laws, but





many masters Every district is governed by
petty tyrant, who is at once the Judge and exc
cutoner of his own edicts. Colonel Gilbert's
motives NAV have been good. but we have moth
ing to do with his motives. He had no more au-
thOrity to do this act than he would have 10 march
into the State Capitol and dsperse the Legisla-
ture the point of the bayonet, and his course is
tyrannical and ndefensible violation of right
that lies at the very foundation of republican
freedom.


If this is the manner in which we are TO be gov
erned, cur elections are mere farce. If mill
tary officer is to be Judge of the intentions of
every public meeting, with the power to disperse,
the only choice the people can have is that of
accepting whatever he may decree. ltis folly to
discuss whether we shall accept the emancipation
scheme of Lincoln or not. We had as well write
aud talk about the civil government of the inhab
iants of the moon. We are subiugated and
crushed; our Legislature is an empty, vapOring
debating society; our courts are mere mustang
courts, without the fun that enlivens them. Ii is
worse condition than to he under an unlimited
monarchy. The ruler OF kingdom will find his
interest in that Of his people. Such authority as
Colonel Gilbert has exercised has such restraint.
The prosperity OF the people of this State is moth
ng to him. His obedience to the will of his su.
pcror is his only interest The military officers
are in the position of the Persian SatrapO Roman
PTBiect. hey may tlTanulZe, OppTesS and en-
rich themselves at the exl euse of the provinces.
their predecessors did, with the exception that
there is 10 tribunal. as at Rome, 10 make them
disgorge. IL is policy fatal to freedom. fatal 10
the Union.


We are for no terms with Rebels. but We are
opposed to following their example in evil
Armed Rebels must be resisted with arms; but
We must not throw away the sacred rights which
our fathers so hardly won If this Convention
had been allowed to proceed, we expected TO op-
pose their candidates and resist their policy. We
never had any doubt that they would be repudi-
ated by the people. The contest was already de-
cided beforehand. and this act had not even ne
cessity to justify it.


We hope this is the last time shall ever
have to record act of military usurpation. in
this State We hone that this policy, subverslve
OF the interests of the State and the Union, will
receive prompt condemnation at the hands of the
people and the authorities. We hope that Col.
Gilbert and O:her officers will cOnfine themselves
strictly TO the exercise of their duties, and not
incur the imputation that they are more danger
Gus to the rights and liberties of their own people
than to the armed enemy. Mistaken zeal, mis-
taken loyalty, may be dangerous rebellion
itself; and people who submit to a uniform de
structiOn of the laws, which lie at the foundation
of civil liberty, ruined, and the evil falls with
equal force upon the degraded civilian and the
demoralized soldier