2

The Arbitrary Arrests.

An opinion imputed by the republicans to Justice Taney in the Dred Scott case, — (an opinion, by the way, he never advance, as stated,) ‘that the negro has no rights which the white man is bound to respect,’ — is, however, now republican dogma, the color being reversed, —

For white men now have no rights, which when the negro is involved, any one is bound to respect.

The rights of the white man in this country are by Common Law:
1st. Magna Charta.
2d. The Bill or Act of Petition.
3d. Habeas Corpus.

By the Constitution:
1st. The limited Power of the Federal Executive, and of Congress. All powers being reserved to the People, and the States, not granted in the Constitution,
2d. (Art. I, Amended Constitution,)

The freedom of Speech and of the Press.

The right of the People peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The right of the people to be secure, in their persons, homes, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search.

No warrant shall be issued, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

(Art. 5.) No person to be held for crime except on presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury.

The right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial Jury of the State and District.

To be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation.

To be confronted with the witnesses against him.

To have competent power for obtaining witnesses.

The enunciation of these rights (Art. 9) shall not be construed to deny of disparage others retained by the people.

The president's second proclamation, and the war order (No. —), annuls all these rights, with the habeas corpus included, and what is worse, if possible, subvert the courts of civil and criminal law, and substitutes in lieu thereof, martial law, with judge advocates and provost marshals to arrest and try citizens, in no way whatever exposed (under the war laws of nations even) to such martial law.

We should be cowards, we should be craven, we should deserve to be slaves, and to wear the chains of slaves, if we did not solemnly protest, before God and man, against this terrible exercise of arbitrary, despotic power.