What will they do?
Vallandigham has been by the most summary military process torn from his house at the dead of night, and, upon the testimony of military spies, who, disguised as citizens, went to a public meeting to hear and accuse him, convicted and sentenced under
Burnside's death order.
Civil process was treated with contempt, and all the constitutional protection thrown around the citizen nullified by the
military commander of the district.
What will the party who have organized opposition to the
Federal despotism on the ground of its arbitrary arrests and its constitutional usurpations do?
It is true, the death order has not been executed to its full extent, and it is moreover true that
Lincoln has commuted the already commuted sentence from one of confinement to hard labor on the
Dry Tortugas, Florida, to banishment; but the penalty thus modified is no less an infringement of individual right and constitutional privilege than if
Mr. Vallandigham had been hung on the gibbet or brought to the block.
If the Anti-
Lincoln, Anti-Abolition party are contending for principle and not for party — if for the
Constitution and law, and not for the loaves and fishes, the contracts and fat jobs of the war — now is the time for them to prove it. Outside of Yankeedom their conduct in this exigency is an object of curiosity.
We shall see whether the
Federal hawk in his swoop has struck upon a nest of eagles or has really descended upon a covey of frightened partridges, who will scud away for life and leave their companion helpless in the talons of the bird of prey.