It may turn out that no man—that
no human power can arrest this revo
lution. It may be that a change of
government, through an ordeal of
anarchy is inevitable. But this much
every man can do: he can see to it
that if this revolution must come it
shall not owe its coming to his con
sent. If the constitution must be
violated it shall not be by him. If
the government must be subverted,
it shall be the work of others
Mark this: whatever the people and
rulers may do, they cannot support
or preserve the government by vio
lating its fundamental law.’
Again, in criticising the military
bills embracing Reconstruction, he
announced this conclusion: ‘‘They
will consummate the subversion of
the Republic; the destruction of the
constitution: the annihilation of in
dividual liberty; and the ultimate,
but complete change of all American
government from the principles of
consent to the rule of force
The ambitious politician who has de
termined to support these measures
because they are proposed by the
strong party, will close his ears and
pass on, He cares £ot for the sufr
ferings of the people, or the subver
sion of the government, so he may
reap and rule He would sell
the honor of the people who trusted
him all for greed and place
The fiery flames of sulphurious Hell
could not turn the lust of power and
pelf from the mind of ambitious
Lucifer and his followers. This
mad attempt by military measures
to force an unresisting people into
self degredation for no purpose but
party aggrandisement must produce
fearful calamities which no pen can
describe. These military bills
are not only not authorized by any
provision of the constitution, but are
directly contrary to it. They subject
citizens to trial for infamous of
fenses without indictment by a
grand jury, and this the constitution
says shall not be done. They au
thorize trial without a jury, which
the constitution says shall not be
done. 