And He Would Have Thoroughly
Believed The Truth Of His Own Assertions.
Had a chance been given
of an argument on the matter, of stump speeches and caucus meetings,
these things could never have been done.
But as it is, Americans
are, I think, rather proud of the suspension of the habeas corpus.
They point with gratification to the uniformly loyal tone of the
newspapers, remarking that any editor who should dare to give even a
secession squeak would immediately find himself shut up. And now
nothing but good is spoken of martial law. I thought it a nuisance
when I was prevented by soldiers from trotting my horse down
Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington; but I was assured by Americans
that such restrictions were very serviceable in a community. At St.
Louis martial law was quite popular. Why should not General Halleck
be as well able to say what was good for the people as any law or
any lawyer? He had no interest in the injury of the State, but
every interest in its preservation. "But what," I asked, "would be
the effect were he to tell you to put all your fires out at eight
o'clock?" "If he were so to order, we should do it; but we know
that he will not." But who does know to what General Halleck or
other generals may come, or how soon a curfew-bell may be ringing in
American towns? The winning of liberty is long and tedious; but the
losing it is a down-hill, easy journey.
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