And The Beat Goes On . . .

Freedom of speech is one corner stone of what the United States is supposed to be about yet with every  freedom comes responsibility and there is a time to speak out and a time to sit down and shut up.  Dialogue is important in a society where we vote and need to have an understanding of the issues but   along with keeping up with current events should go an understanding of historical perspective.   Often when looking at the historical perspective we realize what is happening is not new.  It may not have been done correctly in the past either so having been done before does not automatically make it okay now.   If we examine the time frame of the Civil War there were people who strongly opposed the war who were called Copperheads.   One such man,  Clement Vallandingham was particularly outspoken.  He was arrested and imprisoned and then later banished.  Read about it HERE.   President Lincoln was widely criticised for the suspension of Habeas Corpus.   In defense of the banishment of Vallandingham,  President Lincoln wrote a letter that was published called Letter To Eratus Corning and others.   Read it HERE.   One of the more interesting things Lincoln said in the letter was:

I understand the meeting whose resolutions I am considering to be in favor of suppressing the rebellion by military force — by armies. Long experience has shown that armies cannot be maintained unless desertion shall be punished by the severe penalty of death. The case requires, and the law and the Constitution sanction, this punishment. Must I shoot a simple-minded soldier boy who deserts, while I must not touch a hair of a wiley agitator who induces him to desert? This is none the less injurious when effected by getting a father, or brother, or friend into a public meeting, and there working upon his feelings till he is persuaded to write the soldier boy that he is fighting in a bad cause, for a wicked administration of a contemptible government, too weak to arrest and punish him if he shall desert. I think that, in such a case, to silence the agitatorand save the boy is not only constitutional, but withal a great mercy.

Being a peace-nik myself,  I find Lincoln's comments  interesting.  No doubt it is important to support the men and women of our armed forces who sacrifice so that I have the right to complain about war.  Still I do not like them put in harms way and feel it is necessary to say so from time to time.  The  situation that involved Vallandingham brings into focus the issue of governmental power.  Recently there has been some current events that spark the debate once more of how much power should the government exercise.  To cite a couple of examples, the situation with Bradley Manning can be read about HERE and the extent  deadly force is appropriate can be read about HERE.  I have not formed a definite opinion on either situation yet but when one studies the history of our country and in particular the time frame of the Civil War it becomes obvious that The Obama Administration has not re-invented the wheel.    No doubt the importance of discussing and maintaining a watchful  eye on appropriate governmental use of power should not be minimized.   Never the less,  some perspective needs to be maintained.