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V- W. MOORE, -...
0. B OOODLANI)Ett,Editor-
VOL XXXIV. WHOLE NO.
THE ALBANY COMMITTEE
A3HAHAM LINCOLN.
TO
Tl:RtIRI.tt:.tT;TIOM)K VS.
rmcii'M:i)!niMPi.i:T().
The author of the fjllowing, il is rumor-
,i .,. -. . . , , ,
. , u ,evv,IUoa. iioever penned
il, it n admirably done: JV. Y, ,.'
Journal. ,
HTATtMENT.
At a public mooting held at the Capitol,
-in tho citv of Albanv. on the ffitli .iU r
May, 18G.-J. to c .iiiiier the arbitrary arrest
of Mr. Valliin.li.rhniii. wriuin I...-.-,!., ;.,.
were adopted, copies of which were bv
the direction of the meetin.'. trammitte.'l
by its officers to President Lincoln, who.
in u commnmcation anted the 12t.li of
June, 18tii, addressed to tho gentlemen
referred to, which has appeared very gen.
fully in the pu'jlio prit'ts, discussed the
resolution! ?nd oonlrovertod certain posi.
Viom v.Oncli they tniinUined in regard to
jiersoDftl rights aud constitutional obliga
Lioe
)a tho receipt of this communication
the Hou. Kraulus Corning, Chairman of
t'.io tnotiting referred to, audicssod the
l'iesi.lcnt, informing him iu substance
that the upcoial duty assigned to the ofl'r
cars of the meeting had been fulfilled by
sending (ho resolutions to his Excellency,
but adding that in view of the importance
of the principle involved, and the public
interest which tho matter had assumed. lie
had doomed it proper to submit the 1'i ei.
idoul'a letter to the Committee, win re
doited the rosolu lions for Fuch action as
in their judgmant it might demand.
The Committee having considered the
subject, mid viewing tho questions at issue
ji3 of tho gravest iinpoi tnnjo, replied to
the ( resident's communication, which re
ply i'j now laid b.'forij the public. At the
reciuost of tho Committee, it was sentlo!
ii,.p,iuii,.ii,irihri)i,,i.f ti.
WIV; . VOi tvil v jj iuv villus Jt ,IJ15 11 1 UIJ '
ing. in a letter under their signatures, of
T, hU 'v,;,.n,.,,. th, r,.-,U,nl .' iL
Slatci
...v - - w ... i. Mfltl.
Sir: The undersigned, offlceii of tho
public mootirg hold in (his city on the
lS.h day ofMiy last, lo ivho-u your com.
luur.ication of the 1 t i of this unntli,
commenting on the resolutions adopted
at that meeting, w:u- addressed, have the
honor to seud to your Excellency a reply
to that communication by tho committee
who reported the resolutions. The great
importance) to the people of this country
of i he questions discusted must be our
""logy, tfany be needed, for saying; that
f illy concur in this reply, and htlieve
. i'j lie in entire harmony with the vievs
i. a cnt:iuciits of the mooting referred to.
'Ve uro, Aith gieat rwpect.
Very truly your,
lilvsrrs Cornivu, President,
Albany, June 30, 1SC3.
The names of tho Vico frecidents and
flscrttaries (Furty-tix in number) ai, for
want of room, omitted.
71 'it Excellency, Alrahmn
tlcut ofihe Unite I States :
Lt'lin, Pi
Sir: Your answer, which has appeared
111 the public prints, to the resolutions ud
cpted at a reeunt meeting in the city of
Albany, nISrnaing the personal rights and soveieiguty, wuldeil by one man, so that
liberties of the citizens of this country, bus liberty perishes, or is dependant on his
been referred to the undersigned, the will, his discretion, cr hi caprice. This
t'ommitlee who prepared and reported extraordinary document jou claim (ode
those resolutions. The subject will now ' l ivo wholly from th it clausn of the Con
receive from us some further attention, stilution which, in case of rebellion or iu-
'which your answer seems lo justify, if not vasion, permits the writ o( ulcus corpus to
4o invite. We hope not to feel wanting in be suspended.
Aba respect duo to your high position, if You must permit us fo say lo you, with
v reply with a freedom and earnestness all duo respect, but with the earnestness
nu-gcbted by the infi lito gravity und im ' demanded by the occasion, that the Amer-
fiortance of the questions upon w hich you icui; people will never acquiesce in this
mve thought proper to lake issue at the doctrine. In their opinion the guarantors
tar of public opinion. 'cf the Constitution which secure to theui
Vou seem to lift aware that the Constis ' freedom of speech and of the press, im
itutiou of the United States, w hich you niunity from arrest for offenses unknown
Jiave s"oi u to protect and defend, contains to the laws of the land, and the right of
.the following guurantee-s, to which we ak trial by jury before the tribunals provided
your attention : (1) Cjngi-esj shall make , by those laws, instead of military eomiui'
,no law abridging the freedom of speech orsions and drumhead courts martial, .are
xf the press. ("J) The right of tha people living and vital principles in teace a.ndim
to bo secure in their poisons against un-' w.m. ut all limes and under all circum
.reasonable seizures shall not be violated, stance. Is'o sophistry or argument can
and no warrant shall issue but upon prob shake this conviction, nor will the people
able ouitse, supp n ted by oath. (3) No tier- ( requite its confirmation by 1 )gical sequent
sons, except mariners iu the service or the ces and deductions. It is n conviction
Qoveinment, shall be held to answer for a 'deeply interwoven with the instinct, the
.capital or infamous crime, unless on pre ' habits and the education of our country
sentment or indictment of a Grand. Jury, men. The right to foim opinions upon
uor shall any persou be deprived of life, public measures and unaus, and lo declare
liberty or property without due process of. those opinions by speech or writing, with
law. M) Id all criminal nrosecutions.the . the utmost latitude of expression the
.accused shall enjoy the right of a speedy
and ptihiie trial l y an
tbo Stale or district iu
impartial jury of ,
which the crime .
(hall have been committed, and lo be
.confronted with the witnesses against him.
tbo odoplion ofihe Constitution
valuable provisions were proposed
jeaious cuuiion ot ine Mates
inserted as amendments for
assurance ol liberty against the encroach-
.1 menu of power. Pi pra your earliest rea-
man oi nisiory. you also know ih-tt.
great principles of liberty and law which I
underlie these provisions were derive i'
derived to .
us from the British Constitution
In ll.t
country they
more than six
thev have been
reneatod statutes of the retlm
were secured bv funnnCk .1 ' i 1 . ,: , , 0 -uu noi.r.rj, up- pars ovenooKeu this law, wnicti most
noiesecurea p .Uuaa CAarja conclusions indicated bv vour communi. 1 nn.ft in l . rv biir n ,.!.i L......n.. ... 1 1 .'. -1
hundred venra uf nn.l ..,;., , ., . f . 1 ' wol,.u.n;i IUivu,. ju H.r uouuu 10 ouserve, or
confirmed by many and ' "ma 1 " : Lf.:l i0 11,"? " Urautees, can become ,n any sense right- whether it bo your intention to disregard
..jHiuio iiuuiuvu o. lurm in cngiauo imprisonment or restraint of liberty, oh
would not only arouse the public indigna the return of which und upon due exam
tion. but would endanger the tbrone il. inution the porson imprisoned is dischar
solf. For a persistent disregard of thorn, ged, if the restraint is unlawful or admit
Charles I. was dethroned and beheaded by j ted to bail if he appears to have been law-
.. w, ueturoneu ana new oy
belhous subjects. I
fact has already passed into history ,
l'?!."?!?"
uis reoeiuous suojecrs
ihe Ii
that the
were designed to be protected by these
rA..:....: . ZZ.jZK..
wZ 3 i 1 1 A " T '
rmhavebe.n suppressed 10 the loyal
1 705 '
Stale, boeause they criticised, asconstitu
lionally they migh, those fatal errors of
.Inni s.P II.. ...! .l . I
POllf'V WMIPIl IIIVH i. iai.ai awal II. a i,.
..Mv.v v. wuiiii nuiiiiB since yuu. uuvn.t iu
power, la violation of t!ie second of them,
hundreds, and we believe thousand of
. i "'cu m "era ui.utj unu immuruo. in
lirh,ous and bastiles, not only without
iwirrunt upon probable cause, but without
any warrant, und for no other cause than
. the constitutional exercise of thaJVcedom
i01 Peecn. in vioiition ol alt these guar
. ft,,te,i, 8 distinguished citizon of a peace-
! , 1 "nd lo'nl, S,lale 1,H8 bepn lorn f,om L'
i "om nt midnight by a band of soldiers,
' uclinP under the order or ono of your gens
.pra "'led before; a military commission,
I Kllh0"1 Judge or jury, convicted and sen
tenced without even the sunirestion of anv
I offence known to the Constitution or laws
jo!" this country. For ull these acts, you
.avow yourself ultimately responsible. In
the special case of Mr. Vallundigham, the
; injustice commenced by your subordinate
wm consummated by a sentence ol exile
from his home, pronounced by you. That
Sreat wrong, more than any other which
preceded it, asserts the principles of a su
preme despotism.
These repented and continued invasions
of constitutional liberty and private right
have occasioned profound anxiety in the
public mind. The apprehension and al
arm which they are calculated to produce
have been greatly enhanced by your at
tempt to justify them, because ;n tlintats
tempt you essume to yourself a rightful
aulhoiity possessed by no constitutional
monarch on earth. We accept the decla
ration that you prefer to exercise this au
thoi-ily with n moderation not hitherto
exhibited. But, believing as we do, that
your forbearance is not thetenueby which
liberly is enjoyed iu this country, we pro
pose to challenge the grounds on which
your clnim of supreme power is based.
mieyieniin2 to you as a constitutional
I . . I 1 fi . l l
! "wl;l delerence to which you are
I entitled, we cannot accord to you the des
' I'ot.ic l'0yo" claim, however indulgent
and gracious you
may promue to be in
wielding it.
We have carefully considered IhegriHind
on which your pretensions to more than ora free people instantly rejects these dan
regal a J'.horily me claimed to rest; andfgercus and unheard of doctrines. It is
if we do not misinterpret the misty and jnot our purpose to enter uon an elabor
clouded forms of expression iu a liich J ate an J extended refutation of them. We
those pretensions aiesct forth, your moan-j submit to you, however, one or two con
ing is, that while the lights ol the cituon
nre protected by the Constitution in tunc
of peace they are tuspended or loid in
time of war, wheti invasion or rebellion ex
ist.. You do not, like many otheis in
whose minds reason und tho love of regu
lated liberty seem to be overthrown by the
excitements of the houi atLempt to base
(Lis conclusion upon a supposed military
necesvary exist iliug outside of und trans
cending the Constitution, a military ne
cessity behind which the Constitution it
self disr.piipars in a total eclipse. We do
( not find this gigantic and monstrous her
icty nut forth in your plod for absolute
1 power, but we do find another equally
subversive of liberty and law, und quite as
certainly tending to tho establishment of
despotism. Ynu claim to have found, not
outside, but within tb Constitution, a
principle or ger ji of arbitrary poiver.wh.ch
, in lime of war expands into An absolute
right o( personal liberly, unless forfeited
according to established laws, and forot
fensei previously deSned by law the right
when iocused of crime, to
t e tried where
law is administered, a id
punishutect is
anoihi'ate them
,i,
,mt
command of any chief magi-date can com
' ....I ... i .
lm lueu surrenuer
So fai as it is possible for us to under
stand from VOUT l&nUHi!t) th6 CUUn lul nroi
ru. K.u U n
tcu to lh;i 11 no ai-pears to have been law-
fu
inul accufalion. Inasmuch a. this process
B,"?..l.'-U".pfd.,n t,u,e?1 .wr.
seem lo think that every remedy 'or a fal
1 T . . r"r. 'or,l?
a r m 'Trr01 u oat.d j
gence of the Executive only. This great
zi?v.zi;tzr r.. :.. :: jwcatMii reused to am courts of
LUCatv in airu; i .auinu an iiiuio aio iiKtiks i un i at ji ir . turn ttm iwi t,i lai a u ai'ii irin . uimiii i i c..i f .i . .
... ... ...I r " i i,. ,i :c,:. ,'7.'", I ""'"'"" iuies ur ine districts 111 which
uy ins , urrwivoK, uuuui wut ui p.uui b- n..u 01. v,ii.v.wuub mcu aomiuen auc, persons lesidn nr in u liieb llw.ii.
, aul were No rehnemenl of logio can unsettle them , ms nniocer.co according lo tho rxisttn2l.,,n.ii tr., ..' il
.r..l ii.ihsniinfl.f.rrnuin.s.i. no r,.i,r f-on laws of this eoimti-s lTnf.n M. I ' ,l . '. '. "r., """"iiueu , ar.14 I
... . . - - i
a I'd no mice at
i ... f . .
;T. i . . iui uy risoii 01 a suspension oi tne writ 1 11 r its meaning certainly cannot be
uiu a 1 u 1 l inn aitai its iittiii ra inin ihA ns r At -k. i" i . i . nr j . i . 1 i
x - w wuuv we s us riuvtua lui iim, 1 a urnv liiill 1 iih i i i m urHtiii.
PBINCIPLES,
CLEAKFIEL1), i'A WEDNIvSDAY, JULY 29,
! heresy once established, end by this niodo
of induction, there springs at once in to ex -
i ""'"""'""i tuno uuio iu iu ca
isience a oroon 01 crimes or oiu nces unue (
fined by any rule, and hitherto unknown
to the laws of this country ; and this is 1
followed by indiscriminate arrests, mid j
nittht seizures, military commissions, un-
heard of mcJea of trial and punishment,
and all the machinery of terr.ir mid desi
potirm. Your lanisuage does not permit
us to doubt as to your essential meaning,
for you tell us that 'arrests are rnado not
so much for what has been done, as fori
what probably would be done." And
again: "The man who stands by and says
nothing when the peril of his Government
is discussed, cannot be misunderstood.
If not hindered (of course by arrest) he is
sure to help the enemy, and much more
if he talks ambiguously talks tor his
country with 'buts' and 'ifs' and 'nnds.' "
You also tell us that the ai rests complain
ed of have not been made "lor the treason
defined in the Constitution," nor "for any
capital or otherwi e infamous dimes, iior
were tue proce.'diugs lollowmg in any con
8titutional or legal sense criminal pro6ecu
tions." I be very ground, then, o: your
justification is, that the victims of arbitra
ry arrests were obedient to every law, were
guiltless of any known and defined offence,
and tlierctore were without the protection
of the Constitution. The suspension of
the writ of habeas corpus, instead of bains
intended to prevent the enlargement of
arrested criminals until a leual trial and
conviction can be had, is designed, accor
ding to your doctrine, to subject iunocent
men to your supreme will and i leisure
Silence itself is punishable, uccording to
this extraordinaiy theory, and still more
so the expression of opinions, Lowever
loyal, it attended with cntici-m upon the
policy of the Government. We must res
peel fully iffuse our assent to this theory
of constitutional law. We think that men
may be rightfully silent, if they so choose,
while clamorous end needy putriois pro-.
claim the praises of those who wield pow
er ; and as to the "buts," tho "ifs." and
the "ands," these are Saxon words and
belong to tho vocabulary of freemen.
We have already said that the intuition
, siderutions, in the hope that you will re.
1 lew me suujuti wiiu me curliest ttlton1
tion which its Bupieme importance de-
m.mds. e say, then, we are not aware
that the writ of habeas corpus is now sus
ponded in tny of the teuccful and loyal
States of the Union. An act of Congress,
appioved by you on the 3d of March, ISti.'t,
authorised tint President to suspend it du
ring the present rebellion. That the sits
pensiqu is a legislative, and not an execu
tive act, has been held iu every judiciil
decision ever made in this countiy, and
wo think it cannot be delegated to any
other branch of tho GoTernment. But
parsing over that consideration, you have
not exercised tho po.vpr which Congress
attempted to confer upon you, and the
rit ia i.ot BucpnnJoit in any part of the
ejuntry where the civil laws are in force.
Now, inasmuch as your doctrino of the
sibitrary arrest and imprisonment of inno
cent men, in admitted violation of express
constitutional guarantees is wholly deriv
ed from a suspension of the habeas corpus,
the first step to be taken in the ascer t to
absolute power, ought lo be to make it
known to the people that the writ is in
let suspended, to the end that they may
know what ia their condition. You have
nat yet exercised ibis power, and, there
fore, according to your own constitutional
thesis, your conclusion falls to tho ground.
Il is one of the provisions ol the Constitu
tion, and of the very highest value, that
no ex punt facto law shall no pu.'sed the
meaning of which is, that no act which is
not against tho law when committed, can
be made criminal by subsequent legisla
tion. But your claim is, that when the
writ of habeas corpus u suspended, you may
lawfully imprison and punish, for the
crimes of silenco, of speech, und opinion.
Hut us these aie no offences againttthe
knp'vn and established law of tho land, thd
constitutional principle to ahich wj now
refer, plainly requires that you bIioiiM, be
fore taking cognizance of such oA'cocoa,
make known the rule of action, in order
that tho people may bo a Ivised in due
season, so us not to become liable to its
penalties. L,ct us turn your attention to
the most glaring
..rtnrt f.n,l irw Tr.,.. ;i,i i- n
upog "on itu
marked the history of ToS
the assaults
wnicn nuv0 maiKea ine History ot your
admiuistralLun. i'o one has ever iireten-
I ,1 ,l.i .1
;
r ..:.:. -. . ... y
v. . v u,.u...Km ,,clyre.!w,li(W;., nf , .,:,
dud -ine then v.... bou ini ,n .
' SatiZ'istrou; "ronl T
. ,
But, sir, we cannot acquiesce in your
dogmas that arrests and imprisonments,
1 WILhouL Warrant. Or rriniinnl annnant inn in
.. t . ;
'.u - : - ......... i " 1.7.
fension or a single and peculiar remedy
or such wrongs brings into existence new
and unknown classes of oflVucei, or new
causes for depriving men ol tlieir liberty,
H j. 0ne ol the most material purpose
mbfi. upon probalfe cayso. are ly
Illeganyed w thsome krwn cH-
it is one 01 ine most maicnai purposes 01
....
persons
luly and
in T ' K ' ? j
and a suspension of the writ was never
.1I..-I . J . 1 .
asked for in ISncland. or in Ibis country, '
. bill ita. ra..ed in the Senate If the
not MEN.
1863
United State, suspending the
Uuf corpus for limited lime in
writ of
- j .. w t0 i i 1 1 Ri 1 1 eu time in all ta&ct
irn c -jimnni uere chiir;ie,l on oath with Ireaum
rolhnhijherimtorvtU,lcmtfinnr,nXanMt
ing the peece of safety of the Government,
But your doctrine undisguisedly is, that
a suspension of this writ justifies arrests
without warrant, without oath, and even
witboiTt - suspicion of treason or other
crime. Your doctrine denies the freedom
of speech and of the press; it invades the
sacred domain of opinion and diseussion s
it denounces tli'if" and i, i'i,ni.
the Er.ftsh fanguage, and even the refuge
of silence is insecure.
We repeat, a suspense or the writ of
habeas corpus merely dispenses with a sini
gle and peculiar remedy against an un
lawful imprisonment ; bnt if I hat remedy
had never existed, the right to liberty
would be Ihe same, and every invasion of
that right would be condemned, not only
by the Constitution, but by principles of
far greater antiquity than the writ itself
Our common law is not at all indebted to
Ibis writ for its action of false imprion
ment, and the action would remain lo the
citizen if the writ were abolished forevor.
Acain, every man, when his life or liberty
is threatened without the warrant of law,!
may lawtuuy resist; and if neces-ary, in
self-defence, may take the life of the ag
gressor. Moreover, the people of this
country may demand the impeachment
of the President himswlf for the exercise
of arbitrary power. And when all these
remedies shall prove inadequate for the
protection of free institutions, thero re
mains, in Ihe list resort, "the supreme
right of revolution. You once announced
this with a latitude of expression which
may well be considered dangerous in the
present crisis of our national history
You said :
"Any people, nnywhore being Inclined and
hving the power, hove Die right to rise up and
kako off the existing government, and form h
now one that suits them better. Nor is this
right confined to eases wLere tho people of an
oxieting governcent inny choose to exorciao it.
Anj portion of uch people, tlist cui, uiny revolu
tionize and mnke their own so much of the terri
tory ill they inhabit. More than this, a ii.sjority
of ny portion of such peoplo u.uy revolutions,
putting down a minority interiuinlsd wilh or
ncur about thoio, irlio way oppose their move
ments.'' (Vol. 10, Cunijrentiunal (iluh , p.
Such were your opinions, and you had
a constitutional right to declare them. uudcr illegal restraint or banish them can
If a citizen now should utter sentiments "pP'y the rack or thumb screw, cm put to
furlo.-s dangerous in their tendency, your! torture or to death. Not thus hnvo peo
nearest military commander would con-! pie of this country hitherto understood
sign him to a dungeon, or to (he tender j their Constitution. No argument can
mercies of a court-martial, and you would commend to their judgment such inter
approve the proceeding. ' pretations of the great charter of their
In our deliberate judgment the Consli-! Iibertio. luick us the lightning's flash,
tution is not open to the interpretation ! the intuitive sense of freemen perceives
suggested by your communication now
bl ore us. tt o th.nk every pArt of that
instrument is harmonious and consistent.
Tho possible suspension of the writ of. In justitication of your course as to Mr.
hidjcan corpus is consistent with Ihe freedom i Vallandighum, you havo leforred to tbo
of speech and of the press. The suspen-, arrest of judge Hull, at New Orleans, by
tiun of that remedial process nmy preve-.it order of Gen. Jackson ; but that cj6 dil
the enlargement of the accused traitor or ! lers widely from the cuse of Mr Yallan-
conspirator mini ne snail bo legally tried
and covicted or acquitted; but in this
we find no justification for arrett and im
prisomnent without warrant, without
cause, without the accusation or suspicion
Of crime. It seems to us. nif,r,oi,r ,
plain for argument that the sacred right!
of trial by jury, and in courts nl.ere Vhe
law ot the land is the rule ol decision, is
aright which ia never dormant, never
suspended, in peaceful und loyal commus
nilia and Slates. Will you, Mr. Pred'
dent, maintain, that because the writ of
lidLcat corpus may be in suspense, you can
substitute soldiers and bovonets for the
peuceiui operation oi tno laws, military
... i. i . .. . . -. ...
comissions and iinjuisitoriul mode of trial
for tho courts and juries prescribed by
the Conttilulion itself? And if you cans
uui iiiuiinuiu mis, men lei us aK w
is -.ne jusiineaiion lor the monstrous pio- bun.
ceeding in H e case of a citizen of Ohio, to More lhai this, you overlook the fact
which we have called your attention ? ' that the then administration (in the Ian
We know that a recreant judge, whose gunge of a well-known author) ''mildly
name has already descended to m.Heiial but decidedly rebuked the proceedings of
ontempt, found the apoloj-y on Ihe out- General Jackson," und thai the President
sil: of the supreme end fundamental law, viewed the subject with "surprise and
of Iho Constitution. Put this is not the solicitude." Unlike President Madison,
foundation on which your superstructure 'you, in a case much more univarrsnted,
ot power is built. We have mentioned j approve the proceedingsof your subordaa--the
act of the last Congress profensing to ate officers, and in addition justify your
authorize a suspension f the writ of habeas course by a carefully considered argument
corpvt. This act new demands your spe in its support.
cial attention, because, if we are not great It is true that after some thirty years,
ly in error, its terms anJ plain intention Congress, in consideration of the devoted
Itr ll irenl Iv ntinn.ni! I all 1 1 . t. . - n .1 .... , : Am f CI An a.a I T .. I,
and conclusions of your communication.
i -.ni unions ui jour LommunicHtion.
1. i3!", "r"1. "PWy com-j
mauds that the names of nil r.erRoiia
theretofore or thci palter arrestee? by ta,
thoriti- of the Prr.sif nnt. I-IP bin nui.itbl
I un iviviuii vi i
President or his cabinet
Wwr winy nlizciii ot Mates m uhtch the
m i n jel nfa ..',. C. .......... I - f .1
I ... ut.,j tnj nr mines m u flu. ine
,tlu , l'ein6 mia " the next granr
, tS lbf d 'nd'C' !
...v inviiui ii, iuru iiiejuuFi r
commanded to issue an order for their
, immediate discharge from imprisonment,
' T . . . . . . . r . . .
1 Krw.v ua rn r. r t t.r
i n.g wumurr jrm.wiiic.MU,
Jiy it the national Legislature
has said that the President may suspend
the accustomed writ of halas conns, but
at the samo time it has commanded that
all arrests under bis authority shall bo
promptly mauo Known to tne courts of
1 .1... . i . 1 .. . ..
justice, aim mat tue aecusea parties snail
Ie liberated, unless presented bv a rrnnri
. 1: . . r. ... r.
jury iing so in institution, and
tried by a jury in the ancent and im.k
tomed mode. The President may poVsis
the higher law of the Conetitutlon Put
TERMS -
waiving thul consideration, this statute,
by its vciy terms, promptly removes the
proceeding in cverv case into (he courts
where the safe-guaids of liberly tire ob
served, and where the persons detained
are lo be discharged, unless indicted for
criminal offences against the established and
ascertained laws of Ihe country.
Upou what foundation, then, permit us
to ask, do you rest iho pretention, that
men who are not accused of crime may
be seized and imprisoned or banished ut
the will and pleasure of '.he President or
any of his subordiuales in military posi
tions? Where is the warrant lor invading
the freedom of speech and of the press?
Where the justification for placing the
oitizer. on trial with.iut the presentment
of a grand juiy und military commission?
I HERE IH MO I'OWER IN THIS fOl NTKV WHICH
can pisi-ense with iTH i.awm. 'I he Presi
dent is as much . bou n & by them as the
humblest individual. Wo pray you lo
bear in mind, iu order (hat jou may duly
estimate the feeling of the people on this
subject, that for the crime of dispensing
with the laws und statutes of Great lint
uiu, our aiicpstois brought one monarch
to the scatlold, and expelled another from
his throne.
This power hich ynu have erected in
theory is of vast and illimitable propor
tions. If we may trust you to exceroise
it mercifully and leniently, your succes
sor, whether immediate or more remote,
may wield it viith the en rgy of a Cflesar
or Napoleon, and with the will of a des.
not and a tyrant. It is a power without
boundary or limit, because it proceeds
upon a total suspension of all the consti
tutional and legal sufe guards which pro
tect the rights of the citizen. 1 1 is power
not inartly described in the lunguago of
ore of your seretariea. Said Mr. Reward
to tho lirilish Minister in Washington:
" I cud touch a bell ou uiy right bund mid
order tho urroitof a citizen of Ohio. I can touch
the bell aguin and order the iinpridouuient of a
citizen of New York, and no power on earth but
Unit of the l'rctadont enn release them, fun the
Queen of England in her dominion do nr mui-h ?"
This is the very language of a perfect
despotism, and we learn from you with
prolouiid emotion that it is no idle boa-l.
It is a despotism uulimited in principle,
becuuse the same arbitrary and unrestrain
ed will or discretion which can pluce men
, the sophistry and rejects tho conclusion.
' Some other matters which your excel
' lency hag presented demand our notice.
uigtiaiu. rew urieuns was then, as you
truly slate, under " marital or military i
' law." 'Puis was not so in Ohio, where
Mr. allamllghaui wu arrested. I he
adminitiation of the civil law had not
been disturbed in tl.i.t rmnnmn., -ebi,
The courts were open, and juslioe was
dispensed will, its accustomed prompti-
(ude. Ju the case ol judge Hall, General
' Jackson in atjsew days sent him outside!
tho line of his eucauipments and set him I
at liberty; but you have undertaken to 1
banish Mr. Vallanuigham fiom his homo.
You seem also lo have forgotten thai Gen. '
Jackson submitted implicit v to the iudi.'-l
- . . . . v ..
ment ot tne court which imposed the line!
upon him; that be promptly pint it
that he enjoined his liicnds ij assent,
"ys ho most freely did, to the decision
which had just been pronounced anainst
1 refunded the amount of the fine he had
reiunueu me amountoi me tine tie
But the long dala, in doing
proved how reluctant the American
this
peo
i,lo were lo do anvthins which could be
'considered as in any way appioving the
' rliaronsi-it klinWII I O 1 10 IlloiflAttf nf I h IftW
disregard shown to .he majesty of the law.
I " I . I. ... : ! I
.Bven oy onj sue 'i eiiiinejiiiy enjnyeu
wen iiy onj UO n eram
tlloip -..-..fj.lfin, nn.l rpffrd
One subject mere and we shall concltiue.
You express your regret that our meeting
spoke "as Democrats;" and you say that
"in this lime of national peril you would
hsvfl preierreij to miet us upon o level,
-ne Lie'"r lUn ft"y r""
i uu mus wiuyvi us 10 anuiie to matters
which we should have preferred lo pass
bv. Put we cannot omit to notica vour
. . ' . ' ' 4
.
as il eniis, at least, an implied
reproach upon your motives and our pro
ceedings. e beg lo remind you that
when the hour of our country's peril had
come, when it w evident that a most
gigantia effort was to be made lo subvert
our institutions and. to everthrow the
government when it was vitally important
mat party leeiings should be laid aside,
and that all should be called upon to
unite most cordially and vigorously to
maintain the Union; at the time you
were sworn into ollio as President of the
United States, when you should have
urged your fellow-citizens in thp most
emphatic manner to overlook all past
differences and to rally in defense of their
country and iu institutions, when you
should hsve enjoined respeot for the Laws
ami the Constitution, so strictly diregard
cd by the Soulh, you chooo for Ihe first
II 25 per Annum, if pid in sdvanc'r
NKWSKIUKSVOL IV. NO. 2,
timo under line circumstances in tin
history of our country, to set up a part)
platform, called "the Chicago platform.'1
m your creed; to advance it beyond thq
Constitution and to speak disparaging
of that great conservative tribunal of ov,
country, so highly respected by all think
icg men who have inquired into our inel.
lutiotiB The SuraEME Court or Tin Ui.
ted States.
Your Adminihtrution has been true
the principles you then laid down.. Not .
withstanding the fact that tu veral hundre(
thousand Iiemocrats In the loyal State-,
cheerfully responded to tho callofthei
country, hlied the ranks of lis armies, an i
by '-their strong hands und illing heartH
aided to maintain your excellency and th
ollicers of government in the possession
the national capilol ; notwithstanding thi,
fact that the great body ol the Dernocrai ,
of the country have in tho most patriot h,
spirit given their best efforts, their trea
ure, their brothers und their sons, Id sd ,
tain the Government and lo put down tl q
rebellion, you, choosing (o overlook n' I
this, have mude your appointments to ci .
il ollice, from your cabinet officers an
foreign ministers down to the persons i.t
lowest official grade amons the tens o;
thousands engaged in coliec. ng the re'
enues of Ihe country, exclusively froiq
your political associates.
Under bucIi circumstances, virtual!
prescribed by your administration, an '
while most ol the leading journals whii-q
supported it approved the sentence pre
nounced against Mr. Vallandighum, itw -our
true ciurse our honest course t
meet us "Democrats," that neither yom
excellency nor the country might tnistuky
our antecedents or our position.
In closing ibis communication wedosii i
lo reaHinu our determination, and v
doubt not that of every one who attend- I
tho meeting which adopted the resolutiot
we have discussed, expressed in one";
those resolutions, to devote "all ourene- ,
gies to sustain the cause of the Union,''
Permit us, then, in this spirit, Ion 1
your excellency to re-examine the grm t
subjects we have consideied, to the ei
thai on your retirement from theposite ;
you occupy, you may leave behind y t
no doctrines und no further precedents
despotic power tj prevent you' and y." t,
posterity from enjoying that constitution
al liberty which is the inheritance ol i
ull, and to the end, also, that history m
speak of your administration with indu ,
once, it it cannot with approval.
We ftrOf e.r, wtlii gri rapfc,. .
Very truly yours,
Jou.x V. L. Trots.
Chairman of Committee
Albany, June 30, 18C3.
I We omit the names of twentytln '
gentlemen composing the aComniittee, to;.
want oi room. , ,
Democratic Vigilance Committeei
The following persons compose t i
Democratic Vigilance Committee in i
several boroughs and townships of Cle
field county, lor the ensuing year.
The primary election will be held '
Salurdnv. the 1st rlsv uf August next
I ti, t ii,'(n, c.,i n
Wfia-John Llghtnef, fcamuel til.
I mT',, o' , S willinm Mh
k? Lldor W,11an Mehu
Adam Brelh
Bloom James Mclnlyie Tobias ShRl, ,
Wm. Henry.
liogys Ilenty Turner, Charles Sh . ,
Samuel Cross.
llraJford'S. S. Wi!on, J. 11. Geurb ,r,
I.owry Gill.
auu iicorce i n
IhaJy George C. Knk, bamucl lo'h
ti,wi,it Amos lionsnll
Jiumsitle John King, Thomas Your
Samuel Williams.
Clearfield Boroutfh I L. Relzonslcin.
M. Hills, George Thorn.
CfW-John Worrell, Larry Killi.
Ausii.. Curry.
Cocingtvn Francis Coudriet, John
Hugeuol, Thomas Maurer.'
Vurwensvilk Jiorovgh Joshua Jtnker, 1
B. Thompson, Cortes Bloom.
liecutur David Gearhart, Levi On
Chas. M. Cadwallader.
i' .... t l... : t.:i tr
I rerguson values cjiraw, uauiti uvy.
m. Li, luoore.
Fvx George S. Himes, Jas. M'Lej-.'
N. M. Brock way.
Giranl paniej Kiisp, sTonn 'Wf. &
Mignot.
Goshen. Robert K. Flegal, E. K. Shir
Wm. Grft,nm, jr.
Gruhi s Thos. II. Force,', Wm, .y.
helm, David liolt.
(fuclich Joseph Fry, Thos. Flick, J aii (
Jordan.
llustinl.evi Burdell, Hirsta W.. I.
ward, IK II. Lamm.
JvrJan Corts Pell, John Straw, 'j ,,n
Smith.
Karthaus- George Heckeudoi 71, Wijj i
Brimker, Lorenz llarlline.
Knar Isaso IJupIun. D. . -Peter
Mays.
Iyawrcnce Johu Shaw, Jr. Levi P. lr. .
James McLaughlin.
Lumber City Joseph IlAgerty, Saif
McCracken, Amos Hile.
Morrit John 0. AJlpoit, Jackson fi
ver, Leonard Kyler.
Xw Washington James Foalb, Rt.il
Neiroan, James Rose.
ftrni-Suwmcrfield FlegaJ, fair id-. 1
Mahon, Wm. P. Johnson.
J'ikeJa. R. Caldwell, Geo. McLh
Linn Hoover. '
I'nion-Leyl Dressier, ttijliamj y, .
John Potter, Sr.
H 'oodu. ard 4 ustip Kline, C. J. S
P. Alexander.
Too duly of (he CommitUe nil) 1 .
organize peniocraiio Clubs in their
pejtive townships, to make arrangen.
tor laving any meetings that cna.v
necessary, end to give notioe of and
perintend the holding of the Tri .
Election. Jirail Ttst, Chairroi
Democratic County Coroniii'
Clearfiebl, July 4, W3. . : .