Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-01-11
GEN'L JAcksoN,s FINE AGAIN.

we Tear our readers may become tired of this
subject; but it is one which we feel great dis
position To press upon their notice. We have
hold of it now, and like boy who catches hold OF
u cows tail as she is running down hill, we can
not LEI 90 IL we would.
The Globe says, This fine was eNacied, on ac-
count OF the enforcement OF Martial Law! But
what right had General Jackson, in the first in
stance, TO proclaim Martha! law, any moro than
any Militia Captain in the country2 What right
had he 10 assume Il power, reserved by the Con-
vention which formed the Constitution, and of
which Washington, who had carried the country
safely through the Revolutionary War, and must
therefore be presumed to have been a Judge OF
what It's interest might require i'm it's greatest ext
gencies, was President, reserved to Congress a.
lone
But admitting that necessity, which we allow
10 be superior TO al! law, required suspension OF
the writ OF h&te0s corpus in the first Instance
admIe that the ungenerous imputation cast by
Gen1 jackson upon The Legislature and people
oil Louisiana, was no more than they deserved
admit that they were actually ready, at IL mo-
menrs warning, to be,ray the city into the hands
OF the common enemy-admit all this, and is il
not evident, that the apology only covers the pro-
ceeding of jackson until The 2ls, of January,
1915, when he himself wrote to the Secretary of
war, announcing the removal of the enemy from
The coast, and the absolute certainty that no other
military operations would be- attempted in tina,
quarter during the war! Or if that period of
time be regarded as too soon, is there any excuse
Tor his continuing the reign Of Martial Law, al
ter the 22d day of February, when he received
certain Intelligence of peace
NOW the reader will bear i'm mind, that this
reinforcement OF Martial Law" Tor which Gene
raj Jackson was fined, took place on the 9Th of
March, when peace had been oGicial'y proclaimed,
and long alter General jackson had been appriZed
oil the fact. Can commander, of a military
Iorce, commit any act more heinous than the en-
mint.
the reader reflect a moment. This law super
sedes all others; II suspends the Constitution,
and places the lives and liberties of the whole
people IN the power of the commandinn officer
man, II taken up for AN offence, real or imaoi-
nary, is debarrcd trial by jury, and compelled to
Jake MS chance Tor life before Court Martial.
Congress itself should be exceedingly cautious
IN proclalming it, and in fact has never done SO
since the adoption OF the Constitution. Ii tha
necessity exist at all, it can only be Ragranfe
beHo, when the enemy is actually al the doors of
the Republic. But how would our readers like,
In Time OF profound peace, TO be liable TO be
dragged before u C0uH Martial. without warming
and, after summary trial, be executed by IA file
OF soldiers This was precisely the case of
LoualIer. lie was dragged from his family in
time of profound peace, tried by Court Mar
ua'' ana II that court had found him guilty, he
would, beyond all doubt, have been executed.
For This, was General Jackson fined for en-
forcing military law in lime of profound peacen
and we submit II TO our readers, if the offence
was not as great an one, could be committed
against The majesty of the laws Why is extra
neous matter introduced i'm this controversy
Why is it said, that the proceeding OIL the part
OF Judge Hall arose from vindiciive motives :!
Inc duty OF The Judge required him to proceed
IN the manner he did-his oath Of Office required
1t. 1t he had done otherwise, he would have
been false TO both True, to the shame Of human
nature, there are few who would have undertaken
the task, much duty required it, but it was not
The less, therefore, an act of duty. But how ri
dcuions is II, TO hear of Judge Hall being actual
ed by vindictive disposition! We wish we
had Judges no,o who would take the vengeance
OF The law, on military transgressor, al the he ad
oil his troops. We rather think there are not
many such men now in the judicial corps.
Richmond IThig.