Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-06-16

tice ought 10 take of the grovelng anecdote
of the traitor Arnold, applied by the venerable
ex-Presdent mir. Adams] TO an old success
full competitor for the first Office in the worlu'
long after that competitor had quilted tHe Po-
litical arena forever, is matter OF Hucn
doubt will simply say OF this IS, attack lnaI
it is of but too close affinity win mat iLlaue
by the notorious Knight OF Gadsnlli on the
soldier corpse of the gallant Percy-and will
be felt about as much.
1.-THE victory of New Orleans undoubtedly |
was a ground of high glory, not only to the
Individual who was at the head of our forces, |
Int of glory to the nation itself. But, on ac-
count of that victory, were they to sanction
acts which, in the pamphlet referred to blythe
gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. Underworld
were argued to be treason and were they not
only to sanction, but to reward those acts on
that ground? 1t reminded Mr.. A. of an alec
dote which he heard many years ago respect,
| ing General Arnold-a man very celebrated
| in the war of our revolution. After his ex-
! PLOTS in this country, (Which were OF two
characte:s,) he went to Eng land; and there
being an object of contempt to everybody he
saw, and particularly to every American, he
still sought the company of Americans who
visited England at the close of the war, and IN
the course of a conversation he had with an
American with whom he had been acquainted
in this country before his treason and treache-
~, he asked him what the Americans would
have done with him if they had caught him
instead of Andre, or if Andre had been dellv-
cred up las was proposed) for the purpose OF
having him? Said the American, They
would have buried that leg which was mutt
lated in their service with the honors of war,
and they would have hung you for the re-
TIo+ fho
of Justice which, comparatively speaking,
would be more proper than that OF his COL
league, which was to reward General Jack
son fol- imprisoning judge because he had
won the battle of New Orleans"
will now, sir, Gf can be pardoned by the
House for this, to me, most unpleasant digres-
sion,) turn to what conceive the true merits
of the questionable propriety of the declara-
o ton and enforcement of martial law, by Gent
, Jackson at New Orleans. When speak OF
+ martial law, will not be understood as mean
n ing the law establishing rules and articles Tor
q the government of the army of the U. States
. That law is at all times in force, and acquires
. no new power from simple declaration OF
4 that fact | mean that martial law OF para
G mount control, as it is understood in all cOun-
= tries, and which may not unaptiy be denied
= &c the common law of camps" sprngng on
= of, and commensurate with, the exlgencles Of
armies in the Acknowledgements which cannot
q be foreseen, and therefore cannot be guarded
g against in advance, by fixed legislation. Tha
j. Cen Jackson had the constitutional power
p formally to declare or enforce such law-te
n supercede the civil for such military rule
7 shall not contend for him nor has he ever 81
\ contended for himself. If his justification il
+. 10 be found at all-and that it is, have ne
u Doubt must be sought for amidst the dan
70 gers and difficulties by which he found him
70 self surrounded. | know, sir, there are som
. who would fain persuade the world that NJ
ri alternative, however direful, can justify, o
To- even excuse, resort to such course. | have
e now pamphlet before me, signed CA Ken
II tuckian," written with some ability, in which
: the author lab0rs TO enforce This doctrine. 4
p. single and very short paragraph from thu
m work will serve to show his position:
ST "The great national interest with us-th
90 great point of disci pIine-is, and ever mus
70 be, implicit and devoted obedience to the law
=. Based on this dogma, he labors to prov
that, while Gen. Jackson was whipping tn
# British, he was, in fact, levying war agans
,e his own country-because he took the neces
,e sary measures TO suppress mutlny and treason
l. in his own camp and winds up by saying
m cts plain, nnmtigated treason"
v Who this learned gentleman is, do nc
care to know. From his unsparing bitterness
If he might we'll be taken for some political rem
at egade, vainly attempting to win the conhdenc
j. of his new friends, by assaIling the leader @
l. his old ones. Certain | am he is no soldier
f and knows nothing of the hardships or casual
70 ties of war If he did, he would also kno,
T. that an army ra:ely marches by day. or halt
Id by night, without necessarily breaking som
a. law, or tramplng on some light. 1t is MOI
as than probable this gentleman is some Judge
re or eX-judge, who, wrapping himself in HI
tv robes of office, and hugging to his heart th
s. darling Utopia, ''implicit obedience,'' fondl
O. imagines he can convince the American pee
ne pie that it were infinitely better New Orlear
o had been sacked and burnt, than saved b
a martial law. This is but the doctrine attemp
,r. ed to be nculcated in the pamphlet referred II
~ when carried into practice; and, whatevt
r. may be thought of il now, have no doubt
Al would have been received with reclamation b
NV the entire British army at the time In th
e. shape, then, let it go before the world |,
ee least, will waste no argument to prove It's TO
ke ly or its falsity.
In 1914 the same experiment was made wit
at Buffers popularity to carry the State for tt
re democracy, as had succeeded in his congre
IN sional district. He was nominated as the den
n ocratc candidate for governor by the 9Th
e. January convention; and there is good grour
tai to believe that he would have been chosen
ne yer his estimable wing competitor, Govern
,rt Owsley, but for the universal conviction thro
h. out the State that The defeat of Mr. Clay's pa
nd ty, by the choice of a democratic governor
an August, would have operated 10 inju re M
on Clay's prospects throughout the Union in II
D. presidential election which followed immed
lat ateIy after, in November. With Mr.. Clay
ed popularity, and the activity of all his frent
of with the State pride so long exalted by Il
a aspiration of giving President to the Unio
re- more eagerly than ever enlisted against Il
MS democracy, Col. Butler diminished the VIII
ad majority from twenty thousand to less thu
se five thousand.
k The late military events with which Maj
he General Butler has been connected-in cons
d. quence of his elevation to that grade in 1874
lis with the view to the command of the volul
ny teers raised to support Gen. Taylor in his il
he vasion of MeXco-are so well known to Il
ey country, that minute recital is not necessar
he He acted very conspicuous part in the S
We we're conflict at Monterey, and had, as secor
Ia in command under Gen. Taylor, his full sha
He in the arduous duties and responsibilities il
'ss CURED in that important movement. The ma
ed rative of Major Thomas, senior assistant adj
y, tant general of the army in Mexico, and hem
on assigned by Gen. Taylor to the staff of &c
9al Butler, reports so plainly and modestly Il