New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-15

esptcl3li! dtH2hi h pff4Vuicdl hts vi w "'SP'''"''
when they reye in fearful spprehensicns that their
beloved country i. incontinently going to the bad.
Ii vii take We think. great deal of time, snd
great deal Of evil to sap either our national virtue
or our national prosperity. and We shall come out
hereafter. ss We hsve done heretofore, from many
time of trial quite as well. if not little better.
than when We went in. Indeed, any danger that
besets Us is not to be made manifest at some psrtc-
ular crisis foreseen snd understood of al men, but
from silent causes the Importance OF which Will
only be- acknowledged in ong-subsequent results.
In other words, thst We, like other peoples, may.
some time or other, lose something in a day, the
loss ofwhich il will take US hafa century Odscoyer.
We would not be understood then as crOsklng
when We suggest that some late events seem 10
us worthy of more serious comment than have yet
been given them. 1t is pertinent to what We have
sad already that while this country IL, snd very
probably always has been, seriously alive 10 the
danger that may arise to lis liberties from stand
ing army, no apprehension is felt at the possibility
of military despotsm being sprung upon US at
some unhappy moment by the injudicious or de-
spotc use Of power over citizen soldiery. II is
only necessary to state the proposition TO secure
Its acceptance: that given military esprit dn corps
in such soIdiery, and despotic spirit and pur-
pose in some unscrupulous and popular Chief
Magistrate who holds unchecked control over that
branch of the service and the material for mill
tary despotism stands ready made to our hands the
moment occasion shall call for its assertion.
This reflection is forced upon US by an event only
q week old. ANY one who will take the trouble Of
a walk 70 the Battery. may see cleaning across
the bay the white tents of small encampmeut,
which may, in half day be increased to small
srmy powerful in military spirit and organization,
and large enough to hold in subjectOn and to COM
mand the reople and the resources of the largest
city in the country aud throught the most powerful
State in the Union. We have only to suppose our
Chief Magistrate bad, bold and ambitious man,
ard the ally of usurping government, to see how
easy il would b. to involve us in civil war, If not
to reduce us al once to the condition of conquered
people. For such, at this moment, is the condl-
ton Of the people of Richmond County. With
them civil government isset aside. and Martial law
has taken its place. That the alternative is a very
great evil to be resorted TO only in the last eX-
tremity, and 10 be- even possible only in a case Of
dire necessity, WILL We presume, pass unquestoned
by al rejecting men.
military despotism ia thing so much to be
dreaded that even temporary anarchy is to be pre-
ferred to IT, II is for this reason that BY our laws
the use of military power is guarded against with
the greatest caution and the magistrate is not per-
mitted 10 resort to il except when every possible
civil process TO secure obedience to the laws has
been tried and failed. II, in the mean time ex-
cesses shall be committed, and unchecked license
shall, for brief period. run riot, and the peace
and welfare of society be ubyerted, II is better
than that We should resort hastily and on small
proyocatOn to the use of a servant which may so
easily become the most tyrsnnica of masters a
single evil precedent in sezing TOO soon so danger
ous weapon may be productive OF far more harm
than hundred mobs. The example once permit
ted without comment, when no harm done or
intended. may be followed second time by bad
man for bad purpose, when il is too late to find
remedy.
Only in extreme necessity, then do the laws of
tbs State provide that the Governor shall issue
proclamation declaring the people. any portion
Of them. to be in a state of nsurrection and au-
thorize the calling out Of the military TO aid in
their subsection TO civil authority. The statute de-
clares expressly that only after civil or criminal
process has been resisted aud call upon the citi
zens ST large has been dsregsrded. the Sheriff
Of the county, or the District-Attorney or the
Judges of tie Courts, may call upon the Governor
for aid: and if then. in his judgment, extreme
measure is necessary, he may issue his proclams.
ton snd call out the military. II Is not pretended
that this step was taken in the ease before US
the emergency of the moment for the county was
not declared in state OF nsurreciion I'LL SIX dsys
after the mob had finished lis work, and the lead
ers were running about begging somebody 10 assist
them; nor were the military sent 10 keep
the peace BY martial law till nine days
the proyerbial limit 10 popular marvel
after the tumult had ceased. Were any
of the preliminary steps taken 10 establish civil
order Was there any application from any of
the civil officers Of the county 10 the Governor 10
interfere with the strong arm of military power
Was il asked even BY the Police Commissioners,
within whose district Staten Island les and who
have the right TO raise special police when the
existing force is not sufficient Orwere any steps
tskeu 10 arouse some of the authorities if need
were. in that large county 70 sense OF their duty
snd lien 10 cal upon the peaceable citizens 10
assis, in serving any process if it were resisted
We believe tbs; ali these questions must be
answered in the negative. And in thst ease the
inevitable conclusion must be that the whole pro-
eeeding was. st least. premature and contrary TO
the laws OF the State, if not without excuse.
So far from the measure seeming 10 have had
=, s.l .ans;iarsfion nifhouf which IL sho,,ii