Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-09-11
THE RAFTse0AN's JOURNAL.
GOES FOR THE UNION.

The Louisville Democrat (Mr. Harney chief
editor } is, as is we'll known, leading DEM
ocratic organ of Kentucky, but has taken
bold stand in defense of the Union. Why
cannot all the Northern Democratic papers
forget party for one campaign, till the Union
is saved This Louisville Democratic organ,
of August 23d, thus meets question in which
many OF the Northern Democratic party papers
have gone almost or quite into Secession fits.
The Democrat says:
aA correspondent wants to know what we
think of the usurpatious of power by the Pres
ident, and his suspension OF the writ of habeas
corpus. In reply, we have only to say that we
think very little OF all that clamor. These
things are exceptional to an extraordinary
contingency, and form no precedents in the
working of our institutions. General WASH
ington, in the time of the whisky insurrection,
disobeyed the writ OF habeas corpus, in the
case of Hamilton, who was afterward member
of Congress. He was imprisoned four months,
before he got the benefit Of that writ.
jefferson disobeyed the writ, through Gen.
eral Wilkinson, at New Orleans. Jefferson, at
the same time, without any law on the subject,
ordered the seizure of all the property on the
Ohio, belonging to Burr or his party. General
jackson disobeyed the writ OF hd6eas corpus at
New Orleans, and imprisoned Judge for
! disobedience of his orders, as Wilkinson had
! done at the same place, before him. Jefferson
usurped power in the purchase Of Louisiana
| He believed so himself. Our own Governor
usurped the power to borrow money of the
| banks here, and purchase arms, for which he
| had not a particle Of authority; and there was,
moreover, little, if any necessity, for the act.
No man expects that in times of such a war
as this, despotic power ill not be exercised
| in some cases. An individual, in defense of
life, may disarm his enemy, or kill him; and
| Governments will do likewise.
ssThe Confederates are daily guilty of des-
potic acts, but these do not indicate that sIch
| deeds will be sanctioned by their institutions
| in time of peace. War has its own rules and
necessities that override all others. Let a
| people keep out of war, if they want to be free
and enjoy free institutions. II any one expects
party at war to scruple about deed neceS-
sary for seif-preservation, he expects what he
will never see. We shall judge these belig-
erents as We judge any other belligerent par
ties, and posterity can make up its verdict as
to the conduct of each, upon the usual rules
| of war in such cases. Neither Washington
nor Jefferson stopped at the writ of habeas COR
pus when they thought the country in danger.
"Any President, in the hour of peril, will
use pow.r to save the Government, and trust
to his countrymen to justify or condemn him
s'We shall not be so unjust to Lincoln, little
as we like him or his party, to insist on
! tying up his hands by strict rules Of peace,
whilst the enemy, trying to destroy the Gov
ernment, acknowledges only the rules of war
and necessity. 1t would give the enemy an
overwhelming advantage. Suppose the prs-
oners at Washington asked writ of habea,
corpus. A judge might feel bound to grant it,
but would any one expect it to be obeyed, or
condemn Lincoln if he didn't obey it I? Will
| JEFF. Davis surrender his prisoners upon the
orders of Judge Taney, any other judge
who would think of railing at him if he did
not AS if any one had right to expect it. p