Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-07-25

uSt0unuing IN the position III winch Mary
land was placed by a portion of her citizens. |
He knew it was the habit Of gentlemen,
when they take part in discussions of this
character to look to the Constitution and
to the laws of Congress, as they appear on
the statute book as the only source from
which they can ascertain the extent of the |
power vested in the Commander-in-C Chief, |
even in an emergency like that which existed |
with regard to Baltimore. Must martial law
be entirely ignored, because Congress has
not declared that martial law, under certain
circumstances, shall be enforced2 The Con-
stitution itself provides for the organization
of the army, and of course must recognize
all things incidental to the proper mante-
nance of an army, among which is martial
law. The fathers Of the Republic recogni-
zed the existence ofmartial lawas incidental
to the powers Of Commander-ln- Chief of
the army. That law carried with it pow
er vested in the Commander-inC Chief to
suspend the Habeas Corpus act Not only
to arrest individuals, but to supercede all
civil power that stands in the way of its en-
foicement. That being tie case how came
martial law to be proclaimed, and the habeas.
corpus act suspended in Baltimore? A
minority of the people, no longer content
with the remedy afforded by the ballot-box,
resorted to force to overthrow the supreina-
cy of the law. He referred to that most
monstrous outrage, that reasonable outrage
by a portion Of the people of ofBaltimore, who
undertook to stone to death the soldiers of
the United States, who were hnrying. at
the command Of the President, to protect
the capital Of the country These very Com
missioners, who cent this memorial here,
made no attempt to prevent the outbreak
= thav al,
ing of the bridges on the line Of conmuni-
cation with the North, over which the army
was rushing to the rescue of the capital?--
r They, at all events, did not make the effort.
What do the statements in that letter show
which was read by the Clerk? That secret
organization exists in the City of Baltimore,
and the adjoining portion of Maryland, hav-
$ ing in view an insurrectionay movement,
, depending upon the contingency-not very
probable one--of johnson, the rebel Gener-
al escaping from Gen Patterson, and an.
pearing with his forces before Baltimore. =
C Men are enlisted, and even women are en-
n listed, and everything prcpared--for what
I, To suddenly rise, without warning. on the
soldiers, and murlcrthem in the Streets
It was in view of these things that Major
. General Banks issued his proclamation to
suppress insurrection and to prevent war. -
T IT, in the performance of that holy duty,
Gen. Banks trespasscd little over the strict
. rules of martial law, or trespa '>ed little
d upon the reiltssID5f individuals, still he (NIr
+! Thomasl would cay to him, ''Go on in your
y good work, and receive the laudations ant
encomiums of every man in Maryland, ever
Of the minority when they awake from tho
n strong deusion under which they are now
!, unhappily, acting" In the state of affair
h in Maryland, as disclosed by that letter
would any prudent military man. in hos
' tile land, and admonished by the outrage
already perpetra.el, in which citizens inhu
y manly and brutally murdered unarmed sol
C diers, fail tp take such precautions rs the
exigcncysof the ease demanded? A mill
IS tary leader could not lie supposed to wal
:. the development of all the details, and til
y AZ etenlatic demonstrative proof which cour
Justice aud u jury would require. Wit!
8 }4ecard 70 the arrest Of Marshal Kane. h
- had few words to say. Kane was Marsha
Of Police. with all the power to preserve tn
y peace and suppress riots at his command
% and if he had acted as General Banks acte
he would have ut once queled the excite
N pept, and have led men back to loyalty an
i 70 their allegiance to the country. Did tn
70 Commissioners, who had this memorial pre-
,f sentel, "and who have come here for trial
c by q sort of an appeal from the action of tn
Il military authorities in Baltmore--did the
~ make any effort to lead back the people @
u Baltimore to their allegiance to the laws o
the United States? This Marshal and the
Commissioners of Police had their apollo
gists. But he had dispatch in his hand
which he would read, sent by this Kane in
II to Maryland. Did Kane or the Commi
= sioncrs attempt to preserve the peace whe
Il the outbreak occurred? No. Was ther
any. effort made to bring the people back t
their allegiance to this Government? Nc
a Any attempt to bring them back to the oil
,r love Of country which once warmed tn
hearts of the citizens of Baltimore? Nc
But Marshal Kane assumed to be the mouth
l. piece tho community. Kane, in the mids
ID ofthe excitements and the burning ofbridge.
, telegraphed to an excitable young man
- Bradley johnson, now commander of tn
. Rebel army inNirginia. VAST telegrap
to ofpeace? No; but in language to stir ever
Or drop of blood in that young mans veins. :
n. This was at a time when the patriot troop
: were on their way to vindicate the Govern
III ment, to prevent the capital from bein
sacked, and the Chief Magistrate and hi
O. Cabinet from being burned in their bed
o chambers. These men are arrested in Bal
! timoro by mob, attacked and some G
u them stoned to death, unarned as they were
,e and in a condition which appealed to tn
y forbearance Of every brave and honorabl
man. What did Kane say in this celebra
ted dispatch? Bring your men here b
le the first train The streets are red witt
Is Maryland blood. Send expresses over tn
ls mountains. Fresh hordes will be down O.
c us tomorrow. Wewill fight them and viii
2 them over the border" That is the Ian
!, guage Of Kane, and indorsod by the Com
" missoners of the city of Baltimore appoint
!, ed to protect the people in the peaceful luy
9 :. suits and avoca,ons of life, which, thank
!, , to the military power they now enjoy Thi
! dispatch of Kane's was followed by action
by burning tho bridges and tearing up tn,
: Northern Railroad track. The bridge a
q Wilmington was burnt down for the purpos,
= Of arresting the progress of Northern troop
. coming to the rescue of the Governments.
. to the rescue Ofths capital, its building
! and its valuable archives. This very Kane
!, instead offending his aid to the maintenance
: : Of peace, and to the preservation of Govern
= ment, was conjuring rash men, by all tn,
y considerations calculated to excite the pas
!, sions, to bring the sharpshooters to aid hin
J in establishing his reign ofterror. The Com
!, : missioners. were as deep in the plot agains