Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-06-12
Habeas Corpus.

If this be true, where is our Wanted
liberty? Ione-gone forever. We dc
not doubt that our neighbor, and all those
who hold opinions like him, wish this tc
he the case. But we believe the People
will submit to no such daring usurpaticr
and t, ranny. ... ....... ..
The writ of H,JeaS Corpus is the high
perocatiye writ that PROTECTS OUR
personal LIBERTY, and at W time'
keeps the mililaAy in subordination TO the
civil power. Woe he to the ruler that
dares to "SUSPENL" OUR LIBERTY
and bitter will be the hour when the EX'
. tcutive attempts to destroy the Supreme
ICcurt.
The Constitution of the United States
and of Pennsylvania both provide that
the privilege Of thewrit of lIabeas Corpus
shall not be suspenden, unless when in
cases of rebellion or invasion the public
safety may require it." Who has the
power TO suspend" this writ under
this clause of the Constitution of the
United States! Judge fancy, in the res
cent case of Merriman at Baltimore has
already emphatically declared that Con-
gresS alone possesses tbs extreme poper. They
HAVE NRvER rE EXERCISED IT.
1t requires no argument TO prove that
Congress alone possesses this power. Any
one who will take the trouble to read sec.
,ions s and of Article LIST of the Consti-
tuition Of the United States. will see this
a: glance. Section s says "Congre,s shall
hare tie potccr" to do the thing, named in
Is consecutive paragraphs. Section .
then follows with seven distinct limita-
tions of the power OF Congress. The first
provides for the prohibition Of the Slave
trade. The second is the provision in re-
gard TO the writ of HaJeas Corpus. The
third prohibits the passage Of tr post .tdcto
laws and the others are like restrictions Of
IMepower of Congress. 50 that in fact the
Constitution no where provides that the
President or any other branch or Depart
Ment of the governments. should suspend"
this writ; but even restricts and limits the
the power o [ Congress by the most clear
and explicit language.
A VAIN BoAsr- The Black Republican
Orators and Newspapers, have always been
great advocates for free speech, free press,
and free negroes, too but os an illustrotion
OF this fact we give an extract from late
number of pttsburg Dispatch in which
the editor says:
/ Where the stars and stripes of the
|, Union float, men think, vote and write as
they please--where Secession rules they
must be dumb, become exiles, prisoners,
or die"
This little scrap is perhaps equally bal
anced-half true and half ialse-so far
as it concerns Ms of the North it has no
foundation in fact. The editor must have
\ known at the time he penned the above
lines that the Office of the Beaver Star, not
thirty miles from his own door, was enter
ed OH the night of the 9th inst. by mob,
and its materials scattered through the
streets and thrown into the river.
To further illustrate this boasted liber,
ty, which the stars and stripes" have
been presumed to guarantee we refer to
two articles on our ou'side in reference TO
two other TRANSACTIONS of similar nature.
From these il will lie seen, that, like the
fugitive slave, Democratic editors in Re
publican America must seek q refuge in
IfonarcAicdi Canada, Well did Maria An.
toineite say, when her eyes fell upon the
Goddess o! Liberty, in iespotic France,
, 80, Liberty what crimes are committed in
, thy name. " ...
ave regret to see the Clearheld Republican
still persisting, in many cases, in taking sides
? with the rebels. We know the editor to be pos
scssed Of as good n heart as any man living and
We believe that he is also friend of his country.
u ....... Lock Har@ Wotcdmaa.
That will do, David. We ask no man
10 say more of us--and we can say almost
But you were never more mistaken in
your iife AND goodness knows ycu have
seldon been right since you left the Dem>
ocratic party than whsn you say we are
taking sides with the rebels" We have
! heartily supported the present blundeting
administration, even in measures not only
notoriously in disregaci OF law and precc.
dent, but measures whose inevitable ten.
dency we believed to be the defeat of the
great hope and purpose Of every loyal
hcart-peace, reconciliation, and resto>
ration of our once happy and powerful
Union. Law-mcndcrs must not be law-
breakers. In furnishing the violstors Of
law, ~emust act in pursuance Of the law
otherwise the remedy may be worse than
the disease. We have therefore denoun.
oed 'the Cebcis" without distinction Of
party or section and this ~'e shall contn.