Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-23
CIARINGrov, Monroe CO.. Ohio.
LETTER from EDw,D EVERETT.

Some Considerations for the People
OfEvery Community TIA Every Free
DISIOynl Sheet Is Published-NO time
now for Half Way Measures with
Orators or Pretended Union Men.
1t is m old proverb that the laws are si-
lent amidst arms. The laws are, for the
most part, made for n state of peace, ex-
cepting those which expressly refer to war,
and the manner of conducting it. When a
state of war arises, the community neccs-
sarily undergoes great, and sometimes
rapid change the quiet pursuits of society
are to some ex:CEt, checked, and in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the seat of war, sus-
pended, and with them the laws, which
regulate those pursuits, must for the time
give way to the stern necessities of the new
state OF things. 1t should, however be,
and it is, the great effort of an enlightened
Government in civilized countries, to keep
this disturbance OF the peaceful order of
things within the narrowest limits and al
low the supremacy of the law to be inter-
tered with by military authority ms little as
possible. II is in particulars cardinal maxim
of free governments, that the military
commander should he subordinate to the
civil magistrate. There are undoubtedly
cases, when war exists, in which the pub
lie safety absolutely requires that the oper-
civil magistrate should yield to the para
mount considerations which require sum-
mary measures. The patriotic mag strate,
of whatever rank must in such cases eX-
ert that moral courage-quite equal 10 the
courage required for the risks of the field
which is needed for the discharge of the
unpopular duty of suspending the laws.
He must not shrink before the reprouChes
which his conduct is sure to bring upon
him from the timid, the peryerse, and tue
disafFected, cloaking their dislOyalty under
an assumed zeal for constitutional priuci-
Piles. He must take the risk even of sub
sequent disavowal, for poor humanity is
very prone to be wise after the event and
brave after the danger. But he will con
| fine his interference with the regular march
of law 10 the narrowcst limits and fewest
occasions, and be the first to welcome the
restoration of its authority.
These are the general maxims which APP
ply to the conflict of civil and military
authority, and the practical difficulty will
naturally be, notin their general sound
mess, but in their application to particular
cases, This difficulty will of course be
much greater in the commencement of
state of war, than after it has la5ted some
time, and the community has been obliged
to conform itself to the exigencies of the
contest. At the present time, those Citi-
zeu5 ia some of the Border States, who
sympathize with the Coufederates, think it
hard that they cannot be at peace and ut
war, in the Uuion and out of it, Mt the
same time. They claim the protection of
the Constitution as in n time OF peace and
universal obedience TO tho laws, while
they render secret and, when circum-
stances admit, open aid to those arrayed in
arms against them. They aszAuIt the
forces moving to the defence of the Capt.
tai they convey supplies Nnd arms to the
enemy they recruit his ranks openly and
by stealth, aud to effect these objects they
sometimes avsil themselves of official po-
sition and authority derived from the Gov.
ernmeut which they as5ail; aud when that
Government in seIE-dcfeuce, Interferes to
arrest ihese reasonable movements and
DsUhi1at;on, they clamcr that the liberties
Of the citizens are invaded,
There are presses, for the t1Ust part in
the Border States, though some of them are
found in cities uore remote from the scsBe
OF action, which arc daily pleading tho
cause of che enemy, rnisrsPTeseusing and
H;ilityiHg the Government Of the Untted
States, e%Ggggratiug every article OF unfa.
vurNbiG Intelligence, and cSerting them-
solves TO tue utmost to disjParteu tho
friends and defenders Of the Constitution
aud the Union. But SuCh Is the all but
superstitiouS devotion Of the people to the
liberty Of tho Press that these pernicious
journnls have, With the exception of sim
gle instance in 81. Louis, never been iRtar-
feEad With. Itseems TO have been thought