Shreveport daily news., 1861-07-31

I
his private life, that he may be lust
~ ranked among the most Alustrious
Americans of the day. You propose
to make this act of the President va:
lid, without making defence of it.,
either on legal or constitutional
grounds. What would be the effect
In thus approving what the President
has done in the past. you invite him
to do the like in the future, and tn.
law of the country will lie prostrate
at the feet Of the Executive, and in
his discretion he may Substitute the
military power for judicial authori-
ty. 80. -
Again Mr.. President, ALTHOUGH
there are few of us here who take the
view OF the constitution by this right,
which l am advocating to-day, thrust
we will not under any circumstances,
fail to protest in temperate but manly
language against what we consider
ursurpation of the President. Let
me call the attention of the Senate
briefly to other acts against which !
protest. in the name of the constitution
and thepeople represent. You have
practically martial law all over this
land. The houses of private citizens
are searched without warrant of law
The right of the citizen to bear arms
is rendered nugatory by their being
taken from them without judicial pro
cess, and upon mere suspicion. III
dividualsare seized without legalwar
rant, and imprisoned. The other dav
since Congress met, military officer
in Baltimore, appointed marshal OF
that city. VIII any man defend the
act? Does it not override all other
law! Is it not substituting the rule
OF military commander for the laws
Of the land? What more authority
had this officer to appoint marshal
for the city of Baltimore than he had II,
appoint pastor for one Of their cor
gregations, ,or president for one oftheir
banks? The constitution guards IT,.
people against any seizure without :.
warrant Of judicial authority. Has
not the President of the United States.
by one broad sweeping act, laid his
hands upon the private correspondence
Of the whole community? Who de-
manded it, as conformable to the con
stitutlon! | am told sir-and if J
had the power I would offer a resolu-
tion to inquire into it, in the name ct
the public liberties-I am told tina,
at this moment, in the Jail of this city,
there are individuals who have beeu
taken by military authorities fro,n
Maryland and other States, and no.
lie here and cannot get out, and il.
some instances they have actuall,
been forgotten. l was told OF one il,-
stance where a man was put in jail
here and forgotten. His friends ma,;..
application at one Of the Departments.
and they looked into the case atil
found nothing against him, and he w:~
discharged. But in the rush ofevents>
the very existence of this man. and
the cause of his imprisonment, was
forgotten. We may pass this john
resolution to approve thesesacts and
make them valid, but We connot max,
them valid in fact. lknow that Con
gress. i'll the exercise of its le@islari>,
functions. may appropriate molr.>.
but It las been expended bv the Pres
iden, without warrant of law. knt
whatever uneonstitutionalact h. .lna>
hav. committed cannot be cured hv Il
Joint resolution. 1t stands there. ana
will stand forever Nor can this Con
gress prevent Il succeeding Congress
from holding any officer of the Govern
ment responsible for q violation of lll-
constitution. | en,,merate what w.
gard as the ,'surpation of the ENern-
tive, and against which wish I" ~
cord the protest Of those who are u,s-
willing tosec the constitution subv"rr-
ed, under whatever prett1t. ncc"sSi,s.
or otherwise.