Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-10
wm J. JACKSON, Secretary.
The Message and the Journal,

WeGEHKG
The Ohio State Journal thinks that the opn-
ions of the statesman are Of no consequence,
and vet consumes nearly column and a hall Of
editorial in q would.be witty attempt to sasirize
its remarks upon the President's message. This
is certainly great and ineIcussble expenditure
Of ammunition upon so despicable an object
lis not strange that the Journal sees no fault
in the Presidents message. Partizans' IKE
lovers in the first gush Of the tender sentiment
rarely zee any defects in their favorites.
But the Statesman Is not without Republi'
can support to its opinion that the message i'
open to criticism. "Never," says the New York
Times, a jealous Republican war organ "nsver
was message less important, although the oe'
casion was the most extraordinary that ever &C.
Cured in our country for the writing OF mes
sage"
The Journal intimates that any suggestions
from the President as to how the four thousand
men and the four hundred millions Of money
were to be raised, might have been considered
superauous. Perhaps they might in the eyes oi
such enlightened patriots as the managers oi
the Journal; but former Presidents and states
men have not regarded such suggestions in
appropriate. The Tines also takes difer-
eut view. Itsays, in its article on the message
that the main question is, how to raise the
money to suppress the rebellion, and expresses
a hope to find in the message, when correctly
printed, "something on this truly Important
this vital topic" But the corrected copy has
reached US in pamphlet! form from Washington
and It is as barren on the great financial topic
as the tslegraphiC report, which was generally
accurate.
The Journal alleges that the Constitution
does not say whether the President or Congress
shall suspend the writ Of habeas corpus. 1t Is,
therefore, clear to the Journal that the Presi
dent has the right to suspend 1t. Thisis an ad-
mirable specimen Of partisan logic The Con-
stitution does not give the President the power;
therefore, he has II. This is conclusive to the
logician who presides over the editorial columns
Of the Journal
But the impartial reader Of the Constitution
fnds the clause authorizing Suspension OF the
habsas corpus In the section enumerating the
rowers of Congress, and from its connection
evidently designated as one of those powers.
The clause Immediately following says; mo
bill of attainder or eE post faatO law shall be
passed" Passed by whom-Congress or the
states7 The Constitution does not answer the
question In so many express words But from
the context, so obvious denial is II Of the
power of Congress to pass bills Of attainder or ca
post jaeiO lave, that the man would be considered
demented who should question IL. Il Is equally
plain that the preceding clause denying the
power to suspend the "privilege Of the writ of
habsas corpus, unless when in cases Of rebellion
or insurrection the public safety may require
It," relates. solely to the power and duty Of
Congress.
The Journal need not bother its brain for
reasons in justification Of the Presidents sus-
pension of the kabsas corpus. 1t can afford to
let that rest on the same footing with his calls
for three years. volunteers, and for large addi-
tions to the army and navy. These the Presi-
dent does not attempt to justify as constitutional
and legal, and Of course the acute logician Of
the Journal does not think II worth while to un-
dertake the job, though there can be little doubt
of his ability to execute the task with admirable
facility. The President says he ventured upon
these measures "upon what appeared to be q
popular demand and public necessity, trusting,
then, as now, that Congress would readily ratify
them" He believes "thst nothing has been
done beyond the competency Of Congress-. This
is no doubt consoling to the Journal, and ought,
in its estimation, to satisfy the country. The
President admits that he has assumed powers
which the Constitution has vested exclusively
In Congress; but, then, he has not exceeded
those powers. He has done no more as the
Executive, than Congress might have done as
the Legislature of the Nation, hsd II been In
session. Congress, while ratifying these meas
ures In regard to the army and navy, can ,Nlso
ratify the suspension Of the habeas eorpus, and
thus put an end to all question as to whether |
ABRlHAn LIEooLH has been anything more than
q President and Congress- combined.
d.