The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-07-11


ted an ordinance for withdrawing the State
from this Union. Whether this change was
wrought by their approval of the assault OF
! Slimptcr, or their great resentment at the
Governments resistance TO that assault il
not definitely known. Although they sub
mlttod the ordinance for ratification 10 vote
oi the people, 10 be taken on a day thei
somewhat more than n month distant the
convention and legislature, which was in
session at the same time and place. with
leading men Of the State not members OF
either, Immediately commenced acting as il
the State was already out Of the Union
They pushed military preparation vigorous.
" forward all over the state. They seized
the United States Armory at ilarpeg'B Fer.
ry and the Navy Yard at Gosport Near
Norfolk they received, perhaps invited, into
their State large bodies of tioops with their
warlikc appointments from the so-callcd Sc
coded states. They formally entered into a
treaty Of alliance with the so-callcd Conicd-
crate States, and Pont members to thUir Con-
grc3B 1T Montgomery, and fEally they per-
miitcd thc insurrcttj)nary government to be
Transferred to their capital at Richmond.
The people Of Virginia bave thus allowed
thja giant resurrection to make its nest with
in her borders and this government has no
choice left but TO deal with it whore il finds
it, and it has the less. TO regret an the loyal
citizens have in due form claimed is pro(cc-
tom Those loyal citizens The government
is bound to recognize and protect as being
in Virginia.
IN the Border States SO called, in fact the
Middle States, there are those who favor a
policy which they call EARNED neutrality "
that il, an aymiGg Of those States to pre-
vent the Union forces passing one way, or
the dlSunion the other, over their soil. This
would be disuuion completed. Figmativcly
speaking, this would be the building of an
impossible wall aIorg the line Of separation,
and yet not quito an imyassahlC one. for un-
der tn" g'li'e of neutrality & would tic thc
hands OF the Union men and freely pass SUP
piCs fromamong them 10 the insurrcction-
lists, which it could not do as an open cnc-
my, Alta stroke il would take all the trOuI-
Ic oil the hands of the sec 'sSiouiSts, cXceut
only what proceeds from the external block
ale. II would do for tuc disunioHista that
which OF all things they most d"sirn-fecd
them we'll and give them dsunion without
Il struggle Of their own. 1t recognizes no
fidelity to the constitution, no Obligation TO
maintain the Union. While very many who
have favored it ,r, doubtless loyal citizens,
it is nevertheless very injurious in effect.
Recurring to the action of the Govern
mcnt, it may he stated that at first call
was made for 5000 militia, and rapidly fol-
lowing this proclamation was issued for
closing the ports of insu surectOuary districts
by "a blockade So far all was believed to be
strictly legal.
At this point the insurrcctionists an
nounccd Their purpose OF entering upon the
practice ot priyatcCriug. Other calls were
made for volunteers to serve three years.
unless sooner discharged, and also large adj
ditions TO the regular army and navy These
measures, whether strictly legal or not. were
vcntured upon what appeared 10 he "A pop
uIar demand and public necessity, trusting
then as now that Congress- would readily
ratily them. 1t is believed tlmt nothing has
been done beyond hc constitutional compc-
tency Of Congress-
Soon after the first call for militia il was
considered duty to authorize tie command
ing General in proper cases according to his
discretion 20 suspend the privilege OF the
Eancas corpus, or in other words to arrest
and dcta.n without resort TO ordinary pro-
ccSsrs and forms of law. such individuals as
he might deem dangerous to the public safe
W. This authority has purpoScIy been cX-
crclAod but very sparingly. Nevertheless.
the legality and proprioty of what has been
done under 1t are questioned, and the attcn-
ton of the country has been called to the
proposition that ono who is sworn to take
care that the laws be faithfully executed
should not himself violate them,
OF course somo consideration was given
to the questions of power and rropriety
Ec!ore this matter was acted uron; the whole
of the laws which were required to be ftitE-
iuiiy executed, were being res stcd and fail
iNg of execution in nearly one-third of the
States. Must they he allowed to liralIy fail
of execution, even had it been pcrflgtiv
clear that by the use of the means u,ccs>,,-
rl to their execution, some single law made
IN such extreme tenderness OF the ct;Zeus
liberty that practically it relieves more of
the guilty than the innocent. should tn a very
limited cNtcnt be violated? To state the
question more dirccty-Arc all thc laws
but one to go uEcNccutCd and the govern
mcnt itself 10 80 to pieces, lest that one hr
Violated? Even in such a case. would not
the official oath be broken, if the govern
mcnt should be ovcrhrown. when 1t was
believed that diSrCgardng the single law
would tend to preserve it?
But ii was not believed that this question
was presented. twas not believed that amy
law was violated. The provision Of the
Constitution is that the privilege of thcw
oi hahcas corpus shall not lac suspended.
except III case of rebellion or invasion the
public safety should require it, It was he
cidcd that We have case of rebellion and
the public safety does require the qualified
suspension of the privilege Of the writ which
was authorized to be made. Now, Il is in
sisted that Congress, aud not the Executive
Is vested with this power. liut the Cohst.-
tution Itself is silent as to which or who is
to exercise the power, and as the provision
was plainly made for dangerous emcygcn-
cN, It cannot hc believed that the Trainers of
the instrument Intended that in every case
the danger should run its course until Con
grcsS should he called together, the very
assembling OF which might hc prevented.
rs was intended in th!s case 10y tho rebellion
Nomorc eNtcndcd argument is now afford
ell, as an opinion NJ some length will prohu-
hlN he presented toy the Attorney GcucraL
Whether there shall he any legislation on
the subject, and if SO, what, is submitted
cutnSiy To the better Judgment of Congress-
The iurhcalaucc of the government has
been 50 extraordinary aud So long continued
rs 10 lead some foreign nations to shape
thcT actions rs If they supposed the carly
destruction OF our National Union was prob
able. Nhilc tins discovery at first gave the
Executive some concern, he is now happy
10 say that ho sovereignty and rights of tie
United States are now practically respected
10y foreign powers and general SvmpathN
with the government is manifested through
out thCWorld.
The reports OF the Secretary OF The Treas
wy, War and Navy Viii give the inioyma-
ton in detail deemed necessary and couvc-
"A Nrh t1t t',...