Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-17


to delegate that power TO 2 military COM
mandant. The King of England, mon
arch though he he, could not do such an
act without the consent of Parliament.
The President has indulged in an argu-
ment, with necessity as an excuse, seeking
Ia lcgalize his acts, but, Mr. President, we
alone are the judges Of the correctness of
his official acts.
II, ere is now confined in Fort McHenTy
Mr.. Merry man the liberties OF that man,
guaranteed by bis Safe and the constitu-
ton, are basely trampled upon. There
has beer n great outcry against Chief JUS
tice Tauey, but honor him for the cour-
ageous action he has taken in the case of
Mr.. Menyman, surrounded as he was by
soldiers bayonets. While | honor him
for his sage wisdom, beg also to drop a
tribute to his sublime courage. Necessi-
ty is the tyrant's plea, and has always
been used for the downfall of civil liberty.
/ The President has gone even further.
lie has dared 10 declare martial law
something undefnable, not known in the
Constitution. The neal est we can get to
definition is, the will OF themiitary com
mander. An OH ard esteemed Er glish
jurist once said that martial law not only
destroyed municipal law, but also the
right Of private property. In 1892 the
Lord Chancellor OF England said that
martial law had not been known for a
century, nor has it been known s,nce-
Yet the President dares proclaim this
law,
The constitution was passed without a
bill OF rights, because of insufficient au-
thority but SO jealous were they on this
point, that amendments, that amend
ments of this nature we're added to The
constitution, and now c. II attention to
the fourth amendment to the constitu-
/ ton:
"rhe right of the people to be secured
in their persons, houses, papers and eff
! fects, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated and
no warrants shall issue, but on probable
cause, supported by oatll or affirmation,
describing the place to be searched and
the persons or things TO be seized"
! In the case of Merry man and Others in
Fort McHenry, and persons in my State (;
and have heard that even in the case OF
my former colleague, (Mr. Greenc,) IA :
! President has caused this amendment to
be violated. Telegraphc dispatches, the
private property Of TIE offices, have been
seized, as ! know by revelations which
have been made in relation to Mr.. Har-
vey, the U. 5. minister to Portugal
/ Nor has the Preidcnt right to regulate
commerce.; yet since the 18th OF April he
has closed the ports Of those States claim
ed to have seeded, and yet insists on
their still forming - part of the Union.
Mr.. Wilson then moved that
the bill lie over until to morrow, tc
ALLOW Mr.. Polk to continue his remarks
/ Agreed to.
The Senate then took up the House bill
entitled IAN act to collect the revenue on
imports" &c. This is the force bill, which
I lad just been rushed through the House. !
! In debating the bill, Mr.. Salisbury OF
! Delaware, said that there were but few
scccssionists in his State, but the people
were in favor Of peace measures. His in
Istructions we're Of that purport, and he
moved that 100000 be inserted instead oI
ij000 600 men. This number, he said, wa-
sufficient, to protect the capital and all
the loyal States from invasion, and i
more than this number was required they
could easily be obtained.
III amendmen. was disagreed to.
The bill was amended 10y increasing the
number Of the army to 100000 men, an,
by authorizing II loan to the amount o
$500, 100000, instead Of $4,000 co..
After some other mino. amendments tn,
bill was passed. At fifteen minutes pas
five o'clock, the Senate wen, into cXrcu
tive session..