The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-07-19
People and Agent,

Whilst it is unquestiorably our duty to sup
port the Government in IFS efforts to maintain
It's Constitutional authority, it Is also our right,
as well as our duty, to canvass and discuss the
measures of tie Erecut7Ue and other depart
ments of the Government, whether hose meas
ures relate TO the Southern rebellion, or any
other subject OF public interest. In common,
therefore, with the great mass of Democratic
editors throughout the North, we have thus far
freely and fully criticised the movements and
conduct OF the powers that be, and now that
we have before US, in the Presidents Message,
what must be taken as the programme of the
Legislative and Executive Departm ents Of the
Government, we deem it only right and proper
to indicate our impressions of It's correctness
and proprIety.
The general tone of the Messag age-that is, 50
far as it relates to the right and the obligation
of the Government to defend itself and to put
down those in rebellion against It's authority
Is entirely correct. No sane man, at least no
friend of Constitutional liberty, can doubt for q
moment, that those who have been chosen by
the people TO administer the Government, have
the right and are charged with The duty, to
preserve the Government. There is, however.
but one mode BY which it can Be preserved, aud
that is the Constitutional mode. The agents
o! the people " ho are 10 administer the laws
are themselves sworn 70 obey the laws. WHY /?
Because If they were TO trampe them under
foot, not only would they be as guilty as those
against whom they are appointed 10 enforce
them, but our Government would be at an end
and anarchy and confusion would reign IN the
land. Hence, every public officer, from the
President down to The lowest corporal in the
army, engaged in maintaining the authority OF
the Constitution and enforcing The laws, must
himself obey the Constitution and laws, or he
Is nc better than the yeriest rebel in the armv
of Davis and Beauregard Hence. II we would
have our Government maintained, If we would
have order come out of the chaos of the present
unfortunate civil war, if we would have our
Liberties preserved and our national integrity
restored, we must ceave to The Constitution
aud compelthe Executive and Congress 10 stand
upon it as the rock Of our political salvation.
For these considerations We end it incum-
bent upon Us to express our emphatic dsappro-
baton of the course Of the President in assu-
ming the power to authorize military officer
to suspend the sacred Constitutional privilege
OF the Habeas Corpus. The President attempts
70 justify his action in this matter, not only by
the plea of necessity" but by sonewba.
sophlstical legal argument. We think the fol-
lowing eminent authorities should be sufficient
TO satisfy lawyers, as we'll as the most ilIiterate
citizers, upon this subject.
"Next to personal security" says Mr.. JUS
tce Blackstone, g the law OF England regards.
''a&erts and preserves the personal liberty of in-
"dIviduals. This personal liberty consts in the
''poweF of 'ocomotion, of chang ing situation or
"moving ones person 10 whatsoever place ones
''owr inclination may direct, without impris-
comment or restraint, unless by due course of
''law.
" By The Petition of Right. Car. 1st. II il
"enacted that no person shall be imnrisoDed or
"detalned without cause shown, to which he
"may make answer according to law. By 16
"Car. 1st, ch: 10, il any person be restrained of
chs liberty b. order or decree OF any illegal
''court, or by the command of the KNEES Ma
''JEsTy 10 person, or by warrant Of the council