The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-08-09
Congregational.


said Re could not permit go important
a resolution to pass without express
ing his opinion. He said he had
been one OF those who considered il
important to preserve the Union in
its integrity, ana II was very impor.
tant 10 the state Of Maryland, both
from her geographical position and
Interest, even il there were no pat.
rioiism there, and that feeling ex-
listed in the state to-day. Ye, he
thought that state had been subjected
to oppression. He was not willing
to sanction acts violative Of princi.
pies ard civil liberty. lie referred
to and spoke at some length Of the
sanctity and right Of the writ Of ha.
6eas corpus, and Of the struggles Of
England 10 secure that right. Many
persons I'd been arrested in his
state. with no warrant OF law, but on
the intimation Of base and unprinci-
pied scoundrels, TO crafty private
malignity on loyal and respectable
individuals. The provision of ha.
beds corpus was put in the Constitu.
ton as II special safeguard against
tyranny. Hc contended that the
President had no authority to Gus.
pend the writ Of ha6e1s CORPUS.
The power was confined to Congress.
II the plea oi necessity is made in
this case, the same plea will be
made in other cases Of violation of
the Constitution. There is no pos I.
sibility Of another emeuto at B iii
more. No man regretted moro than
himself the acts Of the l9th of April.
The government might as we'll at.
tempt to suppress the state govern.
ment OF Maryland as suppress the
Police, which was a state institution.
The state Of Maryland has always
been loyal state.
Mr.. Trumbull (Republican. Iii.
inois, said: The object OF this bill
is to confer certain powers on the
military authorities, in casos of in
surrection and rebellion. and to reg
ulate, as far as practicable, by law,
the exercise Of such powers; to pro.
vide for putting down this rebellion
in constitutional and legal manner.
The rebellion having arisep dnring
the recess OF Congress, imposed on
tho President, who ia sworn to pre-
servo. protect. and defend the Con
stitntion, and whose duty It ia TO see
that the laws are faithfully executed.
the necessity of excrting his whole
constitutional power to preserve the
Constitution from overthrow ani
the government from dcs,ruction.-
ifr may be that, in tiru rxcrciec of
this high duty, the President has az
sumed authority and done acts
which no positive law directly au.
thorized, but whatever he has done,
which was necessary to preserve the
Constitution and the government
from destruction till Congress could
be convened and act, WAS not only
not forbidden, bnt proper and right.
On the great principle OF selfdefense
and elt.preservation, am prepared
to Justify the administration for all
it has done to save the Republic from
the blow whicE wicked rebels were
aiming at its very life, and which,
unless wsrded of. might have been
fatal to lis existence. In snch a
case | care not whether ! can link in
strict law the precise warrant for
what has been done. The grea: law
Of self preservation overrides all
others; at such time it is enough
, for me that the administration has
acted in good faith for tho safety oI
the atste, without unnecessary en-
croachments on the righ's Of the
citizen. When Coner 80 meets il DO
comes its bounden duty TO clothe ,ht
,, Executive with all the powers neces
! sary to save the government from
overthrow. There is no longer .
necessity for the Presiden, to ssanm,
|. authority not granted. when Con
gress is in session, with power 4
grant all needed authority. Tn,
Constitution m .kes ample provision
{ for its own maintenance, and thi
rebellion can be put down in pur
,, susnce of the Constitution. Anon.
/ other things, that instrument de
clares .ha, Congress- shall have powe
: TO declare war, to make rules con
4 cerning cspturers on land and water
e to raise and support armies, an,
make rules for their government; t,
5 provide for calling forth the miliii,
$ to execnte the laws Of the Unior
{. and suppress insurrection, and I,
make oil laws necessary for carrying
Z into execution these powers. Tn,
Constitution also suthoriz a sus
pension OF the writ OF habeas c0rpu
: in cases Of rebellion or invasion
J. whenever the public safety require
!. liz. When war 10 declared, Os tn
a militia called forth to execute tn
o laws OF tho Union, or to suppress
IS On insnrrection, whatever is necesss
). ry to accomplish the just ends Q
!, the war. or Of calling forth tn
o militia. may he lawfully done. =
!. With the declaration OF war, or tn
: calling forth tho militia to cxecut
y the laws or to suppress insnrrectiou
e all the incidents to war and hos,il
. q tiles necessarily and lawfully follow
o How far IL 10 necessary to destro
- the persons Of enemies or rebels, O
:. to ravage and lay waste their coun