The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-05-09
NO. g..
he Nature Of Martial Law and the Mil.
ilaFv Codas

Ihe present crisis is new 10 this gener.
alton Of Americans. None of us have
ever known the dreadful presence of civil
war. Our grandfathers could relate The
.uTrIng tales Of the Revolution. but we
could not realizs them; even while We
gazed on the bent forms OF ibe vetsraus
vino hsd passed through the long strug-
gla They know, those gray headed men,
what war meant, what tie du,es ofa cit.
lzea were when bis country called him TO
the field, and they could tel Of the uses
and The ;errors of martial law. Fer as.
however. oil innocent Of that painful
knowledge, it will he interesting to learn
.hs precise nature Of the iron rule which
is now. or SION will be. exteBted owe, ths
cities OF Baltimore and Washington. We
trust that no hostile invasion, We know
that no tresson al nome, will make i. acc.
essary to call ou. such extraordinary DOW.
ers 10 this city.
1t is well known that thu army Of eysrv
nation is governed BY q code Of laws and
customs psculi,r to itself, which is ad.
rninie cred by military courts unknown 10
the common law, and called courts.mar.
tiaI. This code deyolves great powers
upon the commanding general. Il puu.
ishes severely acts of insubordiussion
which seem triaiDg 10 q civilian, bus
which would be fatal to the order of an
army. 1t subjects Tie soldier TO peremp.
tory restrictions upon his motions, HIS
use Of time. ais social intercourse. IT.
summary arrests and punshes Without
jury any one WHO foments disorder or
muIiny. or who in any way interferes with
the functions 0! lie military in their great
duty Of preserving tie public from for.
eign or domestic foes.
When town or district is conyulsed
oy tGci!oa or beleagusred By "a eney, is
Is cyi!au: that the orGirary p-ocass Of lsy
is ages too allow for The detection end pur-
ishmeEi ofspiaa or traitors. So the ordi-
nary process OF enlistment and hired Ia
Dor is imm4asurabIy too weak for the ur-
gent necessity Of instant and organized
defense. And again the control of the
ciyi! ard municipal resources caDnot bs
lefI with safety to tie hands which WELD
1t in ordiaery eud peaceful times. Ia
such emergencies, hes ta,ion is fatal; de.
lay or disisiou Of respc visibility isruinous.
Tie resources 10 which stern necessity
at such times directs US is the assumption
.of supreme power by the military com.
msndsr who is entrusted with the public
defense. Il becoDes Lis duty to put the
whole town or disuic,, with all it's iuhabi-
lgnts, under the same rules which govern
MS forces, 50 far as applicable. This is
easlsA ET05!aiU7iny nrG-tiEs fzu. By such
a pro Iama.iol the inhabitants are sub
ljeo,ed 10 The restrictions which govern
soldiers in presence Of al eEemy. The
town is turned into camp. rs men be-
come soldiers. Intercourse with the enc
my is not only prohibited, but punishable
hy court martial. Suspected persons get
no benei. from as,ute counsel and stub
bron jurors. but are dsIt With BY the stern
rules Of military law. Spies are caught,
and speedily shot. The able. bodied maIea
are all subiec: 10 military duty, and refu.
sal 10 serve brings with 1t military penal
ties. All tie resources. whether Of phys
inal strength. or Of public property aud
credit, are at once brought under one ex.
periencei hand, and welded in a mass for
the common defense and safety. Faction
under such 3 rale becomes weak, and trea.
son is dissrmed. Martial law has its in
convenieuces along with its protection for
honest men and good ei,izeDs. But its
tsrrors ars all isyclsd at the spy, the trail
tor and the armed enemy.
, The pro 'lamaiion of martial law is the
result o: supreme necessity. Ii is uu-
known to our Constitution and laws, and
th. general procIaims j: at bis own risk,
and may be held responsible as vel to
inIividuo's as to tie government. Bu.
sGEGS po2gi suprsmG ier." The event
in such cases and the intention justify the
means.
! In 1914. when :he British forces we're
on their way to New Orlsans, the city was
in CONSERVATION aud without adequate de-
fence. The legislature was sew and un,
certain; the city authorities paralyzed; ru
mors OF treason and sympathy with the
enemy ran through the streets; vessels
and sailors aboundaj, but could not te
procured for deftuse, and the laborers
were not sufficient General Jackson, in
this extremity, proclaimed martial law,
and history shows that the result was at
once wholly beneficial. Confidence re-
turned, panic subSiled, the people fouud
every means directed to the general good,
and while the danger lasted no voice was
raised agains! the measure unless il were
the secret curses of those who suffered
Justly by it. In order to givo some idea
Of the rules imposed on citizens, we may
ats that sll persons entering the city
are compelled to report themselves to the
military aulhurriys; no person or vessel
could lo9vo wi,hou. apass; the street
lamps were put ou; at nine O'Clock, when
all hersons found in the streets without
the counterSign were arrested for exami-
nation; and thers were other regulations,
which may vary according to the place
and he exigency.
VIII le we may properly entertain dis
trust Of military rule, and are justified in
seeking in all ordinary times to keep il
) subject to the civil power, We must not
forget that the military force of this ooun
, try is composed of our citizens who have
' as Jealous a regard for our free institu>
D tions as any of US who do not haPpon to
DO in the ranks. In yielding our cherish
t ed laws 70 the demands otIhe puolio
d safety, we do not yield them 10 astand,ng
army, hostile to the people. and which
r SUPPORTS some arbitrary Governmsnt,--
n W. ionlv rander them into the hands oil