The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-17
- From The Journal Of Commerce
THE TITLE OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT
L 4

1t is interesting to inquire into the right Of the
President and his Cabinet to convert portion of
the soil of the free State of New York into prison
for the incarceration of parties arbitrarily arrested
without ",oarrant JUDICIALLY issued, oath or
Gtirmaion;" not 'findicted 6y a Grand .Jury." and
denied fhe right to speedy and public trial." and
therefore, imprisoned in open violation of the
FOURTH, FIFTH and SIXTH articles of The Amend
ments TO the United States Constitution.
By the act of March 20, 1907 entitled can Act
to cede the jurisdiction OF certain lands in this State
to the United States" (Laws N. y. Sess. 80, ch 81,
l r. s. 1913, p. 1922 certain Commissioners were
appointed, with power TO declare the assent of the
Legislature OF this State to cesson of its urisdic-
tion to the United States of such parcels land on
Long Island and Staten Island, they should
Judge 1.-THE SAFETY AND DEFENCE OF THE Cry AND
PoRT OF New Y0RK SHOULD REQUIRE"
TIE authority Of the State Courts to issue process
c'ott or criminal, to be ececuted ,0iin such ceded
territory, 'oas expressly reserred
BY the Act OF March Is, 1908 {LnW8 of ". Y,
Sess. 81, ch 81, l r. s. 1913, p. 1927 the powers
vested in the Commissioners were extended to lands
covered with water between Long Island and
Staten Island, and below the south bounds of the
| city and county of New York: and also to lands in
the city and county of New York, and to lands
! covered with water in the said city and county
| Prooided, "Thot cessions should be made only Of
such lands a. in the opinion Of such Commissioners
| SHOULD BE NECESSARY FOR THE DEFENSE AND SAFETY
| OF THE SAID Cry AND PoRT OF New YORK"
| This Act (Section 4 expressly provides HTHA1
SUCH LANDS SHOULD BE GRANTED ON THE EXPRESS CON.
| DiTIoN OF THEIR REWRITING TO THE People OF THIS
| STATE, CASE THEY SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO THF
| PURPOSES SPECIFIED"
In the Rerised Statutes, 18th Ed p. 92 Sec IL y
it is declared as to the and on which Fort LAFAY
| ETTE stands 'that the United States are to retair
such and Jurisdiction so LONG AS THE SAID TRAc,
SHALL BE USED AND APPLIED TO THE DEFENSE AND SAFE
| TY THE CITY PoRT New YORK, AND Nc
| LONGER;" and the execution of State process
civil and criminal within the ceded limits, is pro
| vided for.
. he nit tata hold ToF For
special use and trust and perversion of it by th
= head servants of the Government to the purpose
of national prison. has forfeited the title, whic
by the express terms of the cession has reverted t.
the State OF New York. CONSTITUTION
CLOSING THE SOUTHERN PoRTs-I mentioned in
recent despatch the TACT that two or three oil
bulks had been purchased by the Government
agents in Baltimore, with the design of sinkin
them at the mouths of certain Southern rivers an
at places on the Southern coast used by Souther
privateers to run theis prizes into. | lear
that the number of old uessels purchased amount
to twenty eight; that eight more to be examine
t to-day, and will probably be bought; that twev
4. OF the old bulls were towed down to Hawkin
t Point yesterday and loaded with stones; and tbs
r they will be taken down to Old Point by the con
q modore of the new blockading fleet, and sunk
o tne places which it is desirable to obstruct Tn
pan WIN, no doubt, prove of great assistance
.ne oiock aalng squadron. But the opinion is e
n tertained that this resort to such an unusual moo
o vi conoucung blockade, will greatly complica
our already delicate relations with England. 1t
" international law, of blockade enforced bv ar
=. other means than by The actual presence of suf
al cient number of armed vessels that the British
miral, with his powerful fleet, will not stand id
by while the Southern ports are beino closed
such summary manner. This declaration com
% from too high to be passed over in sienc
DO - Wash. Cor. Phtla. Inquirer.
d. ----
ID To BE CoURT-MARrIALED.-Two members of
a SD New York regiment dressed Zouaves VIC
q arrested in Alexandria on Tuesday, having
sumed the disguise to enable them to desert and
~ back to New York. They will no doubt be con